ABOUT ME
Hiya!
I’m Zoe – the slightly awkward face and full heart behind Ephemera.
I first picked up my Nikon D3000 DSLR in my very first GCSE photography class back in 2006, and honestly, that was it for me. I remember following a photographer on Bebo and MySpace (bring them back, please!) called Jessica Hill, and I was absolutely mesmerised by the way she captured a moment. Not just the photo itself, but the magic she added in post-production. For my 13th birthday I was gifted my first editing software – the iconic Corel PaintShop Pro – proper old-school Photoshop vibes.
Nearly two decades later, here we are. I’ve grown with my craft, completing my degree at Manchester Metropolitan School of Art where I fell in love with analogue photography—developing 35mm and 6x6 film and printing in the darkroom. I adore the slow, intentional process of crafting an image and curating a collection that tells a story, whether in an album or on gallery walls.
Over the past few years of photographing weddings and portraits, I’ve realised just how much I connect with the people who step in front of my lens. I’m constantly in awe of everyone’s journey, and I feel genuinely honoured when someone invites me into their world—messy, perfect, or anything in between.
Before I even lift my camera, I take time to get to know you so you feel relaxed and completely yourself. My approach is mostly documentary-led, with playful prompts sprinkled in when they help bring out the good stuff. I edit in a true-to-life style—no trendy colour washes, no heavy-handed retouching—just honest, timeless images that feel like you.
Because in 20 years, I never want you looking back at your gallery wondering what on earth you signed up for.
The Philosophy of a Photograph
‘Ephemera’ means things that exist for only a short time. I won’t go full Roland Barthes or Susan Sontag on you (but kudos if you know who they are), yet at its core, photography is about holding onto a moment that’s already slipped away. To photograph something is to give it permanence—to evoke a feeling every time it’s seen. We might forget the exact memory, but we rarely forget the photograph taken in that moment.