HOW IT ALL STARTED

Photographs have always been important to me, from quite a young age we would sit down as a family and go through the big box of photos we had. There would be conversations, laughter and memories shared. We often still do this now when we are all together, I still love it just as much, if not even more now!

I remember using a little plastic camera with a flimsy viewfinder that you’d flip up on the top. I’d use various 35mm point and shoot cameras over the years, looking back through the photos, some were awful, but I loved that they told a story, or held a memory, even in their wonky or blurry state.

My Dad was into photography, and had a SLR camera which I was taught to use in my early teens. I used to get my little sister to model for me in random outfits including mums old bridesmaid dresses. It was a time where I was free to play and experiment and I loved learning in the process.

At 14 I did two weeks work experience with a local Wedding Photographer, I saw all the different aspects of how a photography business worked, the different jobs involved, the equipment, the process after a wedding day, and I also had my first look at a dark room. Amazing!!

Off the back of the work experience I was offered a job as an assistant at weddings, which I did for about 5 years. I had the opportunity to not only see how a wedding day worked, and assist with various jobs throughout the day, but I was also tasked with taking candid photos of the wedding party during the day. I learnt pretty quickly how to anticipate moments, and make sure I was in the right place at the right time.

A few years after I’d finished college I ended up doing some wedding photography on my own, I took on a few weddings for friends, or friends of friends. I enjoyed it, but I really struggled with my confidence and found the business side of things too much to juggle, so I only lasted a couple of years before stopping.

I went back to wedding photography in partnership with my sister several years later, we photographed lots of beautiful weddings and really enjoyed working together, but life was pulling us both in different directions, neither of us felt like we could give the business what it needed at that time, so once again, I put my camera down, and I kind of thought that would be it on a professional level.

Then in 2015, while I was working a couple of part-time jobs, I found I was really missing taking photos of people. I took on a few family sessions to test the water, and then a few wedding bookings came in, and something just felt different this time round. I felt like I knew what I wanted to do, and I'd found my people. By this point, social media was very much a thing, which made everything easier… especially connecting with other photographers and business owners. I found I had easy access to mentoring, and networking, I learnt new skills, and had wonderful conversations with lots of lovely people in the industry.

In 2020, I decided to step away from wedding photography for various reasons, and have since phased them out.. I do very occasionally still take on the odd small wedding here or there if I feel it's right for me, but generally these days I will recommend one of the many wonderfully talented wedding photographers I know.

Over the last ten years I feel like I’ve really found my groove, found my people. I’ve gone from running the business as a bit of a side hustle, to it now being my full time job, and I’m blooming loving it! I get to work with wonderful creative people, and some utterly joyful families which I’ve got to know really well, and been able to capture as they’ve grown over the years.. and honestly, that feels so special!

So.. that’s me. If you made it this far you probably need a biscuit, or to get up and have a big stretch. Thanks for taking the time to read.