About Me
Storyteller Photographer in Dorset and New Forest
Storyteller photographer? What’s that about? Well, as our lives unfold, so do our stories. The story about that person you met on the plane as you flew to India for the gap year trip, or at the coffee machine at work, or online through Guardian Soulmates, and who became such a significant part of your life. Or the story of being pregnant. And the story of a growing family, changing so quickly. Your life as you, ploughing your own special furrow.
I want to be the teller of your story.
So before I find out about yours, here’s a bit about my unfolding, fantastic, wonderful story.
You’ll probably meet me with camera in hand, photographing a wedding, or in a studio space during a portrait photo shoot. But when I’m not doing that (or in front of the computer doing the editing and the admin!), I love to be out in the wilds, walking the hills of the Lake District, or the mountains of Mallorca, getting a fix of wilderness! It was a love of wildlife and nature that first inspired me to pick up a camera, many years ago, and the recognition that we have only one planet has always been a factor influencing how I choose to live my life.
And when I’m not out in the wilderness, I might be at a gig or a festival – music is a big part of my life, especially live music. World and roots are my favourite kinds of music, and I include our fabulous English traditional in that too – if you’ve never listened to some of the young contemporary English folkies, you’re missing some rare treats! Check out Martha Tilston or Josienne Clarke and Ben Walker.
For a long time I specialised in wildlife and landscapes, before spotting an advertisement in the local paper about a course at Bournemouth and Poole College of Further Education, offering the opportunity to learn black and white developing and printing. Under the guidance of a brilliant tutor, Denis Roberts, I spent some very happy Saturday mornings in the college darkroom discovering the joys of black and white printing, the old way, and when the term came to an end, I promptly signed up for the following term’s course. After three and a half years, I’d exhausted what the college had to offer, and my photography had moved in some fantastic new directions. There’s a story here somewhere too – as an amateur, I really tried to avoid photographing people; now they are everywhere in my work, especially in my projects, in my art works. Who can fathom that story for me?
Highcliffe Castle was the venue for my first wedding
The first wedding I ever photographed was at Highcliffe Castle, in Christchurch and it was an event I had to be talked into photographing – at the time I had no desire to photograph weddings – but it was wonderful. I really enjoyed the day, and the couple were delighted with the results! And so one wedding led to another, and pretty soon I was a full-time wedding and portrait photographer. I love being involved with weddings and have met some wonderful people over the last few years, and been privileged to share their days at our beautiful New Forest and Dorset wedding venues such as Parley Manor, Highcliffe Castle, Sopley Mill, The Old Vicarage, Athelhampton House, Careys Manor, Burley Manor, Kingston Mauward, Rhinefield House, Milton Abbey. If you want me to be your storyteller, complete this form or, if you prefer, call me on 01425 672706 or 07734 580794.
Fulfilling dreams
I grew up in Kent, and since then have generally headed west, and spent about 30 years or so living in Christchurch and Bournemouth. Now I am bucking that trend by moving east again but only ever so slightly though, to the lovely village of Bransgore, about six miles northeast of Christchurch, six miles southwest of Ringwood, and really close to Burley Manor, Sopley Mill, The Three Tuns, and The Old Vicarage, with my partner Barbara, and our cat Jupiter. I am so excited about this move because I have always wanted to live in the New Forest, or at least in the countryside. And now that dream is coming true. We have bought a lovely house, built during the 1950s, that hasn't been touched since the 1980s, and needs so much doing to it. If you visit during the next couple of years, please make allowances for that!
A big part of the plan, and another lifelong dream coming true, is to have a studio and reception space, in a cabin in the garden. Barbara is a carpenter and she will be largely responsible for the design and construction, and I'll be blogging the process of it coming to life.
Our New Forest home is about 100m from the open forest and because it would be just a crime to live there without a dog, another lifelong dream is about to come true too, having a dog. I really look forward to this as it is way too easy, when I am having an admin or editing day, to suddenly realise that I haven't moved from my office. We'll be visiting the rescue centres to find the dog who will choose us, and we'll also be looking for a playmate for Jupi too. And some chickens will add to our small menagerie, and give us some beautiful eggs.
Contact me now
Please get in touch now to discuss your photography project, whether your wedding, a family portrait, and pregnancy or new-born photo shoot, or PR images for your business.
Call me on:
M 07734 580794
T 01425 672706
Please be ready to leave a message as by the very nature of what I do, I may not be able to take your call at the time and I will call you back later.
Or use this contact form:
