Meet James: The Story Behind Cherished Images
Hey, I’m James. I’m the lead photographer and founder of Cherished Images. Having established my independent photography business in 2007, I have spent nearly two decades documenting weddings across Manchester, Trafford, Wigan, and the wider North West.
If you’re looking for a photographer who will treat your celebration like a rigid fashion shoot or a theatrical production, I am honestly not the guy for you. My approach is 95% relaxed documentary—no forced smiles, no shouting at guests, and no dragging you away from your party for hours. (And yes, we will smoothly and painlessly knock out 6 to 8 essential family group photos in 10–12 minutes so your parents and grandparents have their cherished mantelpiece portraits!).
Hitched
2026 WINNER
20+
YEARS EXP.
5.0 ★
GOOGLE RATED
M41 BASE
URMSTON, MCR
Why I Do This: The Wedding Photographer I Wish We Had
“When my wife and I got married, our own wedding photography experience was completely ruined by a stressed-out photographer with inadequate equipment who forced us into rigid, artificial configurations. The resulting images felt hollow—they didn’t reflect who we were or how the day actually felt.”
— Coming from an ex-military background, I look at responsibility differently. I decided right then that no couple on my watch would ever have to go through that.
As a dedicated documentary Manchester wedding photographer, I photograph celebrations to be the calm, reassuring, and completely unobtrusive presence that I wish we had on our day.
While I’ll naturally capture your venue styling, table details, and rings as part of your day’s story, what I care about most are the real, fleeting human moments that usually go unnoticed: the quiet catch of breath before walking down the aisle, a genuine belly laugh shared over a drink, or the absolute chaos of the evening dancefloor.
A Direct, Personal Commitment: You Book James, Not an Agency
When you hire Cherished Images, you are booking me, James. From our very first consultation right through to the secure delivery of your hand-finished gallery 4 to 6 weeks after your celebration, I am the one managing your files.
Want a relaxed schedule on the day? Read our guide to stress-free wedding day timeline planning →
🔒 Your Memories Are Completely Safe
Proudly Based in Urmston, Greater Manchester
20 years navigating iconic North West ceremony spaces and our famously unpredictable climate without obtrusive flash rigs.
Flixton House (Urmston)
Maximizing natural light inside the famous "Secret Gardens".
The Monastery (Gorton)
Mastering low-light ceremony spaces inside Manchester's Gothic landmark.
The Old Parsonage (Didsbury)
Intimate historic botanical gardens and candid couple strolls.
Albert Halls & Town Hall
Urban city centre grandeur and iconic Victorian architecture.
The Lodge, Mesnes Park
Wigan, Lancashire & Cheshire historic park grounds and Italianate mansions.
Davyhulme Park (Trafford)
Rapid weather-adaptive documentary coverage on the fly.
Check James’s Availability for Your Wedding
I only take on a limited number of weddings each season to ensure every couple receives my complete focus, military-grade reliability, and rapid 4 to 6 week turnaround.