DarkleMoner, Lancashire based Wedding Photographer
Hello there!
I'm Stacey Jackson, also known as Darkle. My fascination with photography started young – around age 11, when I received my first camera. Since then, I've been perpetually documenting the unfolding narrative of my life.
Upon completing high school, I embarked on a career in a veterinary practice. A few years later, I transitioned to a photo processing company, where my interest in photography truly blossomed. I thoroughly enjoyed the hands-on process of developing negatives and printing images, and I cherished the interactions with customers, hearing their stories, and crafting personalized photo gifts. This period further fuelled my artistic curiosity.
In 2009, I proudly earned a BTEC National Diploma in Photography from Blackburn College in Lancashire. It was during my studies that I received a truly special gift from my partner, Tom: my very first DSLR camera body and lens. From that moment, I was unstoppable, eagerly pressing the shutter to capture every fleeting, everyday moment. The sheer enjoyment of documenting life through a lens was exhilarating.
Shortly after graduating, a dear friend entrusted me with photographing her wedding. Being a part of her special day, not just as a guest but as the one documenting its essence, was incredibly fulfilling. (If you're reading this, Sam, I remain so appreciative!) This experience truly set me on my path, igniting a passion for capturing emotion, spontaneity, and mood in people. I fell in love with the idea of providing others with tangible memories they could revisit and cherish. Capturing those precious moments in time, freezing them as images, is a truly wonderful thing to treasure as the years go by.
Life took a beautiful turn with the arrival of my first child. This brought about a shift in my priorities; my job ended, and I dedicated myself to caring for my grandparents and raising my daughter. In my spare time, I continued to develop my photographic skills, diligently working towards my goal of launching my own photography business. While my partner, Tom and I previously ran a partnership together, we now mostly focus on our independent pursuits. I am passionately building my photography business on my own, while Tom dedicates his time to his own keen concept art endeavours (you can explore his work at www.deviantart.com/javmango). We've shared many wonderful years together, fast approaching 23!
I feel incredibly gratified to have a profession that allows me to both explore my own creativity and meticulously document special moments for my clients. It is always an honour to witness and preserve the love, emotions, and developing relationships — whether it's at weddings, other significant events, capturing the innocence of infants and toddlers, creating timeless family portraits, or, of course, immortalizing our beloved pets!
My photographic approach is candid and unobtrusive. I prefer to spend time documenting events as they naturally unfold, allowing you to fully enjoy yourselves while I discreetly capture all the little details that might otherwise be missed. These natural, unposed shots carry real meaning for clients for years to come. Of course, every wedding wouldn't be complete without a few essential formal shots for the benefit of extended family.
I describe my photography style as intimate, candid, organic, natural, and honest. While much of my work encompasses weddings, I specialize in outdoor portrait photography, leveraging naturally occurring light and carefully refining images in post-production. I pour my heart into every single job I undertake, and I truly believe that dedication shines through in my photography. And yes, a very important member of my own life is often captured in my personal photographs – the photo below is of myself and my lovely German Shepherd, Fen.
