Business Details
Authentic Wedding & Brand Photography in Yorkshire
John Steel Photography was founded by John Steel, a former sponsored skateboarder turned photographer whose career began with a borrowed camera and a fresh perspective. Our approach centers on capturing authentic, unscripted moments that reflect the true essence of people, brands, and events. Specialising in wedding and branding photography, we prioritise natural light, candid storytelling, and creative freedom over staged setups or artificial aesthetics. With a background in extreme sports, John brings a dynamic energy to every shoot, ensuring images feel alive and uncontrived. Our clients value the ability to express their unique personalities and stories through photography that avoids clichs and embraces individuality. We serve both personal and commercial clients, from intimate weddings to innovative brand campaigns, always maintaining a focus on emotional authenticity. Based in Yorkshire, our work spans diverse locations, adapting to environments rather than imposing rigid structures. The studio exists wherever inspiration strikes - whether on a cliffside with a pink Chesterfield or amidst the joy of a wedding day. Over years of refining our craft, weve built a reputation for delivering striking visuals that resonate deeply with audiences. Our process encourages bold ideas, collaborating with art directors and stylists to bring unconventional concepts to life. From initial consultation to final delivery, we prioritise transparency, simplicity, and a client-centric experience that mirrors the authenticity of our imagery.
Services
Wedding Photography
Branding Photography
Creative Shoots
Editorial Photography
Commercial Photography
Served areas
- West Yorkshire, Brighouse, Halifax, Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield, Bailiff Bridge, Hebden Bridge
Highlights and features
- We specialise in unobtrusive, candid photography that captures genuine emotions
- Our background in extreme sports informs a dynamic, adaptable shooting style
- We offer creative collaboration with art directors and stylists for unique concepts
- Transparent pricing with no hidden costs or staged setups
- Proven expertise in both wedding and commercial photography sectors
People
John Steel
Founder & Photographer
Former skateboarder turned photographer, John Steel specialises in candid visual storytelling. His work blends artistic creativity with technical precision, focusing on authentic moments across weddings and brand projects. Based in Yorkshire, he brings a dynamic energy to every shoot while maintaining a commitment to emotional truth in imagery.
Questions
What photography styles do you specialise in?
We focus on candid, documentary-style photography for weddings and authentic brand storytelling. Our approach avoids staged setups in favour of natural moments captured with creative lighting and composition techniques.
Do you offer coverage outside Yorkshire?
While based in Yorkshire, we regularly work across the UK and internationally. Travel costs are discussed during initial consultations, with no additional charges for local Yorkshire locations.
How do you handle large group photos?
We balance unobtrusive shooting with essential group portraits. Our process keeps formal shots brief and natural, prioritising relaxed poses while ensuring all required combinations are captured efficiently.
Can you accommodate unusual creative concepts?
We actively encourage unique ideas and have experience executing unconventional shoots. From cliffside furniture photography to magician portraits, our team collaborates with stylists and art directors to realise bold creative visions.
What's included in your wedding packages?
Packages start at £1995 and include full-day coverage, unlimited images, and online gallery access. Optional add-ons include engagement shoots, second shooters, and bespoke album design services tailored to client preferences.
Reviews (11)
Rebecca Hopwood
Sep 01, 2021
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John recently supported Youbee Media on a corporate photo shoot and we are so happy with the results. John has a natural ability to help people feel at ease and really captures people, moments and shows their personality in his photos. You won't have a boring shoot with John and you won't get photos that look like everyone else's. The experience is truly bespoke and the results are fantastic. I couldn't be happier with the communication, service and results from working with John Steel
Breaking Free Design
May 25, 2021
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John Steel performed a branding shoot with us this year and we couldn't of been happier with the results or the service. John is excellent at making the day feel effortless while collecting an amazing collection of shots that we can use for years to come. I have no problem recommending John for both personal wedding shoots and personal brand photography! - Kyle
Allan Saunders
May 14, 2021
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We have used John a few times now for various projects and he always knocks it out the park. such a gifted photographer and a genuine nice person. John takes time to get to know you and brings that out in his images.
