Philip Berryman
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About

London and international wedding photography by London wedding photographer, Philip Berryman

About Me 

I was born in Johannesburg, South Africa and by the time I was 20 I had lived in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia and Thailand.

 

I feel from an early age I was confronted by a more heightened sense of my environment. The otherness I sensed and experienced had to be recorded and clearly it was through the medium of photography that I sought to chronicle the ever changing world I inhabited as a young person. 

 
 

After my A levels I undertook a BTEC in photography at The Carmarthen School of Art followed by a BA (HONS) degree in photography at The Surrey Institute of Art & Design University College. During my degree I also taught the photography course at the summer school at Millfield School, Somerset and the photography course at Guildford Adult Education Centre. Upon graduation I immersed myself in the competitive world of assisting in London and went onto to experience the most exciting years learning my craft and worked for some of the most talented photographers. Some of the London based photographers I assisted included Bob Carlos Clarke, Michael Roberts and Terry O’Neill. As an assistant I won numerous competitions with The Association of Photographers, The Independent and The Fuji Awards.

Eventually personal commissions were taking over and it was time to focus on my own photography. For the next nine years I photographed the Style, People and Party pages for British Vogue. An incredible role and responsibility that put me at the forefront of the momentous rise of London’s popularity as the place to be during the late 1990’s and early 2000’s.

 
 
 

Eventually the party had to end and this was marked when Mario Testino asked to photograph me with other key social photographers in a special Vogue issue of other creative people. I turned Mario down on the premise that I was focusing on my fashion and portrait work and wanted to shake my social photographer image. 

 
 
 

 
 

Based in London I continued to shoot for British Vogue but now portraits. I was a regular contributor to other magazines such as Spanish Vogue, Glamour, Brides, Tatler, Marie Claire, In Style, Harpers Bazaar, The Times, Evening Standard Magazine and Women’s Wear Daily. Alongside my London wedding photography and party commissions I spent time in New York and Cape Town building my portfolio by testing with models and stylists. I began to shoot for advertising agencies and my background as a photographer for Vogue kept me busy with London fashion PR agencies and I continued to be a contribution photographer at royal events. I have been a contributing photographer at four royal weddings here in London and continue to be involved with royal commissions.

In addition to the editorial work I have undertaken the following are just some of the other clients that I have shot for here in London: Chopard, Ralph Lauren, Breitling, Hublot, Cartier, Tory Burch, Tiffany, Gucci, Cartier, Rolex, IWC and The NSPCC.

 
 

In 2006 I decided to move to Bangkok, Thailand. Lucky to be involved in a career that embraces and encourages travel, allowing photographers to broaden horizons, challenge oneself and feed creativity. My clients included Thai Marie Claire, Thai Harper’s Bazaar, Thai Elle Decoration, and The Bangkok Post. My proudest achievement was shooting a massive 12-page portrait story for Marie Claire on Thailand’s most famous women for a special anniversary issue.

In addition to my photography I taught the dance Zouk Lambada for two years. We formed a dance troupe and performed at hotels, parties and organised the first Zouk Lambada congress in Thailand. Another key aspect of my Bangkok life was my time spent volunteering at the Mercy Centre, an orphanage for children with HIV/AIDS. In the two years I lived and worked in Bangkok I had learnt to speak Thai to a competent level and this clearly helped when conversing with client and subjects. Nothing like a challenge!

 
 
 

I’m delighted to now dedicate my career to photographing parties, celebrations and weddings in London, across the UK and internationally and feel privileged to bring my unique style and artistic flair to capturing the most special moments of my clients’ lives.