Any locals interested in the phenomenon of iris photography would probably be pleased to find out that one of its foremost studios is located here in Stockport. 

Iris Art Photography, run by Joanne and Steve, is based in Goyt Mill, Marple. It is a photography studio which specialises in photographing the iris (the coloured part of the eye) and using all of its idiosyncratic beauty to produce bespoke artwork. 

Steve, who worked in Stockport town centre for years before co-founding the studio, said: "Everyone's iris is different - it's like a fingerprint. We enjoy seeing all the different patterns. 

"People don't realise what's going on in their eyes. They might say, 'Oh, I've got green eyes', but when you look at it up close, it's not green; it's multiple colours." 

The photography process takes place in the comfortable studio in Goyt Mill (Image - Iris Art Photography)

For customers, the process starts with a number of close-up photographs of the eye, taken by Joanne, a French-Canadian photographer and co-founder of the business. 

Using multiple close-up pictures, Joanne and Steve can form a high-resolution image of the iris. The customer can then decide how their iris artwork will be displayed; how it will be framed, what dimensions it will have, and how it could be stylised. 

Whilst simple 'just the iris' images are available, artworks can also be embellished with 'explosion' effects, and more. Further still, for couples and families, a range of 'group' options are available. 

Whether that's a simple grouping of irises to represent different family members, or a 50/50 split to represent a couple, there is lots to choose from. 

A range of stylistic options are available for families and couples (Images - Iris Art Photography)

As Steve says: "Already there are all these colours and amazing patterns. And then, with the photo-editing we can do, it makes it completely unique."

Joanne adds: "People like the idea of having something that reflects them, that is part of them, that is unique. Some people will go for a family picture, but some people don't like this. 

"Iris photography works very well for those people who don't want a studio-style family photo - it isn't them, but it still is them in essence.

"And with price options, we have a budget range, a mid-range, and a more expensive range. We give people a chance to go with their budget and decide what they want."

And it is particularly refreshing that such a bespoke service is taking place here in Stockport. Without Joanne and Steve's Iris Art Photography, this kind of artwork seems likely to have remained a phenomenon of mainland Europe, sequestered in the quaint streets of Brussels, Colmar, or Strasbourg. 

"People are coming from all over the place", Joanne says. "There are people coming from Scotland, the South West, Wales - all over the country - because there's not a huge amount of places in the UK doing this.

"Most of the people came from searching on Google. Often, people have seen it abroad, and have searched for something similar in the UK, which is how they find us."

The studio is located in historic Goyt Mill, Marple (Image - Alasdair Perry)

It certainly seems to be the case that this studio is another example of the burgeoning artistic scene in Stockport. Speaking of this 'scene' more generally, Steve said: "There's a lot of artists in this mill. Stockport has always been on the edge of Manchester doing its own thing. I'd say hopefully, going forward, there are more artistic and creative things going on in Stockport."

And so if you're thinking of making use of this rare service, prepare to be amazed by your own eyes. 

As Steve says: "Just come and have it done. People are always amazed at their own eye. We had a customer recently who sent us an email saying how amazing it was, how he was completely blown away; people are always amazed by their own eye."

You can find Iris Art Photography at Unit 62, Upper Hibbert Ln, Marple, Stockport SK6 7HX. 

For more information and a sense of what options are available, you can find their website HERE. 

Already interested in booking? Contact [email protected].

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