We interviewed Australian photographer James Simmons of James Simmons Photography to gain insight into his stunningly unique image style. His mastery of light and shadow and genuine care for his couples guarantees that you will look immaculate and have wedding keepsakes you'll never tire of admiring. It’s no wonder he won International Wedding Photographer of the Year in 2020. Scroll down to learn more about James, and get a glimpse of what your wedding photos could look like!
About James
James has been a professional Australian and destination-wedding photographer for 15 years. Though photography runs in his family, James started his studies in a unique and completely unrelated field—wine grape growing. When he realized it wasn’t his calling and had to regroup, he was reminded of the joy photography brought him, capturing epic shots of friends during surfing sessions. However, it was a serious surfing injury that ushered James to find solace in photography permanently.
His journey began with a job at a local wedding studio while studying photography at university. At work, James learned how to build a rapport with different types of people and discovered the inner workings of running a business. That, plus his degree’s focus on art and communication, gave him a solid foundation in the industry.
What made you want to start your business?
With photography comes a relatively limited option of career paths. So, after five years at the wedding studio, James realized there was no more room for growth. “The only natural trajectory was to start my own business if I wanted to have the ultimate freedom and control over what I was doing.” Understandably, it was “nerve-wracking” venturing out on his own, but he mustered some self-belief and trusted that his experience was solid enough to carry him forward.
Why weddings?
“It scratched lots of creative itches.” Namely, photojournalism, story-telling, fashion, and portraiture. “I really enjoyed working with people on the happiest day of their life, so I dug into it.” We certainly understand that!
What sets you apart from other wedding photographers?
If you’re wondering why you should choose James for your wedding, here are four compelling reasons:
1) “I seek to tell those more subtle stories. The hidden narrative of people’s relationships and connection combined with what's happening on the day.”
2) “My personal taste and attraction to dramatic lighting and the aesthetic that comes with craving appealing visions through use of light.” His unique way of using light to “enhance a narrative and create communication” stood out to us too!
3) “A curiosity and genuine interest in people. I’m a bit of an empath when it comes to people and their relationships and dynamics. I feel quite attuned to my couple [...], which helps me to respect and fall in love with the situation we’re in.”
4) “I'm also just super passionate about creating good quality images. I love the psychology around creating a space for people to be themselves. I find the relationship between photographer and client to be an interesting dynamic because you can [...] influence them in a way that frees them from insecurities and inhibitions.”
We’re convinced!
What part of the wedding do you most love to capture?
“I'm actually a sucker for the ‘congrats’ after the ceremony. I love it because it's a bit of a challenge and because there is the most interaction between the couple and guests.” It's a moment brimming with emotion, making it visually stimulating and ripe for James’s photojournalistic eye. As a fly on the wall, he savors the authenticity of the scene and freezing it in time. Amidst the chaos of kids running amok, pets going wild, and tears flowing, he finds beauty in the imperfections, recognizing that these candid moments hold the essence of the day's joy. “I think it's also a really beautiful moment for the couples because [...] it seems like that's when things start to sink in. Having that juxtaposition of real rawness versus beautiful and perfect is a good dynamic to have.”
What’s your favorite wedding you’ve ever worked on?
James’s top wedding shoot and destination wedding came from New Zealanders Amber and Zahn, who took an epic road trip across the United States that culminated in a sunrise ceremony in Utah. “I joined them on their road trip and got to know them quite well [...], and I felt like I left with 25 new friends.” Being photographers themselves, Amber and Zahn were naturals in front of the camera, providing James with the most authentic snapshots. He used his point-and-shoot auto film camera, freeing him from cumbersome equipment. “I think the best photos come when you're living and experiencing life and you happen to have a camera in your hand at the time. That's what that whole journey felt like.”
Any stories that particularly touched your heart?
