Located in Birmingham, GB
One piece of advice would be to try hard not to spend on all the beautiful props just yet, invest in business training and advice and let those come later.
What is the most meaningful part to you in being an APNPI Ambassador?
Being an APNPI ambassador is a real honour, especially as a photographer based in the UK! I think it is great for visibility for APNPI but also as encouragement for UK photographers to consider membership and entering for their career progression, a lovely community and growth. For me, I am grateful for the platform to share and give back.
What are your hopes for your audience and for your own business in your role as an APNPI Ambassador?
I hope that others will pursue qualifications and entering competitions not as a negative but a way to challenge themselves to be more creative and push themselves.
For my clients, I aspire to them seeing my own commitment to my craft and that I want to do better for my clients.
Tell us about yourself. What do you love doing in your spare time? What inspired you to newborn photography and do you photograph other genre’s in your business?
I do love sleep!!
My hobbies include travelling and learning new things – mainly photography! It is an obsession for me! I love music and dance, so not partial to a mini dance party with my children.
My first daughter was my reason for starting off in photography. Capturing her early days and as she grew. My main genres are maternity but I do also photograph families and the occasional wedding.
Who has inspired you and how did you first come across their work…
My biggest inspirations are Lindsay Adler and Lola Melani. Lindsay I came across on YouTube and Creative Live. I love her teaching style, keeping things simple and uncomplicated yet so creative!
Lola Melani – probably via instagram and Pinterest when I was searching for ideas and inspiration. Lola’s style is modern and contemporary, yet beautiful and so stylish.
What is one piece of advice you’d give to someone starting a newborn photography business?
One piece of advice would be to try hard not to spend on all the beautiful props just yet, invest in business training and advice and let those come later.
What camera do you use? What are your favourite lenses and what’s typically in your camera bag?
I have always been a Nikon user and I started off with the D3200, moved onto the D750 and I now use the Nikon Z6II and my all time favourite now is Nikon Z 85mm 1.2. I do have the 50mm 1.2, 35mm 1.8 and a 70-200 2.8.
What is your favorite place to hold sessions and why? Where do you photograph most of your sessions? (in studio? on location?)
My studio is my favourite place, where I have complete control over all the details and light!
What (if any) photography training, mentoring or workshops have you taken?
I have done so much training over the years, mostly with a focus on lighting. I have done posing classes for newborn photography and maternity too. I have undertaken a two day masterclass with Lindsay Adler in Norway which was incredible. I have also taken classes and mentoring in business and in person sales.
Tell us about starting your business, and what played a key role in developing a profitable income.
I didn’t plan to be in business initially, it was a hobby that became a business! Developing a profitable income wasn’t easy to begin with and a lot of it was to do with mindset and self belief which I think is the hard part. Of course, looking at your business and working out your costs and what you need to make is essential, then comes putting all that into practice. Each change is scary, then slowly it works!