Grant The Hypnotist The Hypnotist
May 01, 2021
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What can I say John is amazing. He is more than just a photographer he's an artist. John has a great eye for what makes you stand out and really delivers.
Ali Carruthers
Apr 15, 2021
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John is a wonderful down to earth no frills Yorkshire man, who instinctively knows what a great photo, for you, looks like! His work is creative and of high quality. He likes to get you comfortable, so that you shine in your photos too. I have used John for my professional photos for around 8 years now, and he also took by wedding photos too.which were fab! Highly recommended
Genevieve Edwards
Mar 06, 2021
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I had the most wonderful photo-shoot with John. He kept up the patter and made me laugh a lot, so there were no nerves or feeling vulnerable and foolish having to be in front of a camera. He's super-flexible and easy-going regarding props, costumes, whatever I wanted included; allowing me to change outfits as often as I wanted. The actual shoot was great fun - he had arrived early and cast an eye over the terrain so had some wonderful ideas for what he suggested were good spots to take photos in.
He was spot-on! They are just gorgeous locations! When I got my photos I was really, really delighted. He's done a beautiful job with very conscious use of light and shade, with carefully crafted framing and composition. He has a real eye for shape and form - I'm just honestly delighted with the results - I look happy, I look confident, I look comfortable and at ease - because I was. All this - in fabulous warm landscapes.
The cherry on top was the amazingly high-value offer he made to give me extra prints at an excellent rate - it would be a complete no-brainer not to take them - the value-add is huge. I can't recommend John's work highly enough - I will, 100%, be back for more.
He was spot-on! They are just gorgeous locations! When I got my photos I was really, really delighted. He's done a beautiful job with very conscious use of light and shade, with carefully crafted framing and composition. He has a real eye for shape and form - I'm just honestly delighted with the results - I look happy, I look confident, I look comfortable and at ease - because I was. All this - in fabulous warm landscapes.
The cherry on top was the amazingly high-value offer he made to give me extra prints at an excellent rate - it would be a complete no-brainer not to take them - the value-add is huge. I can't recommend John's work highly enough - I will, 100%, be back for more.
Go Media
Jan 03, 2021
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What a fantastic experience. We commissioned John to take a whole host of photos for PR, Web and Social Media and he overdelivered magnificently. Johns creativity was amazing, he captured shots that we could not have possibly thought of, his enthusiasm was infectious; he even made me smile - which is difficult.
Tina Booth Tc & C.
Dec 30, 2020
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John made it so easy to get in front of the camera, something that I rarely do. I had an idea of what I wanted and John made it happen exactly the way I had envisioned. A talented and passionate photographer/artist to work with. Thank you for sharing my journey John.
Sharron Stott
Nov 04, 2020
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John took some professional photos for us and we are so pleased with the results. He's a fun chap and knows how to make you feel at ease, as well as producing some amazing photos!
Northern Media
Nov 26, 2019
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As a marketing agency, it is crucial that our online presence is consistent, on-brand and fits with our company values. Our team are at the core of our business, so when we were looking for a photographer to take photos for our new website, we knew we needed someone that would understand this and capture the positive atmosphere that surrounds our office. John came to the office and instantly understood what we were after.
He made the team feel comfortable, listened to them and most importantly made them laugh. John was happy to listen to direction to ensure that we captured the photos we needed to, but was also more than happy when we asked him to go 'full creative' and take some quirky shots. John was also prompt in sending across the final images, of which we are blown away by. We have so many shots to choose from and they are bright and capture our fun side - which hits the nail on the head for Northern Media! We can't thank you enough John!
He made the team feel comfortable, listened to them and most importantly made them laugh. John was happy to listen to direction to ensure that we captured the photos we needed to, but was also more than happy when we asked him to go 'full creative' and take some quirky shots. John was also prompt in sending across the final images, of which we are blown away by. We have so many shots to choose from and they are bright and capture our fun side - which hits the nail on the head for Northern Media! We can't thank you enough John!
Jamie Illingworth
John is an amazing photographer that really captures the essence of who you are. He spends time getting to know the real you and puts you at ease, a rare talent. I would recommend John Steel Photography without any hesitation. All round top bloke!