woman standing in country lane smiling and looking into the camera

How and why I became a wedding photographer

Eleven years ago if someone had said to me I would be running my own creative business I wouldn’t have believed them. But a mixture of luck, opportunity and hard work has brought me to this point – a point where I’ve turned my enjoyment of telling heart-warming stories and creating core memories into a living.

Growing up it was more about tennis than photography. In my teen years I spent summers in the US teaching tennis but it was during those barmy days in the pine forests of Maine that I started to take photos and appreciate the process of developing in a dark room. Roll forward a few years and I was off to study history at university. During that time I went on a life affirming trip to East Africa. I backpacked with a friend, a camera, and little else until I headed home with malaria, bilharzia and a passion for taking photos.

Fate and opportunity

The following decade I combined my love of sport, learning and people. I had jobs in sports journalism, academic publishing and overseas English teaching. In 2010, fate came into play. I was made redundant but as a result two opportunities presented themselves – write for a running magazine in London or teach English in Zanzibar. I turned the desk job down for adventure. A crazy year of experiences followed and a seminal moment while (ironically) sitting at a desk in the shallows of the Indian Ocean. Feet up, sun burning down, thoughts of returning to the 9-5 filled me with dread. I needed something different: more varied, more creative, less structured and less restrictive.

  • woman sitting at a desk in the shallow waters of the Indian Ocean
  • silhouette image of couple on mountain edge watching the golden yellow sunrise
  • gorilla scratching face in virunga national park Rwanda
  • rising sun captured amid African baobab tree in northern Uganda
  • lion draped over a tree sleeping
  • under water shot of scuba diving holding knees looking into camera

I came home with ideas and desires but no formal plan. I learnt that I loved capturing images of people. Their expressions, their interactions, their emotions. Saying all this out loud to friends brought about my first commission. And it was as simple as that. This became my why. Weddings provided everything I love about human connection. My first shoot for a friend put £150 in the bank and I loved photographing their wedding. It felt natural and I couldn’t stopping smiling. From there Pippa Heath Photography was created. 

New beginnings

I did a four day course at The Trained Eye and had three jobs running concurrently for two years before I went full time. Running a business is a never ending learning curve but my motivation to be my own boss and a love of telling peoples stories means this job will never feel like drudgery.

Since that first wedding eleven years ago I have been incredibly lucky to meet some amazing people and travel to some stunning locations to shoot weddings. France, Italy, Barbados, Australia, Germany, Scilly Isles, Scotland to name a few – and all with the mission to capture real moments, real emotion whether it’s laughter, tears, a hug, knowing look, a sweet smile. Photos that remind couples how the day felt, not just what it looked like.

  • Man playfully holding small boy upside down.
  • Bride, groom and guests talking.
  • Bride and groom hugging.
  • Guest dancing - B&W.
  • bride wiping away a tear holding grooms hand
  • groom kisses bride forehead london wedding
  • baraat procession with drums and smoke bombs at firle place
  • two grooms in tuxedos laughing with each other
  • bride cupping groom's hands smiling with joy after getting married
  • bride smiling on dance floor surrounded by confetti canon
  • guests all hugging close up of arms
  • party playing jenga and bricks falling
  • bridesmaids reaction to seeing bride for the first time
  • guests sitting on hay bails all stroking gorgeous lab dog

And in the last seven years I also met my partner-in-crime. We have two young boys who provide endless inspiration and photographic moments.

  • boy throwing read frisbee into the air on luskentyre beach isle of harris
  • boys on the beach looking at shells
  • woman on bike looking at camera with boy behind on bike looking out to Uig beach bay
  • boys standing on the shores of Luskentyre beach isle of harris
  • two mum family walking hand in hand with their two boys Uig beach lewis

A job for life

I never take any booking for granted. I feel lucky that what I do for work is what I enjoy doing outside of paying bills. Being a wedding photographer just fits. It gives me the opportunity to meet people, connect, be creative and be part of an event where everyone is happy. It also gives me the space to be on my own, to sit in my PJs on a Monday morning with my thoughts, editing, and copious cups of tea. This suits my ambivert personality! Now I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.