WHAT MAKES ME QUALIFIED?

As an NNEB-qualified nursery nurse, with three children of my own when I decided to specialize in Newborn Photography I knew I already had the knowledge and experience to ensure that all my little clients were in safe hands throughout a shoot.

I have attended Newborn Photography training with some of the top US photogaphers and in 2016 the icing on the cake was to be awarded a BANPAS Pro Commended award. I’m one of only six in the UK. In order to achieve this award members have to show their work really is of a very high standard. We are judged on lighting, posing, and exposure, there has to be consistency through out our images. I'm incredibly proud to hold this very prestigious award!

So what else makes me a qualified professional.  Here are my thoughts on the subject. Good equipment is obviously a must – yes I know you can take amazing images with an phone, but I think my clients would be shocked if they came to the studio and I whipped out my phone. When clients are paying for a shoot they expect me to have the right tools for the job. This is includes, camera, lenses, and lights – That being said good equipment in the wrong hands is meaningless if you don’t know how to use it.

Talent, good judgment and knowledge is also essential, I need to understand how to light and pose my subjects. When I take a great shot it’s not luck it’s judgment and I know how to do it again. Good also judgment comes into play as it’s about knowing when to press the shutter.

Another factor in being a photographer is understanding how to run a business. I’ve seen many talented photographers fall by the wayside because they didn’t know the basics.I’m self motivated and have always continued to learn throughout my career, not just doing photography workshops but also expanding my knowledge on editing and lighting.

Behaving in a professional manner is also very important to me, it's about maintaining a quality before during and after a shoot and treating clients with respect, whether they’re a few weeks old or over 100, I think my oldest subject was 104 when I took images of her and the 3 generations below her. It’s about the relationships you build with clients and making them feel at ease.

Being a qualified professional isn’t just about one thing, it’s a whole heap of things that come together.