This week feels pretty special for me because my business is five years old! To think this time five years ago I was gearing up for my first ever wedding. This week I will be photographing number 127! (Yes, I keep count..)

A lot has changed in the last few years..

I have met some truly awesome people along the way. I’ve won an award! Survived a global pandemic (just about). Quit my job in a photography studio to shoot weddings full time. Photographed weddings across the UK, as well as France and Italy! It’s been a tough old ride at times, but the good stuff has made it SO worth it.

I just have a few thank yous I’d like to say!

First of all thank you to every photographer I’ve had the pleasure of second shooting for. Every person I’ve worked with has taught me something different and I am hugely grateful. Jamie, Jess, Anna, Joe, Chris, Sarah, Hamish, Amanda, Adam, Terri – thank you. The biggest thank you though goes to my very dear friend Charlotte. I don’t know if you even know how much you’ve done to help me with my business. It is just a total blessing that we even met because I would not have accomplished half as much if it wasn’t for you.

Thank you to my friends and family for all your support, always. Thank you for putting up with me never being available at weekends! And thank you to the absolute legend of a boyfriend/ fellow homeowner/ all-round bloody good chap – Harry. Whenever I feel rubbish and think I’m a shit photographer, you are always there to tell me I’m actually not that shit and I’m going to smash it.

And the biggest, most important thank you is to my clients. I basically would not be able to do the job I love was it not for you guys. Whether I’ve photographed your wedding, family shoot, branding shoot, couples shoot – you guys have no idea how humbling it is to have somebody put that faith in you to capture important moments like that.

Genuinely a little emotional writing this (currently listening to an absolute banger by Atomic Kitten..), but I am so, unbelievably grateful every single day that this is my job. There was a time about 6 years ago when I was basically just a bit stuck, and I had no idea what I wanted to do as a career. I was working in retail at the time, all my friends had gone to uni and somehow I just knew that that wasn’t where I wanted to be. Photography was always a hobby of mine, but there was a little part of me that was afraid to turn that love into a job in case I ended up resenting it. But genuinely – one of the best things I’ve ever done. I’m not proud of myself that often, but I do feel really proud of the business I’ve made. It’s pretty cool really.

So here’s to the next 5 years 🙂

Lily North Photography | Harrogate wedding and family photographer