From Passion to Profession: My 14-Year Photography Journey

It’s hard to believe that 14 years ago I was a full-time mum, busy juggling the needs of two young children with work, life AND trying to keep a creative outlet by indulging my love of photography; a love that I have had ever since I was a young girl.

When I was 14, my dad, himself an amateur photographer, encouraged me to develop my creativity with photography and gave me his two old manual Pentax cameras, alongside a dated flash kit with all the backdrops, umbrellas and film (no digital in those days!). I was in heaven and spent the next few years practising and experimenting with my new kit, attending College courses and working alongside two local photographers as they showed me the tricks of the trade and an understanding of what goes on behind the scenes.

Fast forward to today and I still have to pinch myself that I have been able to develop that initial love of photography into a career that I Simply adore.

But how did I get from a single mum of two with a love for photography to where I am today as a commercial photographer?

One of my early projects was photographing the Orwell Bridge. Capturing this iconic landmark turned out to be a turning moment for me – I wanted to go to university to study photography, but with two children and the need to work, I knew I had to take a different route. My mentor encouraged me with the simple advice: “Just do it; you are ready.” So, I did. I worked part-time but also took on small photography commissions, building the business from the foundation up as I went.

Everything I’ve built over the years is self-taught. I learned how to design my first website, navigated SEO and social media, and reinvested the money made from these projects into more equipment that enabled me to offer more of my services. Slowly there were more and more positive encouraging results.

Four years ago, a big opportunity came my way when a large firm of solicitors approached me to photograph all their branches across the UK. At that time, I had two other jobs, plus two children and Simply couldn’t commit to the timescale they needed, but it was the indicator and catalyst I needed to give me the confidence to give up the part-time jobs and focus entirely on Simply C Photography full time.

Four weeks later, however, Covid appeared and lockdown changed things for so many people. Its timing was catastrophic to my launch; however, I knew I had to adapt my business to the ‘new normal’ – focusing on product shoots and distanced headshot shoots. It was a challenge but it also gave me the opportunity to work on my business plan and objective and I used the time to work on my website and strengthen my brand.

I collected testimonials and focused on online networking and word-of-mouth. I’d always drawn on my commercial background – having worked as an IT business consultant and as a stylist in interior design – and I used those skills to offer more than just a camera and a press of a shutter to my clients. Understanding how to sell products and services has been a big part of my approach; I’m not just a photographer, I am a Commercial Branding Photographer; I help businesses visually convey their brand stories, attract their ideal clients and improve their sales.

Photography has also given me the opportunity to explore the connection between creativity and mental wellbeing, something that has been incredibly rewarding both personally and professionally.

Alongside my commercial work, I’ve had the chance to showcase my personal projects, holding exhibitions focused on mindfulness, selling landscape and art images as framed prints or wallpaper in offices and board rooms, bringing the outside in whilst encouraging people to put down the mobile phone and talk about what they see – the art of communication needs to be encouraged amongst us all again.

Simply Connection – through imagery and photographic Fine Art.

Looking back on the last 14 years, it’s been a phenomenal journey of learning, growth and resilience.

I Simply wouldn’t change a thing.