If you have a comment or feedback you would like to add - [email protected] will find me!
Testimonials and feedback for Ash Mills Photography
"Ash’s photography takes my breath away. He has a unique way of capturing a subject that’s unexpected, combined with a very light touch which results in a spectacular image. I would recommend Ash without hesitation whatsoever. If you are looking for the best, then look no further." Spencer M.
"Ash’s stunning, naturally-lit photos speak for themselves – he has a unique ability to take spectacular shots of landscapes and buildings, intimate portraits of people or animals, evocative images of formal concerts or church services, or lively panoramas of bustling crowds with equal skill. He is a joy to work with whatever the circumstances – friendly, polite, calm and efficient; very good at working independently in an unfamiliar environment; courteous to anyone else who may be using the building or from whom he may need to request access to good vantage points.
Ash is particularly skilled at photographing concerts and church services, because he understands what is going on and can anticipate opportunities to capture good shots or to move quietly and unobtrusively around the space. This is very, very unusual!
I have also appreciated his hard work in providing speedy access to edited images after a shoot. His high-resolution photos are always immaculate and can be downloaded, manipulated and used for high-quality print or social media very easily, which saves an incredible amount of time. In my experience of working with him on several music-related projects he delivers better photographs than anyone else, for an extremely reasonable price.
Images by Ash will pay for themselves many times over in promoting events, places, organisations or the work of individual performers." Clare S.
"Working with Ash has been an absolute pleasure from start to finish. He is a hugely skilled photographer, with a real eye for detail and seems to understand instinctively what is needed to make things "look good". I am delighted with the photographs he produced for my business and have had many comments on the high quality images on my website and social media. He is quiet and unobtrusive on a shoot and able to adapt to a variety of different situations without disrupting the action - we hardly realised he was there. Turnaround was extremely quick and Ash has been a thoroughly helpful and professional contributor throughout.
In addition to doing my business photography, Ash also designed my logo. He made the design process thoroughly enjoyable and captured exactly what I had in my head very easily. I couldn't be happier with his work and would have no hesitation in recommending him. " Laura P.
"Ash creates fantastic photographs - you can see that for yourself by looking at his work. But what you can’t see from the images themselves is the way he goes about making them: unobtrusively, quietly capturing moments you didn’t think he’d spotted, as well as moments you didn’t even realise made a beautiful picture. Somehow he seems to manage to be in two places at once, and yet also confidently directs crowds when needed. We couldn’t have been more pleased with our wedding photos, and felt Ash really captured the soul of the day, all while being a pleasure to work with." Will & Lorna E.
"Working with Ash is such a delight! Not only is he extremely professional and subtle (exactly what a photographer should be!) but also wildly talented and extremely creative. Ash is also efficient, informative and always happy to help. He manages to capture perfect lifestyle images and never fails to show pure joy and happiness through his work. I will always recommend Ash and absolutely love working with him!" Jess P.
"Having had publicity photos done of me and of the choirs with which I work, I can honestly say that Ash Mills is the finest photographer I have ever encountered. He is great to work with, quietly and efficiently getting on with the job, and always exploring new ways of coming up with stunning shots. His action shots of me conducting in the Royal Albert Hall as well as the more posed ones are firm favourites and ones I still us years later. He also caught the magnificence of the hall perfectly.
I highly recommend Ash for the every highest quality of his work and the calm, friendly and professional way in which he goes about his work. His many photos of Salisbury Cathedral are also second to none." Jeremy B.
“I have known Ash and his work for nearly 30 years. In that time I have always been amazed at the way in which he sees the world- his pictures so often give a new insight, for instance showing something you might have walked past every day and not even noticed. He is the master of grand pictures of impressive occasions and places, but also he magically captures the tiny moments that others may miss- a brief glance between two newly-weds, a cheeky smile within a group of friends…. As well as this he is an absolute delight to work with; polite, unassuming and good at understanding exactly what is required. If you are looking for a talented photographer who is reliable, kind and prepared to go that extra mile then Ash is your man!” Susie L.
