When Joshua Gooding first picked up a camera at 16, something lit up inside of him. It was a connection so instinctive that for the next year he found it hard to leave the house without a camera by his side. The world suddenly looked different, a moment in time was now a freeze-frame, an opportunity to capture something beautiful.
And though the world has and will always be his muse, when it comes to weddings, Joshua has an eye for emotion and vulnerability. He isn’t a photographer who hides in the shadows watching from afar, no Joshua prefers to hide in plain sight, immersing himself in the action and emotion of the day he is sharing which leaves brides and grooms with an authentic retelling of their big day.
To see why Joshua will soon become your favourite wedding guest read on…
#1 Do you remember the first time you picked up a camera?
“I remember my dad unwrapping a DSLR camera for his birthday when I was around 16. He probably held it for around 10 minutes before handing it to me so that I could “give it a go”. I don’t think I handed it back to him until around a year later.”
“It was the first time I had used a DSLR so I became quite obsessed with it in that first year. I’d just play around with all of the different settings, taking photos of anything and everything. I often cringe at some of the photos I took back then, but I loved the freedom that it gave me and I haven’t looked back since.”
#2 How do you describe your photographic style to others?
“I’ve always felt that the most authentic photographs come from those moments when the couple and their guests are totally at ease, having an incredible time living entirely in the moment. So rather than lurking in the background, I love to hide in plain sight by blending in with the couple and their guests. I place myself amongst all of the action and have an incredible time alongside them. By taking this approach it allows me take photographs that are beautifully relaxed, emotive and truly honest to the couple and their day.”
#3 Do you have any advice for brides and grooms who are looking for a photographer?
“I think that it’s so important to find someone who you can be yourselves around on the day, because the more comfortable you feel, the more your photographs will reflect that. So If you’re undecided between a few photographers, I encourage you to try to arrange a video call with them to see who you have the best connection with, as they will most likely be the person who will be able to capture you in the most authentic, natural way.”
#4 What is your favourite thing about being a photographer?
“Photography started purely as a hobby for me, so I’d have to say that my favourite thing about being photographer is that I get to do my hobby for a living. There’s genuinely not a single thing that I would rather be doing at this point in my life and I’m incredibly grateful to all of the couples who allow me to do this.”
#5 And finally, why were these your five favourite photos?
It was really difficult to pick out five favourite images, so I’ve tried to choose five completely natural, authentic moments, each of which bring back a personal memory and make me feel something when I look back on them.
For Joshua’s full portfolio, click here.
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