About Rachel Cooke – Belfast Wedding Photographer & Film Restorer
Hi, I’m Rachel, a full-time wedding photographer and part-time film and photo restorer based in Belfast, Northern Ireland (where I was born and raised!). I capture natural, emotional moments for couples across Northern Ireland, the UK, and beyond — and I absolutely love what I do.
Weddings are packed with emotion: joy, nerves, belly laughs, quiet moments, and all the in-between bits that make the day uniquely yours. That’s what I focus on; the real moments. I’ll give you beautiful portraits, yes, but what I truly love is capturing images that feel like you.
A Creative Journey Rooted in Family and Art
Photography has been a part of my life since childhood. My dad’s an artist, and my grandfather loved taking photographs, both sparked my passion for storytelling through images. I studied at the University of Ulster, where I earned a Foundation Degree in Art & Design followed by a BA (Hons) in Photography.
I’ve been working with both digital and film photography for over 14 years. My career started out in nightclub and event photography (if you remember El Divino; yes, that was me!), before I made the move to weddings and I’ve never looked back.
Now, I shoot 40+ weddings a year across Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, the UK, and further afield.
My Approach to Wedding Photography
Think of me as your calm, friendly photographer/personal assistant hybrid. I know not everyone’s used to being in front of the camera or planning a wedding so I’ll help guide the day in a relaxed, stress-free way. Whether that’s pinning a button hole flower, calming nerves, or blending into the background during emotional speeches, I’m there for it all.
I’m all about:
* Candid moments and unscripted joy
* Beautiful, timeless portraits
* Helping you feel totally comfortable and present
I’m also not too shabby on the dance floor, if I say so myself.
Preserving Memories Through Film and Photo Restoration
When I’m not photographing weddings, I work on restoring old photos, negatives, and tapes helping people bring forgotten family memories back to life. I’ve restored everything from faded black-and-white prints to 8mm home movies.
I was previously featured in the Ballymena Guardian for restoring a series of 1950s medium format images taken by my grandfather, a full circle moment for me.
I also recently restored film in the BBC programme ‘Oul Treasures’ which you can watch now on BBC iPlayer;
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002fy5k/oul-treasures-series-2-episode-1
Got a box of old photos or film reels? I’d love to help you preserve them.
Recognitions and Features
* Featured on BBC One as a lead film restorer in ‘Oul Treasures’.
* My photography and film restoration work has been profiled in the Belfast Telegraph and Sunday Life newspapers.
* Named one of the Top 20 UK Wedding Photographers by Weddings & Honeymoons Magazine.
* Finalist for Wedding Photographer of the Year at the Northern Ireland Wedding Awards (2019 & 2020)
* Regular features in The Ulster Tatler’s wedding section.
* Film restoration work featured in the Ballymena Guardian.
Let's Connect and Create Together
If you’re looking for a wedding photographer in Belfast or Northern Ireland who’ll capture your day honestly, creatively, and without awkward posing, I’d love to hear from you.
No pressure, no hard sell. Just drop me a message through the contact form and I’ll send over my pricing guide. If you’d like, we can hop on a Zoom call or meet for a coffee to chat through your plans.
Let’s make some magic, and memories, together.
