This year is all about getting your photographic juices flowing and inspiring you to print. Our photography calendar has been collated to showcase some of the best photographic opportunities around the UK, at events both ticketed and accessible for free.
If you manage to get out and put our calendar to use, we’d love to hear from you. Tag us on social media with #InspiredByPJ
January
Event: Winter Sunrise at Durdle Door
Location: Jurassic Coast, South Dorset
Best for: Landscape photography
Dorset’s most iconic and photographed landmark. Famous for its natural limestone arch, Durdle Door was declared as Englands very first UNESCO heritage site. Although the landscape is magnificent all year round, we believe you can’t beat a “through the keyhole” shot of a winter sunrise.
Recommended paper: Photo Art Silk 290 is ideal for long exposure shots of landscapes with water, as the silk surface adds a luxurious sparkle
25 January
Event: Burns Night
Location: Multiple, but Scotland if you’re lucky enough
Best for: Documentary photography
Burn’s night celebrates the life of Scottish poet Rabbie Burns with a supper held on the poet’s birthday. The tradition at a Burns Supper is to ‘address the haggis’, the iconic dish of Scotland is piped into the room whilst someone recites the famous Burns’ poem.
Recommended paper: Oyster 271 is an excellent all-rounder paper suited to a wide variety of subjects, and both colour and monochrome images
22 January – 6 February
Event: Chinese New Year Celebrations
Location: China Town, London
Best for: Event photography
Outside Asia, London holds the largest Chinese New Year celebrations in the world. Known for their colourful parades, performances and displays around Chinatown and the West End, the 15 day festival offers many vibrant photographic opportunities.
Recommended paper: Photo Lustre 310 is perfect for deep blacks and vibrant colours
11 – 19 February
Event: Jorvik Viking Festival
Location: York
Best for: Reenactment photography
The largest viking festival in Europe explores the impact of the Viking invasion on Anglo-Saxon England. With a mix of performances, reenactments and historical displays, the festival will be sure to offer amazing scenes to photograph.
Recommended paper: Matt Plus 240 has a lovely smooth matt surface that would complement a historical subject
14 – 17 March
Event: Cheltenham Festival
Location: Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Best for: Equine photography
The races never disappoint on the action front, with opportunities to capture the winners, losers, punters and most importantly the beautiful beings themselves. If equestrian photography is your passion then Cheltenham Festival is a must.
Recommended paper: Oyster 271 suits complex subjects with wide tonal ranges and high levels of detail
26 March
Event: The Boat Race
Location: The Thames, London
Best for: Sport photography
First raced by crews from Oxford and Cambridge University in 1829, the event is one of the world’s oldest and most famous amateur sporting events. The race stretches over 4.25 miles of The Thames in West London between Putney and Mortlake, running along the famous Championship Course. We’d recommend pitching up a spot opposite The Boathouse Pub in Putney.
Recommended paper: Ultra Pearl 295 has a bright white base and stippled lustre surface that would suit high levels of action
April
Event: Bluebell Woods
Location: Multiple locations in the UK. Visit The National Trust’s guide on the best places to see the bluebells this spring
Best for: Landscape and flower photography
Timing is everything when is comes to capturing the beautiful carpets of blue this spring. Bluebells are found all across Western Europe but here in the UK we are lucky enough to home about half the worlds population.
Recommended paper: Portrait White 285 is a fine art paper with a bright white base that would lift the vibrant purples whilst adding a delicate feel
23 April
Event: London Marathon
Location: London
Best for: Event and documentary photography
2023 will see the 43rd London Marathon take place with more than 50,000 runners setting off from Blackheath to complete the 26-mile course. With a range of running abilities on show, from world-renowned athletes to those braving their first marathon, there will be a broad range of subject matters to capture on the day.
Recommended paper: Smooth Pearl 280 has a warm base suited to portraits and a wide range of subjects
6 May
Event: King Charles’s Coronation
Location: Westminster, London
Best for: Event and documentary photography
King Charles III will be crowned at Westminster Abbey along side Camilla the Queen Consort. With many celebrations set to take place throughout the UK, this iconic celebration is the perfect opportunity to dust off the camera and document a historical ceremony.
Recommended paper: FB Gold Silk 315 is a fibre based paper with a warm tone base which would elevate your images, particularly of highly detailed architecture and people
22 – 27 May
Event: Chelsea Flower Show
Location: Royal Hospital Chelsea, London
Best for: Macro and flower photography
A quintessentially British outing, the heart of the event is a passion for spectacular horticulture show gardens, exuberant colours and theatrical displays; a never-ending playground for avid photographers. The showers of vibrant colours offer a range of opportunities from celeb spotting to flower and macro photography.
Recommended paper: FB Pearl 300 is a lovely choice for flower photography, the pearl surface adding a delicate feel
15 – 18 June
Event: Cowes Week
Location: Isle of White
Best for: Marine sport photography
Since 1826 Cowes Week has played a key part in the British sporting summer calendar and offers a great mix of competitive sailing and social activities to photograph.
Recommended paper: Titanium Lustre 280 has a metallic base that will accentuate the water and add a creative look
20 & 21 June
Event: Summer Solstice at Stonehenge
Location: Salisbury
Best for: Documentary or landscape photography
Stonehenge was built to align with the sun on the solstices. Summer Solstice attracts a wide range of characters, all attending for their own reasons, to witness the pivotal changes in the movement of the sun. As this day is the only day in which people are allowed to touch the stone, it’s a magical event to capture people partying the night away.
