Hello Friends, and welcome to ‘Don’t Say Cheese’- creative photography. 

‘Don’t Say Cheese’ is an independent business run by myself, freelance photographer, Jack Venables. I specialise in Weddings, Children, Portraits and Band Photography, but have experience in many other platforms including Pregnancy, Artistic, Food and Nature photography.

After spending countless hours researching the photographic industry at university, it became increasingly apparent that a certain trend is emerging. Catalogue photography and glamour shots have saturated the market, whereby a certain formula is adhered to in order to create ‘desirable’ portraits. Air-brushed skin, Days of Our Lives lighting, soft focus, and babies in baskets are ever present in this age of impersonal photography. And to make matters worse, they charge you through the nose for these cliché pictures.

These photographers are out for a quick buck, and use formulaic concepts to achieve what they believe best portrays the subject.
“Tilt your head 32˚.”
“A bit more pout.”
“Make love to the camera.”
“Say Cheese!”

That’s where I come in…

I am the antithesis to glamour photography. I believe that subjects are unique and interesting in their own right, and should be treated as such. Whether it is through creative techniques, such as conceptual design and digital manipulation, or an honest fly-on-the-wall approach, I ensure that every shoot portrays the subject’s personality. No two portraits/shoots will EVER look the same.