2020 in Pictures: Intimate Weddings in Oxford

Well, what a year 2020 has been for us all. Philippa James Photography HQ has seen weddings delayed, adjusted, postponed and in some cases cancelled. I’ve managed to still photograph a handful of beautiful intimate weddings in Oxford, and I’ve also been spending much of my time developing my photography practice through exhibiting my personal project 100 WOMEN OF OXFORD at Tap Social Movement during Oxfordshire Art Weeks and at The North Wall Art Centre for Photo Oxford Festival 2020. I had my very first piece of art commissioned by The Old Fire Station and I’ve applied for development funding for my next project (I’ve never applied for funding, so this has been a huge achievement in itself!)

Sadly I haven’t been able to run my photography workshops this year (which I’ve missed so much), but I did manage to curated an on-line exhibition from the students work, called ISOLATION, for Oxfordshire Art Weeks. This was great fun and also got picked up by the BBC (hell yeah – see video here: ISOLATION ON-LINE EXHIBITION) The workshops will be up and running again in January, safely on-line, until we can meet up again, which I’m super excited about, for more information take a peek here THE MOTHERHOOD.

Like many other photographers, I’ve also been getting creative and been busy documenting things other than art and weddings, such as small brand portraits, family photography, FaceTime newborn photography, and sadly funerals. I’ve also had the time to invest in documenting my own family. So below, I share with you what I see through my camera lens. Big big hugs, and here’s to new exciting plans for 2021. Philippa James xxxx

Oxford Wedding Photography - Philippa James Photography

The cutest couple during their small intimate Oxford wedding

Family eating breakfast together around a dark wooden kitchen table

Family lifestyle session in London town

Portrait of Rachel Movitz - by Philippa James

Branding shoot for Rachel Movitz ceramics

Laughing couple on stone steps clinking pints of beer, the woman wearing a short veil with pink flowers

Port Mahon landlord and landlady on their would-be wedding day

Woodstock Town Hall Wedding by Philippa James

A very small small covid wedding in Woodstock Town Hall

Portrait of author Jasmine Richards by Philippa James Photography

Portrait of author Jasmine Richards

Mother smiling down at her newborn baby in her arms beside a bed and wooden crib

Newborn shoot on Face Time with baby Lyra and mum

The launch of my first exhibition, 100 Women of Oxford at Tap Social on Women’s International Day 2020

Me giving a speech at the launch (there were 500 people – agh!!) photo by Rachel Movitz

Black and white view from behind of a couple holding hands as they walk along a path

Black and white portrait of a smiling woman in a white dress dancing in a garden

wedding shoot in the rain

Older woman smiling as she sits on a sofa holding her small white dog

Branding shoot for BelleVie Home Care

Two women in white dresses and boots sitting together on a garden wall

Branding shoot for Toastie Kids

Man in a black T-shirt picking up a doorstep delivery of groceries and milk bottles

Early morning family shoot

Two women in face masks helping a bride into her lace dress as her long veil is lifted

Oxford wedding

Oxford Weddings by Philippa James Photography

Small city wedding

Family shoot

Autumn Mini-Sessions

Brand photography for Super Sapiens

Open book and papers on a wooden desk by a leaded window overlooking an Oxford college lawn

Oxford University College location photography

Oxford University by Philippa James

Bride in a flower crown and groom in a navy suit nuzzling noses in front of dark greenery

Small city wedding

Exhibition photography of Korky Paul’s illustrations at The North Wall

Black Lives Matter protest at South Park Oxford

Laughing woman in a white broderie dress hugging a man in a white shirt in the rain

Happiness in saying I do

Homeschooling with me being teacher!

Amy Meadows

Mini shoot on Amy Meadows would be wedding day

Smiling woman in a bobble hat and cream jumper wrapped in a hug by a man in a green coat

A little pre-wedding lovers shoot

Girl in a denim apron adding chocolate chips to cookie dough on a floury kitchen table

My daughter Edith self isolating

Bridal shoes on a wooden chest of drawers beside a palm print, candles and autumn flowers

An intimate Oxford wedding at The Perch

Smiling woman in a flower crown and short veil leaning on a window ledge in a pub

Portrait of Blogger Cassie Jane from Maid In Oxford

Family of four in wellies standing together on a woodland path in autumn

Family mini-session at CS Lewis Nature Reserve

Couple in knitted jumpers sharing a close hug in autumn woodland

Two men in suits and face masks lowering a small coffin into a grave as masked mourners look on

Baby J born sleeping

Groom in a velvet jacket kissing the head of his smiling bride in a narrow Cotswold stone lane

Cute wedding portraits – Oxfordshire

Girl in a green school jumper writing with a pencil at a wooden table beside pots of pens

My daughter Betsy writing to Father Christmas

wedding at Gees restaurant by Philippa James Photography

Intimate Oxford Wedding at Gee’s Restaurant

100 Women of Oxford at The North Wall

100 WOMEN OF OXFORD exhibition at

100 Women of Oxford Exhibition by Philippa James

Philippa James

Camping with my crew in Oxfordshire

An project where I documented women in the morning. Exhibited at Waste2Taste Cafe in Ark-T art centre

Smiling woman in a swimsuit and goggles wading out of a river with a red tow float

Rising Rituals photography project – 5.30am

Rising Rituals photography project – cup of tea

Father and son praying on prayer mats in a living room while family members sit nearby

Rising Rituals – Morning Prey

Art at the Old Fire Station - Oxford Together Stories

The Power that Each Individual Holds – commission by Art at the Old Fire Station – Read more: Oxford Together Stories