Andrew Pearson’s previous career as a police officer has given him a unique insight into people and how best to communicate with them – ensuring his photographs are not only beautiful but intuitively captured. Andrew is skilled at many different types of photography, ranging from commercial and business shoots to landscape imagery, family and couple sessions – and he’s also well-known and highly regarded for his amazing wedding photography.

Hi Andrew. What brought you to the Tamworth area to live and work?

Prior to photography, I was a police officer. In 2008 I transferred to the New England region from Sydney and fell in love with the beauty of our area. I left the police force in December 2011, still loving the job, but feeling it was time to move on. I met my wife soon after and we found a home in Tamworth on my property, which doubles as an outdoor studio for my photography customers. 

Where does your interest in photography stem from?

Whilst I do love cameras, and especially lenses, my love for photography is in the subjects and light – light interacting with landscapes, relationships between people, and those real moments captured that otherwise would be long forgotten. I have a strong connection to those big and little moments which shape not only my own family’s life but those of other people too. It’s a unique and important trust being asked to capture such times for others. This keeps my mind on the job and the senses going. 

How do you feel your previous 15-year career in the police force has helped you become a better photographer … you must have a pretty keen insight into people and how they react to different situations?

Policing is both the best job in the world and the worst. You see the human spirit triumph in times of fear, and unfortunately, you see it fail at times as well. You learn to depend on your team members for your own safety and have theirs in your hands as well. Police learn to communicate with people during all types of events; this has definitely helped me feel confident with customers, be it with just two people, or standing in front of a room full of hundreds of guests.

I think it all feels pretty normal (policing) when you are on the inside doing that job. But once you leave and look back in from the outside, you realise what an immense role it is. I joined when I was a teenager, and it was the only job I felt I was made to do. 

One of the main roles in the police force is to be a record taker and information provider. Every day police record incidents and present them to other agencies and colleagues. Photographers do the same thing, only through a purely visual means. Having found my love for professional photography, I feel like I am able to bring an interesting life lived to their images. 

Your portfolio includes wedding, couple, family, and rural photography. What is it you most enjoy about photographing people’s wedding days?

Two main things; I love the visual art of the day, the bride and groom, nice clothing, the thought that people go through in their decorations, venues etc.; and the natural landscapes that they choose to have their photos taken in. 

The other is the moments. I love to capture real moments. I don’t just line people up for the traditional photos (although there are plenty of these where appropriate too). I also spend time with them throughout the day just hanging out, having a laugh and capturing the real moments for my couples and their families and friends. 

What are some shots you love to capture at weddings that may be a little bit “out of the box” – that other photographers may not think of?

That is a good question! I don’t like to compare myself to others; wedding photographers are like partners – you have to choose the one you get on with, and that feels right for you. I will say that I am known for both special effect images and the little moments. Many of my customers tell me they hire me due to reliable reputation and my love for capturing the little moments. 

I also am known for not controlling the whole day. I don’t like to distract from a wedding day – rather, I prefer being part of it, stepping in and controlling the shots with confidence when required, and stepping back and watching from afar when appropriate. 

There’s no doubt weddings can be stressful too! How do you help ensure the bridal party is more at ease/comfortable in front of the camera?

First of all, I pride myself on being approachable. My customers are encouraged to call me and just have a chat. We spend time planning the photos around the day. A little bit of planning goes a long way to having a wedding where you can concentrate on being present, rather than on what is happening next. I work out a run sheet of where I will be and when with my customers so that no one is guessing when the photographer will turn up. A little organising before the day makes a huge difference in nerves for everyone. I can also help (if wanted) with timing for the day in general, as I have been to many weddings and for the whole day, so tend to see what works.

My wedding service includes an engagement session. The engagement session is a couple’s photoshoot on a separate date, usually months before the wedding. This way, I get to meet the bride and groom in person, and they get to see how easy it is to get nice photos and have them taken by me. 

Nervous or non-photo-loving grooms tend to respond very well to the engagement session. Some fellas tend to be a little disconnected from the photo experience, as they can feel out of their comfort zone – especially for country blokes! It’s not always natural to put yourself in front of a photographer’s lens. Once the fellas see it’s just a bit of fun, they tend to change and relax about the photos on the wedding day. This greatly reduces one of the worries a bride might have leading up to her day. There is often a lot of banter between myself and the grooms and groomsmen. 

Most of all, being reliable, confident, and kind is the key.

Apart from weddings, you’re known for other types of photography. Please tell us a little about this …

Yes, along with weddings, I am also a landscape, family photographer and business/commercial photographer. I released a book a couple of years ago, which took me four years to shoot for. It’s a landscape book on the Tamworth and New England region called Under A Big Sky. This was a major learning experience for me, not only in shooting for a commercial product but also in having to move that along. 

I provide family photography as a service and have enjoyed this part of the business. Having the opportunity to provide people heirlooms and do so in an artistic and beautiful way is something I enjoy very much. 

The other main part of my skillset is business and commercial photography. This often involves shooting custom images for businesses around the region or the country who are after one of a kind images for their brands. Websites, publications, newspapers and tourism are all part of my service. I love that one day I can be taking photos on a farm of a local family, the images destined for the family home. The next I can be shooting for a major commercial business, with the images being used around the region, country and sometimes internationally. 

As described above, this other experience helps me to do a better job at weddings, as different parts of a wedding day require different methods, without much time to think. 

Your business logo is interesting. What does this image represent?

The white gate is a feature of my property. The gate stands solo and strong overlooking the Peel Valley. When my property was built by the original owners, the wife was not keen to live on the mountains, as she wanted a white picket fence. The husband agreed to build the little fence as a sign of compromise and love for his wife. 

You could not have a more appropriate and lovely symbol as a logo, and I am blessed to have received it when we bought the place. The little gate is part of what propelled me into photography as a profession. I take many family, wedding and engagement photos on my place, and the gate is often requested as part of the image set. For my customers, it’s a bit of a cult thing and represents all the positives of my work and love/strength and compromise in general. 

What professional photographic associations/clubs are you a member of?

I am a member of the AIPP (Australian Institute of Professional Photographers) which is the only ACCC recognised body in Australia. Photography is a largely unregulated industry in Australia. I am part of the AIPP as an extra level of confidence, as you can’t be a member without the quality of your work being tested, along with the fact you are a full-time professional. 

I have been a judge for a number of photography competitions in the region and have given talks and practical lessons for private people and photography clubs. 

Left to your own devices, with free time and a camera in hand, what would be most likely to photograph?

Easy: my family going about their day to day life and on holidays etc. As with my customers, I can’t think of anything more important than making memories of my family just being them.

I love taking photos of people who don’t usually get their photo taken, someone with real character, an image that connects with their eyes and soul.  

What’s the best way to go about contacting you or to see more examples of your work?

I have a large number of real customer galleries that you can go through to get a good idea of my style. They are found in the “Client Area” of my website. Just go to the menu tab. There are other images generally on my website, but the client section shows many weddings and other jobs, along with all the images.

Website: www.andrewpearsonphotography.com.au

Thanks, Andrew.