Ash is a true professional, having worked with him on several projects, he has taken fabulous shots of cast and crew during productions and events. The results speak for themselves - stunning, high-quality photographs. He is consistent in delivering outstanding shots which is a testament to his dedication of his craft. I wholeheartedly recommend Ash to anyone seeking not only exceptional images but also a positive and collaborative experience. Cassie D.
"Ash’s photographs are always of the most wonderful quality and really are a thing of beauty. Whether he’s capturing live performance, group shots or happy and busy faces, he finds true magic in every shot. He’s my ‘go-to’ for any occasion." Sarah O.
"I collaborated with Ash for three years on photography and videography projects for school brochures. His remarkable creativity and attention to detail consistently impressed me. The clients were always amazed by the breath taking quality of the photography. Ash possesses a distinctive talent in photography that is truly unparalleled. My recommendation? Hire him. You'll be glad you did." David C.
"Ash is a brilliant photographer. He works to your brief, is sensitive and discreet when photographing during performances, and always produces images that capture exactly what is required. He is completely professional and a delight to work with.” Kate E.
"Ash and I have worked together since 2009. Ash’s photographs have recorded every exhibition that I curated at Salisbury Cathedral, he has a unique talent in managing to capture the interplay between the art in the context of the cathedral space. Art works are placed so that there is a dialogue between the art and the space it is placed in, Ash has always managed to show this important dialogue and create excellent images.
The art works are mostly exhibited for a short period of time, so the images Ash captures are extremely important to document these exhibitions.
We have also collaborated in successful creative projects, The Salisbury Cathedral Nativity and Drop Down Yeah Heavens at Chichester Cathedral.
Ash continues to take great images of gallery exhibitions - we hope to collaborate again when a book about curating in sacred spaces will be published, which will showcase many of Ash’s photographs." Jacquiline C.
"I've worked with Ash a lot, although often without being aware of it at the time! He's a photographic ninja when he needs to be, shooting from the shadows to get the perfect angle without intruding, he knows all the good spots and when to be in them. He's also not afraid of getting up at crack of dawn to catch a building in the best light, or slogging over rough terrain to frame a pic the more timid photographer wouldn't have considered. And the results speak for themselves! Landscapes, architecture, organised groups, candid reportage, concerts, he'll crush it in either stills or video." Richard H.
"Not only a brilliant photographer, Ash is also a great teacher, working to the skills and abilities of the people he is teaching. He taught me just as much about creativity and capturing memorable moments as improving my technical photography skills.
He is a personable and patient person to work with and has a unique approach to photography which he shares with enthusiasm and warmth."
Cesca Myles, Well-City Salisbury facilitator. "Exploring Photography" Course led by Ash Mills
I had my headshots done by Ash Mills , he made me feel very much at ease , I was very comfortable with him , he had a lot of patience , and I enjoyed being with him while he took my pics , a very kind and courteous man , would go to him again." Dean P.
"I have known Ash for many years during which time he has become a friend and mentor in my equal love of photography as well as colleague at Salisbury Cathedral.
In my role as deputy head guide , volunteer concert steward and member of the guild of stewards there I have seen Ash working at weddings, concerts, services and other events, always with a completely professional and sensitive approach producing superb photographs which always capture essence of the occasion." Tricia G.
"Ash is an absolute dream to work with. His stealth-like presence means that he captures the most incredible photographs without you even realising he is there. I have never come across a more unobtrusive photographer!
I highly recommend him as a concert photographer because he works in absolute silence (no annoying camera clicks) which is a godsend for any musician. His photographs of all of the performers (instrumentalists, singers, actors) are always spectacular.
He has this incredible ability to capture the most brilliant photographs in the most difficult lighting circumstances. The wonderful thing about Ash’s photographs is that he captures beautiful closeups of individuals, taken from afar, and he has this incredible knack of managing to photograph everyone individually even in a large group situation." Olivia S. 2024
"Ash Mills is an excellent photographer and always helpful" - Nick S.