Recommended paper: FB Gold Silk 315 has a high Dmax that will print shadows with great detail, and a warm base that will accentuate the sunset
Early July
Event: Lavender Fields
Location: Mayfield Lavender Farm
Best for: Landscape Photography
Located just 15 miles from Central London, Mayfield Lavender Farm is a popular photography location and family attraction. Grab your camera and wander through the fields of lavender where you’ll be provided with a beautiful landscape shot or the perfect backdrop for candid family photography.
Recommended paper: Portrait Rag 285 is a fine art paper that will accentuate the textures of the lavender with great detail
14 – 16 July
Event: Royal International Air Tattoo
Location: Fairford, Gloucestershire
Best for: Aviation Photography
The world’s largest military airshow displays thrilling sights and sounds of several hundred aircraft of all shapes, a perfect day out for aviation lovers. The 3 day event is held on the Friday, Saturday & Sunday but if you’d like to avoid splashing out on a ticket we recommend visiting the local area on the Thursday to catch the aircraft flying in and an opportunity to catch their practice run.
Recommended paper: FB Gold Silk 315 is reminiscent of traditional darkroom materials and so would suit the classic aviation shots
2 – 4 August
Event: Brighton Pride Festival
Location: Brighton
Best for: Street and portrait photography
Widely acknowledged as Britains most popular pride event, Brighton & Hove Pride attracts a diverse demographic audience from across the globe. This vibrant and joyous event commemorates the brave trailblazers and allies of the LGBTQIA+ community and makes for fantastic photos.
Recommended paper: Oyster 271’s versatility would lend itself to vibrant colours and portraits
8 – 11 August
Event: Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
Location: Bristol
Best for: Landscape photography
A four day event, held annually in Bristol, sees the largest meeting of hot air balloons in Europe. The free event attracts over 130 hot air balloons which participate in mass ascents, the most spectacular site for photographers of all abilities.
Recommended paper: Photo Lustre 310 would print the vibrant colours of the balloons excellently
24 – 26 August
Event: Notting Hill Carnival
Location: Notting Hill, West London
Best for: Street and portrait photography
The annual Caribbean event has filled the streets of Notting Hill with vibrant colours and traditional music since 1966. The iconic street festival celebrates traditional food, carnival culture and brings people of all backgrounds together. The parades of beautiful outfits are a site not to be missed, so grab your camera and party your way into the night.
Recommended paper: Titanium Lustre 280 has a metallic base that adds creativity and flare to images, perfectly suited to this eccentric event
30 August
Event: Blackpool Illuminations Lit
Location: Blackpool Pleasure Beach
Best for: Night photography
Save the date!! Blackpool illumination will fill the nights sky from 2nd September until 2nd January and need little introduction. With 6 miles of vibrancy lighting Blackpools promenade, once evening hits it becomes a photographers dream!
Recommended paper: Titanium Gloss 300 would add a flare to the neon lights and vibrant colours
September: Various Dates
Event: Severn Bore
Location: Newnham-on-Severn is one of the best places to see the Severn Bore
Best for: Landscape and sport photography
One of Britain’s truly spectacular natural phenomena. A large surge wave, that is commonly surfed by the public, can be seen in the estuary of the River Severn – with the tidal range recorded as 2nd highest in the world. The shape of the Severn estuary means the water is funnelled into an increasingly narrow channel as the tide rises, thus forming the large wave.
Recommended paper: Smooth Gloss 280 has a warm tone base and smooth gloss surface that would accentuate the river
Early October
Event: Golden Hour in Richmond Park
Location: Richmond, London
Best for: Wildlife photography
With over 2500 acres of stunning grasslands, woodlands and open spaces, Richmond Park is London’s largest Royal Park. The perfect time to catch a glimpse of the abundant wildlife is throughout the beginning of October when the sun begins to set, also know as golden hour.
Recommended paper: Photo Art Silk 290 is a fine art paper with a silk surface that would add a magical feel to the golden hour images
1 – 3 November
Event: Whitby Goth Festival
Location: North Yorkshire
Best for: Portrait and street photography
Founded in 1994, the alternative music festival has become one the world’s premier goth events. Hundreds of extravagantly dressed people descend on the seaside town of Whitby in Yorkshire where they celebrate gothic culture, music and fashion.
Recommended paper: FB Distinction 320 has a bright white base that would make the characteristic gothic black tones stand out
5 November
Event: Guy Fawkes, Bonfire Night
Location: Multiple locations throughout the UK
Best for: Firework and night photography
The infamous anniversary of Guy Fawkes Gunpowder Plot and his failed attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London! Events take place throughout the UK where people will light up bonfires, let off fireworks, and burn effigies of Guy Fawkes – the perfect opportunity to capture night and firework photography.
Recommended paper: Photo Lustre 310 prints deep blacks and vibrant colours, perfect for night scenes with fireworks
December
Event: Snowfall at Arlington Row
Location: Bibury, The Cotswolds
Best for: Landscape photography
A set of 14th-century cottages and one of the Cotswolds most popular tourist attractions. The idyllic setting has been used for the films Bridget Jones Diary and Stardust and it’s easy to see why. At the peak of summer, the tiny street attracts over 3000 visitors per day and that’s why we recommend a trip in the winter.
Recommended paper: Portrait White 285 would be best suited to the soft wintery tones and the highly detailed textures of the cotswold buildings
December
Event: Capturing special festive moments
Location: Home
Best for: Portraiture and documentary photography
The festive season is the perfect time of the year for capturing wonderful family shots. Whether it’s candid or portraiture, the family will be full of joy and easy subjects to shoot.
Recommended paper: Oyster 271 is an economical yet award-winning paper ideal for printing family shots at their best
