“Captured key moments and key people without us needing to spell things out for them..”

James and his crew are the most incredible photographers you can dream of. 

Aside from the amazing, impressive, skilful pictures that they took they were each so sensitive and sympathetic to our needs. They took shots with ease and speed without imposing on our event, captured key moments and key people without us needing to spell things out for them, and were a pleasure to have around. 

Not only that but James was accommodating and supportive throughout the entire process. Thank you James! 

Jojo’s Bar Mitzvah

Angela and Yoni

I would definitely use James again he is first class.

James Shaw is an excellent photographer who makes you feel immediately at ease.He totally captures the moment when photographing a party and his pictures are so vibrant. I would definitely use James again he is first class.

Dean’s Birthday

Emma Mero

“He even managed to entice an A-List Hollywood star into our celebration”

James has assisted at two family events, and we have been left with the most incredible photographic memories of the evening. Not only that, but on both occasions, James has put us all completely at ease, is lovely to have around and captured all the key moments. He even managed to entice and A-List Hollywood star into our celebration to have photos with us! Would highly recommend James.

Lucy’s Bat Mitzvah and Ollie’s Bar Mitzvah

Sarah and Robert Ginsberg

“We look through our photos often and see parts of the event that we didn’t see on the night”

James was absolutely great to work with. I’m very fun to have around on our daughter’s big day. The pictures he produced captured moments wonderfully. We look through our photos often and see parts of the event that we didn’t see on the night. Overall, I would highly recommend James to anyone who wanted a first class photographer

Carrie’s Bat Mitzvah

Gemma Lyons

“ It is still incomprehensible to me how he captured ad hoc moments to perfection”

From my first phonecall with James, I knew that he was the perfect person to photograph my son’s Bar Mitzvah. Not only did he completely understand my son and our whole party theme, he took the most incredible photos that we absolutely love. It is still incomprehensible to me how he captured ad hoc moments to perfection, with absolutely no warning! James was professional and an absolute pleasure to deal with. Thank you!

Jacob’s Bar Mitzvah

Mel Langford

“Caught every special moment”

We used James Shaw photography for my son’s Barmitzvah. James was professional throughout and couldn’t do enough.

Friendly demeanour made everyone at ease with some great candid snaps.

Caught every special moment and created some great cherished memories with a fantastic album which I had small copies of for the grandparents. Can’t recommend James and his team enough.

Zane’s Bar Mitzvah

Andrew Gradus

“I knew that I was going to be in safe hands”

From the first telephone conversation that I had with James I knew that I was going to be in safe hands. He made me feel so at ease and I was completely confident that he would be able to capture everything I wanted and everything that I didn’t even know I wanted!!!

At the event he was a very calming influence and was the best of both worlds in the way that he was always there if I needed to grab him to take a picture but equally he never got in the way of anything that was going on.

By the next morning I was already sent a selection of incredible shots which were so wonderful to receive so soon after the event!! The full complement of images were ready 6 weeks later and I was so delighted with the results.

Somehow I managed to choose my favourites for an album which James created. I loved that he was also always so happy to follow my thoughts and ideas as well to create something completely bespoke that I am able to treasure. Would 100% recommend James for any event, photos are so important to me and I felt he captured the whole evening beautifully.

Jamie’s Bar Mitzvah

Mandy and Danny Myers

“James far exceeded our expectations.”

We have used James for all three of our children’s B’nei Mitzvah and cannot recommend him enough. He is professional and calm immediately putting us and our guests at ease. His experience was invaluable which enabled him to take the best photos and really capture the atmosphere, creating the memories we will cherish always.

During lockdown our daughters Bat Mitzvah service was at home. Our WiFi kept crashing resulting in nervous giggling and he produced incredible photos that captured the laughter, tears and emotions from an unusual situation.

James far exceeded our expectations. He captured every wonderful moment both planned and unexpected. He was discrete when he needed to be whilst grabbing everyone’s attention when the group photos were needed. Photos were produced quickly which meant we didn’t have to wait too long to see them and the quality was exceptional. Even now when we open the albums we are transported back to those special occasions.

Saphira’s Bat Mitzvah

Alison and Howard Harris

“We were so happy with his service and artistry that we have used him twice”

James is a lovely photographer to work with. He has good energy and makes you feel at ease on the day - even with teenagers - in order to capture the beautiful and joyous moments. He is professional and funny, and most importantly, the photos are amazing. What is captured is a forever keepsake, beautifully presented and taking pride of place at home in walls and in bookcases! We were so happy with his service and artistry that we have used him twice and do not hesitate to recommend him to anyone wanting lovely, artistic and natural pictures.

Remi’s Bat Mitzvah

Eve and Adrian Binns

“We will certainly be working with you again for our other boys .”

Dear James, We just wanted to thank you for the most wonderful pictures you took at Sammy’s Bar Mitzvah.

The pictures are just outstanding and it was difficult to choose when we would have liked them all for our album.