"Ash is a very talented photographer who has been picturing the young musicians on our music courses since 2008. He is very adaptable and creative and always manages to capture the very essence of what we do.
Ash is friendly, reliable and always really helpful. I would highly recommend him to anyone needing a photographer for their wedding or event."
Elaine A.
"I had the pleasure of meeting Ash at an event he was photographing. He took some wonderful photos of me performing, and I was really impressed by his skill and creativity. I then discovered he is also a videographer, so booked him for some filming work. He was a real pleasure to work with, going above and beyond to get all the details just right, and great company too!
I was thrilled with the finished video – the detail and creative elements really captured what I had hoped for.
He is the perfect blend of friendly and professional – I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him to anyone in need of either photography or video, and hope to work with him again in the future." - Charlie G.
"I had the absolute pleasure of working with Ash, when Music Masters needed a range of digital collateral to support a major online fundraising campaign.
At very short notice, Ash took on the project brief, working with us to develop and edit a campaign film, including adding graphics and other visual elements. Nothing was too much trouble, and his clear depth of experience meant that he was able to translate our very loose brief into a tight and high-impact film, that played a major part in the charity hitting its campaign target. He was beyond brilliant to work with. I wouldn't hesitate to use Ash again for other projects, whether for video or photography!" Will H.
"Ash has done a range of photography for me - personal and portrait for me, and group photography of my choir. He’s always very professional and technically smart, but also very creative, and receptive to more out-there ideas and requests. (And his landscape and architectural photography are also superb!)
I’d recommend him to anyone in a heartbeat." Simon M.
"I first became aware of Ash’s work when my son joined the Vergers’ Team at Salisbury Cathedral. There were many examples around the Cathedral, and his work was used widely on in printed material and on the Website. The Christmas hangings at the Spire Crossing produced for the Cathedral Chapter with Jacquiline Creswell were a fine example of his creativity, as well as another at Chichester Cathedral. When I was appointed as Vicar of the Close, at Salisbury Cathedral, I met Ash and found him to be extremely professional in his approach to photography – he has the gift of moving discreetly about when conducting a photo shoot, making him almost ‘invisible’ as he goes about his work.
For my son and daughter-in-law, he was the go-to photographer for their engagement photo shoot and then for their wedding producing some amazing shots of the Wedding in the Cathedral and the Reception, at Boscombe Down Aviation Collection. He documented the whole event, and the results were magical, capturing so many happy memories! Because of this wonderful experience for our family, my daughter engaged Ash to photograph her wedding. This wedding took place in Kendal (Cumbria) and Ash was prepared to travel north and photograph the day in his usual unobtrusive way. The results were excellent, more happy memories to view again digitally online, or to download and print.
If you want an imaginative and talented photographer for portrait work, a family event, a corporate photo shoot, who is easy to work with then I can thoroughly recommend Ash Mills." - Nigel D.
"Ash is such a wonderful photographer for any occasion; he makes you feel comfortable and able to be yourself and he captures discreet moments that are real, rather than overly posed. He was amazing at creeping around quietly in our wedding so that the service and speeches were in no way interrupted. Our wedding photos are such a special part of the memories we have of that day and I can’t recommend Ash to you highly enough." Ali H.
"I have used Ash for professional headshots, promotional photos, promotional videos and for my wedding photos. His pictures are completely natural, and captured the real me - it never feels forced or staged.
He has a calming presence and an amazing ability to remain hidden as he captures the most beautiful images. Ash also has a knack of identifying artsy backdrops, creating truly stunning imagery. Ash is professional from start to finish, and his experience shines through. I intend to use him again in the future, both for work photos and for more family pictures." Katie F.
"The photos are a wonderful record of a special evening and I am really grateful to you for recording it for us. Thank you."
"..really great photos! You are brilliant at catching unsuspecting people!" SMS, 2023
"To whom it may concern - I have known Ash Mills since we moved to Salisbury in 2000. Ash is photographer of extraordinary ability and an eye that constantly seeks out the beauty and often the unexpected in a scene. Ash is the master unobstrusive photographer. He will quietly seek out the perfect spot to catch people and events at their most unguarded and thus gets to the heart of his subjects (revealing them in moments of joy and informality.)
