About

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Hi, I’m Jon.

I’ve been interested in photography since I was a child but only really started taking it seriously around 6 years ago. After a year photoblogging (something I would urge all beginners to try, the feedback you receive can be invaluable) I started taking things much more seriously. At the time I shot mainly landscapes, and was lucky enough to win a handful of gold awards from the Society of International Nature & Wildlife Photographers. I’ve continued to take landscape photos to this day, though I don’t get out as frequently as I’d used to (I think my 2 year old daughter, Freya, might have something to do with that!).

After that first year I went on some intensive studio portrait training courses and then spent a further year continuously practicing the art. I converted a room in my house in to a studio and started doing professional photo shoots. After a year of doing that I also started covering weddings, a much different prospect with its own huge learning curve and very high pressure. I love it! What could be better than sharing one of the most important and happy days of a couples life with them? Recording what will hopefully be some of the happiest memories of their lives. Recently, I submitted 20 of my wedding photographs to the Society of Wedding & Portrait Photographers and was awarded a Licentiate qualification (LSWPP). The LSWPP means that I have been recognised by the SWPP as producing wedding photographs of a professional standard.

I still do studio shoots, though I’m moving more towards shoots with professional models, make-up artists and the like. I’ve started combining my passion for both studio and landscape photography by producing composite images (images created by merging multiple photographs) that have a much more creative flair than my earlier work. Very shortly, you’ll start seeing the fruits of my labour appearing on this website so check back regularly!

Hope to see you soon,

Jon Swainson LSWPP

 

My Equipment

Not everyone is interested in this bit, but for those that are, here’s a list of the gear I use…

Cameras

Nikon D4 (on pre-order – I can’t wait. I’m like a child at Christmas. It’s pathetic!)
Nikon D700

Lenses

Nikon 35mm F/2
Nikon 50mm F/1.4 G
Nikon 85mm F/1.4 D
Nikon 105mm F/2.8 Micro
Nikon 14-24mm F/2.8
Nikon 24-70mm F/2.8
Nikon 70-200mm F/2.8

Lighting

Nikon SB-600 Speedlight
Nikon SB-24 Speedlight
Nissin Di866 Speedlight
Quantum QFlash X-5Drs (x2)
Elinchrom Ranger Quadra Heads (x2)
I use PocketWizard radio triggers and too many light modifiers to mention!

Software

Nikon Capture NX2 for RAW processing
Adobe Photoshop for everything else