AN Oldham photographer has made it to the final of The English Wedding Awards 2022.

Matthew Patterson,40,from Garden Suburb, is the only photographer from the borough to have been nominated.

Matthew, who owns The Photography Emporium in Oldham, is going head-to-head with ten other finalists from the North West in the Photographer of the Year North West category.

It’s the third time the born and bred Oldham photographer has made it to the finals.

Matthew said: “I made the finals back in 2018 and 2019 but unfortunately didn't win. Maybe it will be third time lucky?”

He said that to be the only finalist from Oldham made him “really proud” adding: “as you can imagine, there are a lot of wedding photographers in the North West, therefore just making it to the finals is some achievement on its own.”

The Oldham Times:

The nominees are selected on their imagery together with nominations from their clients.

The winner will be announced during an award ceremony at The Mercure Piccadilly Hotel in Manchester on February 21.

Matthew became a photographer six years ago after leaving the law profession to follow his passion.

Discussing wedding photography, he said: “I have always said that a wedding day is like a story book and should be told via the imagery.

“Yes, it's amazing to have those stand-alone 'wow' images however weddings are so much more than that. They are filled with emotion and memories. I try to capture the moments between the moments. To capture the things that both the bride and groom may have missed due to the day being so manic.

“I want the couple to look back at the images and feel the same emotions they felt on that day. To revisit it time and time again. It's all about the photographs becoming tomorrow’s memories.”

He added: “I am well known to be a documentary wedding photographer. To be constantly on the go and capture the dots that link the day together. Like, capturing the bride and groom taking time out together. Just away from the guests, speaking about their love, the day, and their future. It's the in between moments that get us from one place to the next.”