Ash spent many years as the preferred photographer for Salisbury Cathedral photographing the building, its craftsmen and women, its congregations, services and its musicians. There is a most iconic series of photographs of the famous Darkness to Light services where Ash used long exposures to catch the trails of light left by a procession of candles. These photos have often featured in the national press and are often now copied but never bettered! Ash is a joy to work with and a consummate professional.
We have been delighted to engage him to take our first photographs and we will certainly be inviting him back. I recommend Ash to you unreservedly as one of the finest photographers of his generation."
"Ash’s photos are amazing. Such a great eye for place, moment and atmosphere, unparalleled expertise and such a breath of fresh air in terms of style. I’ve always been so pleased with Ash’s photos whether single shots, groups or landscapes." Catherine B.
"I have observed this talented photographer at work capturing magic moments at weddings, concerts, civic events and schools.
I am convinced Ash owns a cloak of invisibility that enables him to move around a building and take photos without anyone being aware of his presence! His gentle sweet charm also puts his subjects at ease, be they giggling children, important dignitaries, blushing bridal couples or celebrities. I cannot recommend him highly enough. The results are outstanding!" Fiona B.
"They look fantastic... lovely images...thank you."
"These are wonderful. BIG BIG thank you for being amazing!" Amelia (BBC Wiltshire)
"Ash Mills is a highly talented photographer who has taken images for our school over the last 10 years. He is a true professional who always demonstrates a calm and measured approach to his work. He has produced some outstanding photographs which truly capture the moment, show things off in the very best light offer a true sense of quality.
Ash is very patient, he is always willing to adapt and will work hard to ensure that the photos taken meet or exceed our expectations. Every year Ash has spent a full day in our Design & Technology department, shooting the students' practical outcomes. His pictures always highlight the strengths of their work. It is always a pleasure to work with Ash, he’s a hardworking professional and one of the best photographers we’ve ever worked with." Chris M.
"I first got to know Ash's work when he took promotional photos of the vocal ensemble I sing with. He has done numerous shoots with us, and is quick, flexible and inventive. We regularly get positive comments on the pictures.
Ash also did our wedding photography, for which he went the extra mile, taking a comprehensive record of the whole day, with a great eye for not only the detail of the beautiful space in which we were married, but also for the human moments which really make a wedding day special.
He got us the photos quickly and efficiently, and I have had no hesitation in recommending him to all my friends for wedding photography." Michael C.
"Amazing photos – thank you, thank you! - Amazing! Showed the kids this morning- they loved them!!"
(School production)
"you can always rely on Ash to get ‘the shot’. No fuss, no posing, no hanging around, he somehow manages to capture the magic in a single frame. Every image is beautifully conceived, showing a real depth of understanding. A consummate professional, and a jolly nice chap." Sarah B.
“Ash Mills is a wonderful photographer. He is able to capture light, colour and texture in such a way that gives the illusion and quality of an oil painting.
Whenever he has been the photographer for an event I've been at, I look forward eagerly to seeing his photos; he always manages to find hidden moments and subtleties that would otherwise go unnoticed. His photos truly enhance the memory of any occasion.
Ash has also taken some publicity shots for me, and I found his calm, quiet direction very reassuring when faced with the potentially intimidating presence of a camera lens!” Rosalie W.
"All I can say is Wow!"
Bruce L,
"Ash’s photos are amazing. Such a great eye for place, moment and atmosphere, unparalleled expertise and such a breath of fresh air in terms of style. I’ve always been so pleased with Ash’s photos whether single shots, groups or landscapes."
Catherine B.
"Thanks so much for these. They are absolutely amazing! What a great photographer you are!"
Benedict (BBC - La Nuova Musica)
"Have just gone through with Nick. Fantastic – some brilliant and original angles as ever, and some we had no idea you were taking!
