I'm Steve and am married with two grown up children. I’m an award winning photographer with the Guild of Photographers, Anglican Priest & passionate about mental health. Alongside my wedding and events photography I run photography workshops and retreats showing how to combine the creativity of photography with mindfulness to find peace and contentment. This may sound a bit weird, but I've found the camera (we all have one on our smartphone) used intentionally can help us to see in new ways which helps manage anxiety and stress whilst building resilience. 

 

After a short career in business I was ordained, joining the RAF Chaplains’ Branch in 2000. Service life took me around the world, at times exposing me to extreme experiences of trauma and poverty (and yes, I needed a bit of professional help after my last Afghan). Leaving the military I trained in professional photography and discovered how this art form helps us centre in the moment and see in new ways. My postgraduate study of War and Psychiatry at King’s College London taught me how centring in the present moment is a place of healing and emotional strength and wellbeing. There is loads of research on this today although really we have rediscovered something our Western Christian monasteries used to teach in the middle-ages and to which we can trace some of our great achievements like the UK's NHS.

 

My own experience in war torn lands has taught me how life is an amazing gift which we are given and we should do all we can to value and protect it. Photography has helped me work through some of these experiences as it provides a language where words are not possible. We can never choose to change or unsee past events but I believe we do have a choice over how these events shape our present life and futures. I can never unsee the violence I’ve been exposed to but I can choose today to use my visual awareness to discover the world’s more plentiful images of beauty, life & hope. For me this has become a place of healing and strength I now share with others through my workshops.

 

Alongside my work running photography retreats and workshops I offer both wedding and events photography as I love (and people tell me I’m pretty good at) telling the story of a day through images.  My professional photography training has included a diploma with Blackford Photography alongside some shorter courses in commercial lifestyle & food photography with Aspire Training and portraiture and weddings with First Point Photography. I have both professional indemnity and public liability insurance and am a member of the Guild of Professional Photographers.

 

By booking me you are not only assured of the professional military standards of a veteran you are helping me to develop contemplative photography which I hope will be a real benefit to individuals and society. You can read more about this work here: www.lightinlife.net