Capturing the wedding of a bride who had been battling cancer was a deeply humbling experience for James. Just weeks before her wedding, she faced severe complications from an operation and nearly lost her life. Yet, her remarkable strength and unwavering compassion shone through, not only in her hardship but also in her role as a mother to adopted twins, one of whom has special needs. “Her willingness to take [everything] on showed how unselfish she was amongst her own battle with health issues.” Her resilience combined with her career as a mental health care worker, left a lasting impact on James. “Meeting this person put a lot of things into perspective of what's meaningful.”
What are some challenges you’ve faced?
“I like to call weddings that challenge me [...] ‘humbling experiences.’ Frame them as growth opportunities.” James often feels humbled when he has a tight timeline to work with, as it limits what he can do and where he can go. His most humbling encounter, however, came early in his career when he felt as though he didn’t effectively communicate his process and manage expectations with a couple. The trio was not a fit, leaving James a bit dejected, but it fueled his greatest learning experience. “Wanting it to never happen again allowed me to change my initial qualifying [questions], education [process], and expectation conversations tailored to the situation.” He hasn't had an incident like it since!
How do you ensure that you capture the unique personalities and emotions of each couple?
“There’s a fine art in knowing when to step in or step back when it comes to directing or facilitating the moment.”
In working with more shy, introverted clients, James finds that it often helps to start a conversation with them or ask thought-provoking questions—nothing too intense! “One of my favorites is asking them what their partner would be as a kitchen appliance,” he laughed. “Once they start to think creatively about the other person, it's almost impossible for them to be concerned with themselves and their insecurities at the same time.” Seems logical enough to us. “All of a sudden, they’re more natural and look at each other in the way they always do.” However, everyone is different, so some introverts freeze at such questions. James pivots by using his sense of humor, noting that “if people can laugh with you, they’ll really start to relax.”
With extroverts, James tends to step back. “[They] take loose direction and make it their own. I witness it unfold in front of me and am reactive to what’s happening, honoring their truth.” They exude a “playfulness and softness” that he loves to capture.
At the end of the day, “It’s important to have an overall strategy or mission statement and have your photographic voice anchored in something that is meaningful and gives you purpose. Having that strategy as an overarching approach, you can implement the appropriate tactics.”
How have you gained recognition and press?
Early in his career, James became involved with some photography associations, and through them, entered competitions. While he enjoyed sifting through and refining his work to select the best photographs, James emphasized that it took a lot of work and years of “trial and error” to find the image that won him International Wedding Photographer of the Year 2020. After entering several contests and submitting to multiple magazines, he finally figured out what the judges were looking for. He has also acquired other awards and secured many Hello May cover features. Simply put, “You have to be in it to win it,” he said. “Participating is everything, but the feedback is the most valuable. It’s there to use as a tool and stepping stone for growth.”
Check out his award-winning photos:
Are there any upcoming trends or innovations in the photo industry that you want to incorporate into your shoots?
James is keenly aware of trends in photography but approaches them with a discerning eye. “It's just a matter of choosing what you want to infiltrate your style. I think I'm coming from a point of view that I don't want to look the same as everyone else.”
His current favorite trend is one that he’s always loved and incorporated well before it became popular—on-camera direct flash. Its luxe, timeless quality is reminiscent of paparazzi-style, Red Carpet photos. “The color of light is perfect, so edits are really easy to do,” James mentioned. Since the light comes from the front, it smooths out unwanted texture, making it flattering but still natural.
Another trend, editorial-esque shots, revolves around specific items or styles the couple chooses to include on their day and whether or not they’re prevalent with vendors—wedding trends. “Champagne towers are having their moment in Australia currently [...], so that will end up inevitably coming through in photos.”
Trends aside, James ensures that “the core of what [he does] will always remain the same. Photojournalistic, dramatic, and cinematic [shots] anchored in the same methodology. The aesthetic and style of that evolves over time and moves with some of those trends.”
“What we [photographers] are creating end up as artifacts of their lives and a piece of history that they can share with family in the future.” ~ James Simmons
James is a proud Canon ambassador.
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