About
Welcome to my photography website. Feel free to get in touch with any queries or questions.
I am based in Sussex and love to keep it local. So many of my favourite clients and places to visit are within 10 miles of my home.
When I photograph commissions for clients and capture landscapes for the joy of being in nature, my technique is almost the same. I take a moment to reflect on the scene, searching for details that either tell a story or are visually appealing. I use natural light and often photograph at first light and dusk to get the best results possible. When out on the South Downs, I love to go out when the weather is unusual. I seek bold colours, odd textures and lines, movement and reflections on the water.
When photographing people at events and with my portraiture work, I seek expressive moments and emotions, a glimmer of light on smiling eyes filled with amusement, people embracing one another and individual personalities.
Photography is a massive part of my life, and I welcome the variation it brings. My main objective is to create striking images that engage others, whether of a wedding, festival, event, portrait or local landscape.
Over the past few years, I have begun offering photography courses and tuition. Sharing my photography knowledge with others and teaching them how to use their camera equipment efficiently gives me great joy.
When not behind the camera, I’m generally out in the Sussex countryside with my family, lapping up the occasional sunray, walking the South Downs and swimming in the sea.
54 Crossways, Firle, Lewes, BN8 6LG
photographer@jamesratchford.uk
07729 237563
Testimonials
“We have worked with James on multiple client’s homes. His professionalism and attention to detail is very good and he always has time for our clients who can be a bit demanding at times. He is also fun to work with and easy to communicate with. Always on time, always ready to work, he delivers the best possible photos of our client’s homes in a quick and efficient manner. Not only is he a great photographer, he has great qualities which are so easy to work with; an eye for detail, creativity, passion and good people skills. We would recommend James to anyone.”
Ana Aguilar-Corner, Bees Homes
“I have worked with James for almost four years on a number of different photography and video projects. He is a very talented photographer and his work has always been of a high standard and delivered on time. He is hard working, communicates well and is easy to work with.”
Simon Ridgwell. Manager at Best of England
“We've been working with James this year to build a portfolio of iconic Sussex landscape images and he has delivered on every front. Professional to deal with, efficient, responsive and attentive, James has a great eye for the local landscapes and we're delighted with the results he's achieved for us.”
Richard Marsden, Sussex Modern
“They’re brilliant – thank you so much James, I’m really impressed. You really met the brief too, which I appreciate. (And your little ones are *super* cute!)
Save the date for next year, we’d love to have you back!”
Sarah Boak, Buddhafield Festival
“James photographed our wedding and we couldn’t have been happier! He has a very calming presence which put everybody at ease, and did a really wonderful job of making sure that we had photographs with all of our guests as well as plenty by ourselves. We are a very awkward couple in front of a camera, and James balanced giving us direction with taking candid photos and we are so thrilled with the final pictures. James also supplied the photos incredibly quickly. We are so glad that James photographed our day, and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him to anyone else.”
Dilys Hinkley, Wedding, Lewes
"James was an absolute pleasure to work with, he put extraordinary effort into capturing the Fringe for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society with excellent results - we now have a fantastic library of imagery covering every part of the Fringe. We very much look forward to working with him again and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him."
Elizabeth Burchell, Head of Marketing & Sponsorship, Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society.
“Visit Eastbourne had the pleasure of working with James capturing images for the 2022 Eastbourne Holiday Guide. James was very reliable, easy to work with and nothing was too much trouble for him. We were able to communicate with him exactly what we needed for the guide and are extremely pleased with the photographs we have received. We hope to work with him again soon!”
Visit Eastbourne, Sussex
"James has an excellent eye and always produces work of the highest quality. He is also easy to work with and accommodating - I will definitely be using his services again."
Sally Web, Editor for the Food and Drink Guide
“We received the photos yesterday - WOW! They are wonderful . They really capture the feeling of the day. We are very pleased. Thank you so much. You were the perfect addition to our day too, easy to have around, calm and fun. I’d be happy to post feedback somewhere if that would be helpful to you and of course will recommend you to others with no hesitation! Thanks again. We wish you all the best in future endeavours."
Heather & Mark, Wedding in Arundel