Very many thanks indeed. Absolutely brilliant – everyone involved will be delighted – both the posed and unposed shots are great."
+Nick H. (Installation of the Bishop of Salisbury)
"I’ve known and loved Ash’s amazing photos for many years, and in 2022 commissioned him to take photos of a very challenging rare plant which we’ve been looking after but for many years failed to get good photos of.
The results were stunning, producing rich vibrant images which we use regularly, and these have really helped rare awareness of this highly endangered plant.
I could not recommend him highly enough!" Dom P. - Species Recovery Trust
"Dear Ash,
Wow I can’t believe it’s been over a week since the wedding. I just wanted to drop you an email to say a huge thank you. I mean, I know you came highly recommended, but your presence and dedication was so impressive. I hope you managed to enjoy the day a bit too, and I loved that by the end you felt like a guest to me." Rhiannon J.
"fantastic as ever! Thanks for recording a wonderful day so well!" Lizzie G.
"Ash is such a lovely guy and was an absolute pleasure to work with. He had loads of great ideas and suggestions for the group pictures and also captured excellent natural shots throughout the day. The end result is a beautiful collection of photos which we can always look back on to remember our special day with all the people who are important to us.
I can't recommend Ash highly enough." Cath G.
"Ash was a fantastic photographer at our wedding. This was because he managed to capture so many natural, special moments of laughter and adoration, from ourselves and our guests, without us even realising he was taking the photographs! He was so soft footed and nimble at the reception, that when we saw the wealth of photographs we were delighted and amazed at how he had managed to snap them while remaining so unobtrusive. He also did some amazing edits to tackle the range of weather systems we had that day. With other photographers the set ups can seem staged and forced, but not so with Ash. His polite, friendly manner and eye for a good shot make him an excellent choice." Kay C.
"Dear Ash
An e mail is inadequate but it is a convenient and practical way to thank you for the book of photographs delivered by the Dean today. They are a wonderful collection of your photographs from the ten years we have been here. We keep noticing more and more of what you have included, all of which are lovely. Some are just the classiest photographs of the cathedral and of events that have taken place within it. I was also so pleased to see the masked Madonna and of my being the last person to be vaccinated in the cathedral and the picture of Helen with our daughter Sarah is gorgeous.
What I like most is that it is a book about the cathedral during my time as bishop rather than a book about me in the context of the cathedral. It works so well and will be a family treasure of our ten years in Salisbury. Thank you for all the care you have taken to put it together for us.
And thank you, too, for all the kindnesses over the years. You are a wonderful part of the cathedral’s life and your photographs help to tell its story in an attractive and accessible way. They make a huge contribution to the cathedral’s presentation of itself. I was delighted to know that your youngest will be singing here in September and adding to the family contribution to the Cathedral community."
+Nick H. July 2021
"Hi Ash, Thank you so much. As you know we've seen all the photographs now, they're amazing and capture our day beautifully."
"Dear Ash, thank you again from us for your wonderfully calm and professional nature... Super glad you came and had a beer with us later."
Kate G.
"Having worked with Ash for a number of years I would absolutely recommend him for all your photography needs. He’s reliable and professional at all events, putting people at ease, from PR to weddings his ability to capture beautiful images is second to none and you will treasure them for a long time to come…. Book him ASAP!" Clare G.
"Wow, thank you Ash"..."we've loved looking through the first load..".. "These are incredible! Thank you so much!"..."Wonderful photos, we couldn't be more pleased, and thanks again!"
Ed M.
"We booked Ash to take the photos for our wedding which was originally planned for September 2020 and also booked an engagement photo shoot for earlier that year. Due to Covid hitting we then had to reschedule for 2021, but then decided last minute to get married at the end of 2020. Everything had to be organised very quickly and Ash was so flexible and kind throughout a very stressful process. The wedding itself was not without its hiccups but Ash remained a calm and reassuring presence throughout!
The photos themselves were absolutely beautiful and really caught the essence of the day.
