More Than a Picture: What School Photography Taught Me About Connection and Trust

Sometimes a photograph is more than just an image. This is the story of how one school photo reminded me why I fell in love with photography, and why connection will always matter more than perfection.

A Picture Worth a Thousand Words

They say a picture is worth a thousand words.

A couple of weeks ago, I had a moment that made me think a little deeper about that old saying.

For the last eight years I’ve had the pleasure of photographing the children at Medina House School on the Isle of Wight. When I first started, all they had was a member of staff taking the images on an old digital camera and printing them out on paper. I wanted to give them more than that. They deserved the same inclusive service that every other school got, for both the children and their parents.

Usually, when you receive a school photo, it’s easy to make a quick judgement. Maybe their eyes are closed, maybe they’re pulling a funny face. We’ve all been guilty of that, myself included.

But a couple of weeks ago, I had a moment with a pupil at Medina I want to share. I’ve photographed this student for the last six years, or at least I’ve attempted to.

For the first four years, there was no photo. Just getting them comfortable in the gym, which looked so different with professional studio lights and a backdrop set up, was enough.

Last year though, we managed to chat. They sat in the chair, and I captured a photo of them for the first time.

This year, the student was even more engaged. They asked questions about my equipment and how my camera worked. They even acted a little like my assistant, making their peers smile and laugh. But when it came to their own picture, they made it clear they didn’t want one.

After the other children had gone, we chatted quietly, with their teaching assistant close by. I shared how I don’t like having my photo taken either and eventually we struck a deal. If I let them take my photo with my camera, then I could take theirs. Staff were there the whole time, of course.

The photo we created together wasn’t the perfect posed image with a huge smile that you might hope for as a parent. But it represented something much more important.

Building trust and connection with this young person over many years, until they felt able to let me take their photo, meant everything.

To them. To me. And hopefully to their parents.

It reminded me why I do what I do, because sometimes photography is not just about a picture, it’s about the journey.

Honesty, Reflection and Ten Years of Growth

This leads me on to share something you rarely find on the internet, a little honesty. People often shy away from this, worried how it will look or if clients will approve. But I am my business. I’m human. And I hope the people who connect with what I do won’t be put off by a little honesty.

Last month I turned 40, and in November the business will celebrate its 10th birthday. Over that decade there have been incredible times like getting married, buying our first house and the arrival of our two wonderful children. There have also been some very difficult times and personal losses.

The last few years haven’t always been easy, and this year in particular has felt challenging. I normally photograph around 20 weddings a year, but this year it’s been a lot fewer. Commercial work has also felt slower at times.

But while the numbers have been down, the quality of the connections has been incredible. I’ve genuinely loved every wedding I’ve photographed this year, loved meeting every new client, and loved every commercial shoot.

My work has been featured in places I could only have dreamed of 10 years ago, and I’ve received encouragement from industry peers I really admire. Creatively, I feel more confident than ever in what I do.

Moments like the one a couple of weeks ago remind me that success isn’t just measured in numbers. They remind me to keep going, even when things feel uncertain, because this work means something.

The Next Chapter: Continuing Our Isle of Wight Photography Journey

And to all of my couples already booked for next year, please don’t worry. Whatever the future looks like, we aren’t going anywhere. We’re so looking forward to the next 10 years and to capturing many more stories along the way.

If you’ve enjoyed following what we do, one of the biggest ways you can support us is through small acts that make a huge difference.A like, a share, or a few kind words in a review go such a long way in helping us continue doing what we love.