We will certainly be working with you again for our other boys .

Sammy’s Bar Mitzvah

Love Lauren and Nick x

“He knew exactly where to be and captured the excitement”

We were absolutely thrilled with the photos James took for our recent simcha! He knew exactly where to be and captured the excitement and fun of the evening perfectly. He was also a pleasure to deal with at every stage of the organisation and evening.

Jess and William’s Bnei Mitzvah

Nicole Parkinson

“My mum keeps raving about the photos and saying what a lovely man that James is"

Just wanted to pop over a note to say thank you for being our photographer for Dylan's barmitzvah, the pictures are out of this world and daily i keep looking at them to remind myself how great the night was.

We were only at a function on saturday night and Jon commented about the photographer and said that he didn't remember you being there once the formal pictures were over, you just were in the background getting the photos and not getting in the way (unike this photographer). My mum keeps raving about the photos and saying what a "lovely man that James is" and you were able to control the gaggle of family so well.

We can't wait to see all the photos but thank you for capturing such a great weekend for us.

Dylan’s Bar Mitzvah

Hayley and Jon Klaff x

“ he's just a lovely fellow to have at your party!”

James is a gentleman and a scholar. His photos of our son's Barmitzvah are not only technically brilliant (and i say that as a photographer) but have a unique emotional depth, capturing moments that will doubtless be cherished for generations. Beyond all that he's just a lovely fellow to have at your party!

Saul’s Bar Mitzvah

Marc Jacobs

“He was relaxed, friendly and unobtrusive”

It was a pleasure to have James taking the photos at our daughter's Bat Mitzvah. He was relaxed, friendly and unobtrusive. But he still managed to take the most beautiful photos and capture the fun of the party.

Louisa’s Bat Mitzvah

Ros Feldman

“I don’t know how you managed to capture so much”

Yes they are amazing! We are savouring them so working through slowly! I don’t know how you managed to capture so much- have you got a few sneaky clones we didn’t know about? 😂

Scarlett’s Bat Mitzvah

Jennifer Shill

“thank you so much!”

Wow! The party pics were stunning but the shul pics have blown me away! You’ve captured the magical memories on such exquisite detail - thank you so much!

Harrison’s Bar Mitzvah

Justine Woolf

“The final photos exceeded our expectations”

We are so grateful for the photography service provided by James Shaw at our son's Bar Mitzvah. From the start, he was professional and genuinely invested in capturing our special day. James has a great ability to blend into the background, capturing precious moment and shots. The final photos exceeded our expectations, showcasing the joy and love among our family and friends. We highly recommend James Shaw for anyone looking for a talented photographer!

Cooper’s Bar Mitzvah

Tracey Jaffe

“He went out of his way to get creative and candid shots, making us and our guests look amazing”

We couldn’t be happier with the incredible photos James Shaw captured at our combined 50th birthday party at the Croc Bowling Alley at the Ham Yard Hotel. From start to finish, James was an absolute professional—friendly, attentive, and genuinely invested in making sure every special moment was beautifully documented. He went out of his way to get creative and candid shots, making us and our guests look amazing. His ability to capture the energy and joy of the night was truly impressive. We highly recommend James for any event—he’s a fantastic photographer and a pleasure to work with!

Stefan and Nicolette’s 50th

Nicolette and Stefan

“A brilliant job, highly recommend”

We could not be more delighted with the photos. Thank you James, you have succeeded in capturing the moment and the emotion of our simcha perfectly. This was not our first experience with James and he was once again a total pleasure to deal with. A brilliant job, highly recommend and looking forward to working with you again!.

Abi’s Bat Mitzvah

Michelle & Cliff

“James was professional, friendly, and a joy to work with”

We recently had the pleasure of working with James Shaw for my son's Bar Mitzvah, and we couldn't be happier with the experience! James went above and beyond, first meeting us at the synagogue the week before the event to capture some beautiful family shots. His attention to detail and ability to capture candid moments were truly impressive.

Then, on the Saturday night of the celebration, James worked his magic again, taking stunning photos of the entire event. From the speeches to the dancing, he was there to document every important moment, and the photos turned out incredible! James was professional, friendly, and a joy to work with. His calm demeanor made the day feel even more special, and we were never disappointed with the final results. We are so grateful to have had him capture these memories, and we would highly recommend him to anyone looking for a talented and reliable photographer.

James Bar Mitzvah

Paul Walters

“James was a pleasure to have around, always there but not changing the flow of the party”

Thank you so much for the wonderful photos you took for us at our son’s barmitzvah. James was a pleasure to have around, always there but not changing the flow of the party. We would highly recommend him. 

Nicholas’s bar Mitzvah

Marc and Samantha  Smith

“From start to finish, James demonstrated exceptional professionalism, creativity, and an eye for detail “

We had the pleasure of working with James Shaw during our recent event, and we couldn't be more delighted with the results. James photographed our daughter Emma's bat mitzvah at the N20 venue in 2024, and his work was nothing short of exceptional.

