Jon Ball at Solid Imagery looks back on 46 years of photographing love Solid Imagery will celebrate its 46th anniversary in February 2026. During that time, Director Jon Ball has taken more than 1.5 million professional photographs and is currently preparing to shoot his 1,530th wedding. Alongside a successful commercial career, which has included photographing the Nelson Mandela archive, Jon reflects on the Solid story and how wedding photography has evolved over the years. JON’S JOURNEY “I was just 16 when a local photographer called and asked if I’d like to join his company. By Monday morning, I was a trainee photographer. It was completely different back then. In 1980, it cost £50 to cover an entire wedding, including 12 8x6 prints in a leather album. We shot on film, with just three rolls with 36 shots to cover the whole day. You had to be precise. It was very formulaic, particularly with group photos. That’s something I still use today. We’ve all been to weddings where group shots take forever. Our method takes about 20 minutes, regardless of numbers. “If a photographer is inefficient, it shows in the photos right on people’s faces. We’re professionals with a job to do. At Solid Imagery, we aim to make it fun without interfering. We’re there to enhance the day, not delay it. About 80 per cent of a wedding is capturing fleeting moments like the smiles, the winks and moments people don’t notice. Technology has changed, but it’s still a family gathering and those are rare enough. I see photographers calling themselves ‘documentary wedding photographers’ but seem afraid to organise people, and that can be a problem. The couple only realise what’s missing when they get their photos but by then, it’s too late.” Jon’s story is one of enduring passion and proof that while technology and trends may change, the heart of great wedding photography remains timeless. A lifetime of weddings ENQUIRE NOW! 07801 809 706 jon@solidimagery.co.uk solidimagery.co.uk solidimagery.co.uk
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