“I’m not trying to take epic photos. I’m interested in the day, the story, the event”: Craig Atkinson’s best phone photo

ICraig Atkinson is surprised that a decade has passed since he took this photo. His eldest son Oscar stands to the left of the frame, his niece Emily to the right. At the time, there were five and four of them, excited young children getting ready for the day’s festivities.

“We were at a Chinese wedding at Tatton Hall in Cheshire; It was early fall and Oscar and my other son, two-year-old Hugo, who is in the center, looking at his iPad, were pageboys. Hugo is standing with my sister-in-law Jade. It makes me nostalgic and sentimental.

Atkinson says he rarely plans his photographs; Alongside his work as a fine arts teacher and editor of the Café Royal Books photography magazines, he primarily takes photos of his family. “We have a few screens around the house that show a random selection of photos of the children; it’s a great conversation starter.

Seven years ago, Atkinson challenged himself to use only a phone to take photos. “That meant no lenses, no SD cards, no wires and no heavy bags. I stuck with it and haven’t owned a camera for many years. I enjoy the freedom of not having all the kit and the decision making that comes with it. I’m not trying to take unique images, epic, highly edited astro or sports photos. I’m more interested in the day, in the story, in the event.

“The eye contact is one of my favorite parts of this photo,” he says. “With their pride and their innocence.”