From start to finish, James demonstrated exceptional professionalism, creativity, and an eye for detail that truly captured the essence of our event. Throughout the day, James was unobtrusive yet always present, managing to capture the most candid moments as well as beautifully composed shots. His ability to put everyone at ease made for natural, genuine photos that we will treasure for years to come.

The final images exceeded our expectations and perfectly encapsulated the atmosphere and energy of the event. James's post-production work was equally impressive, enhancing the photos without losing their authenticity.

We wholeheartedly recommend James Shaw for any event. His talent, dedication, and passion for photography are evident in every shot.

Thank you, James, for helping us create lasting memories.

Emma’s Bat Mitzvah

Natalie Shulman.

“The photos from the rehearsal, call-up and main party are simply epic”

When I saw Photos from my friends function and saw James in action, I just knew I wanted James for my sons barmitzvah 7 years later! So as soon as I got my date I was straight on the phone to James and booked him… for three years down the line!

I was not disappointed. The photos from the rehearsal, call-up and main party are simply epic and amazing capturing the emotion and essence at all three. It is hard going picking some for an album.

James is fab to deal with. Calm and patient, polite and a pleasure to have as part of your simcha. Leading up to the barmitzvah he was always available to speak to and just an all round top guy. Would not hesitate in using him again and highly recommend.

Samuel’s Bar Mitzvah

Filippa Woolf

“What truly stood out was how well James handled the varying comfort levels of our family members”

We recently hired James to photograph our son’s bar mitzvah, and we couldn’t be happier with his work. James was incredibly professional throughout the entire process, capturing not only the key moments of the event but also the lively atmosphere of the celebration.

What truly stood out was how well James handled the varying comfort levels of our family members when it came to taking photos. He was patient, and understanding, and had a way of making everyone feel at ease.

Our event was unique, combining a soft play area with a party with dancing. James seamlessly captured both sides of the event, preserving the joy and energy of each part.

Overall, we highly recommend James to anyone looking for a talented and professional photographer to capture their simcha.

Yoav’s Bar Mitzvah

“James not only captured the images but the emotion of the day”

Great pictures James. True professional.. Recommended 200%+++ . James not only captured the images but the emotion of the day.. Clearly evident in some of the pics of me and Lorraine!! I was not crying I had something in my eye! Well done James Shaw.. Anyone want a photographer then call me or contact me.. I have James Details.

Miles Bar Mitzvah

Keith Tomalin

“Somehow James was everywhere at our event.”

From the moment we met James we knew he was right to shoot our son’s Bar Mitzvah. The photos he shared with us showed how he could capture the atmosphere to provide the style of photos we wanted. And we weren’t wrong. Somehow James was everywhere at our event. He took the most fabulous photos of every moment, both at the call-up and the party itself and even managed to get photos of the more camera shy amongst our friends & family. Plus include a few photos of the dog too. James was a pleasure to work with in the lead up to the event, offering helpful advice and tips. We’d highly recommend James for any event.

Ethan’s Bar Mitzvah

Richard Angel

“knows exactly where to be at the right time without being at all intrusive”

James is the perfect photographer! Without fail he captures every precious moment, knows exactly where to be at the right time without being at all intrusive. And most importantly his pictures are perfect and we will love looking at them forever. He is patient and lovely to deal with. We have used him twice and wouldn’t hesitate to use him again.

Eden’s Bat Mitzvah

Nina and Daniel Soloway

“Enjoy your simcha knowing you are in expert hands “

We used James Shaw for all three of our bar mitzvah‘s. He is an incredible, intuitive and highly talented photographer that somehow manages to capture all of your magic moments. We were delighted with both our synagogue and party pictures from the events. The reel he posted ‘on the night’ was incredible and I never expected to see pictures so quickly. His turnaround sending pictures to us was impressive. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him. Enjoy your simcha knowing you are in expert hands and that James will capture the energy and emotion of your event.

Leon, Reiss and Saul’s Bar Mitzvah

Debbie and David Morris

“Captured forever some of the most important and spine-tingling awesome moments of our lives”

James photographed all three of our children’s bat and bar mitzvahs and, in doing so, captured forever some of the most important and spine-tingling awesome moments of our lives. It’s been nearly a decade since our first party, yet each photo still takes us right back into the room as if it was yesterday. There is no one else we would ask to be with us whilst we celebrate - in fact, we booked James for our third party whilst on the dance floor at our second! A true master of his trade and a pleasure to work with, we would recommend James to anyone.

Evie, Eli and Leo’s Bar and Bat Mitzvah’s

Sharon and Gaby Laifer

“The photos were stunning!”

We couldn’t be more pleased with the photos that James took for us from our simcha last year. James was a pleasure to deal with right from the start of our conversations and incredibly easy to work with over the course of the weekend, capturing every special moment beautifully. The photos were stunning. We highly recommend him for any event!

Dylan’s Bar Mitzvah

David and Belinda Grabiner