He then took photos at our big ‘second wedding’ the following year which were, if possible, even more beautiful. Ash was great at putting both my husband and I at ease which made the day even more special and has resulted in some lovely couples shots that don’t look at all awkward or forced as they might of done with a different photographer. Even my camera-shy husband enjoyed having photos taken by the end!
Thank you Ash for making our special days even more special and helping us to preserve our happy memories forever!" Natalie D.
"I do congratulate you on a fine piece of photography. And, of course, the image manipulation to get such a fine result." Alastair C. (very high resolution imaging of the 1215 Salisbury Magna Carta)
"Dear Ash, they are AMAZING! We are thrilled with them, thank you, thank you, thank you xx Thanks so so much. Julia "
"Hi Ash, Thank you sooo much for your time yesterday and making the session so relaxed. You are so kind, and these photos are lovely - thank you very much indeed. Very very best wishes" Ali
"Ash has a quite remarkable eye for a photograph. I have worked with him on big projects, and also one-to-one with individual commissions, and without exception Ash manages to find just the angle, just the shot, or just the light to produce something which not only delivers the brief, but does so with originality and depth. When photographing at large and busy events, he manages to produce huge numbers of remarkable photographs, whilst being apparently invisible to those participating. Cheerful, professional and a photographer of profound skill, I would heartily recommend him." Rev Dr Tom C.
"Hi Ash, Thank you so much! I really like the pictures, especially the ones outside, Thank you again, couldn't have hope for more!" Hannah B.
"Over many years, I have had the privilege of watching Ash at work as a professional photographer and have always been in awe of his talent.
I have seen him making photographic records of events from large scale royal occasions, many Cathedral events down to village events and all scenarios were given the same attention to detail. He takes great care in planning his shots and never appears hurried. He has a gentle demeanour and manner which inspires confidence.
In a large building such as Salisbury Cathedral he was always extremely unobtrusive, blending into the background and moving silently about the space taking shots often without others even knowing he was there, never causing a distraction. He always gives great respect to ancient buildings and other venues and shows them at their best, with especially effective use of angle, light and shadow.
His wedding photographs are of the highest quality blending the traditional with the unexpected, often with a touch of humour, and always putting his subjects at ease. The same applies to his portraiture which I have often seen used by professional musicians and others.
I recommend him without hesitation as a consummate photographer and a lovely person." CW
"They're cracking shots and of course, we'd love to use them for our website and possibly promotional stuff for the band." Downton Band
"Ash is an exceptional photographer. We were fortunate to have him take pictures of a number of our school productions, and he not only managed to ensure every image captured the vivid stagings, under a range of challenging stage lighting states, but to find the ‘story’ in each scene. His ability to capture, in a still photograph, the ‘life’ of a performance is extraordinary and looking through his photographs of previous productions, they are, in some regards, better than a video would be!
Ash also photographed a number of our concerts, and, as with his photographs from our plays and musicals, his images are imaginatively taken, thoughtfully composed and artistically beautiful. Parents of performers have often commented on how lucky they are to have such exceptional photographs of their children ‘in action’, and from the perspective of the school, his images have significantly enhanced our publicity materials, both online and in print. Ash is undoubtedly an artist with the camera, and an artist of the highest quality.
Ash is a delightfully unobtrusive photographer. Unlike some, you simply never notice him being there. Photographs are taken discretely during performances, without distraction for either audience or performer, and his efforts in editing the photos after the event is clear in the quality (and generous quantity) of skilfully edited images we received from him." Chris S.
"Ash is a wonderfully talented photographer and videographer. With such a calm and kind demeanour, he made me feel at ease during the shoot and therefore the photos and videos looked very natural. He has an eye for detail and an ability to use the surroundings in the most effective way to capture the moment.
Ash is a true professional - artistic, efficient and dedicated to his work." Bryony M.
"Read all the testimonials and was struck, not only by the comments on photographic skills, but how everyone loves you as a PERSON.
Not at all surprised, but incredibly proud of you. xxxxxx
I think a testimonial from your mother probably doesn’t count, but if it did, mine would be the most amazing of all." My Mum.