How I Came to Want to Be a Photographer, Videographer, and Content Creator

In my mid to late twenties, life was a lot different. I was living in my birth town of Salisbury and working across the UK, installing curtain walling on tall buildings or fitting double glazing units on commercial sites. My job had me traveling from Monday to Friday, staying in hotels, and returning home only for the weekends. At first, this suited me—until a contract in Barry, South Wales, changed everything.

Unlike previous projects, we stayed in a house instead of a hotel, giving me the opportunity to skip the weekend trips home. One weekend, on Bonfire Night, I went out by myself to grab a drink and read the newspaper, but instead, I met someone special. That night, I met my future wife, and my life took a new direction.

As our relationship grew, I decided to stay in Wales full-time. We bought a house, and soon, our family expanded with the birth of our daughter, Esme, joining her stepbrother. This marked the beginning of a new chapter in my life. I stopped working away and transitioned to part-time work, becoming a stay-at-home dad.

With this newfound lifestyle, I started exploring the Welsh countryside. Coming from Salisbury, where the land is flat and mostly fields, I was amazed by Wales’ rugged beauty—mountains, waterfalls, and breathtaking coastlines. I became hooked on hiking and discovering new places, always searching for unique spots on Google to explore. At first, my phone’s camera was enough to capture these memories, and later, I got a GoPro.

A turning point came when my stepson, Jacob, enrolled in college to study photography. When he eventually moved on to focus on music, I borrowed his camera during one of our walks. The moment I picked it up, I couldn’t stop taking photos. Everywhere we went, I was snapping pictures, trying to get creative with each shot. Looking back, those early attempts at editing were pretty rough, but they’re still precious memories that I’m glad I captured.

Over time, my passion for photography grew. While I enjoyed capturing the landscapes and places we visited, I found myself increasingly drawn to photographing people. I loved capturing raw, candid moments—the kind of expressions and emotions we often take for granted.

This led me to start taking photos for my daughter’s life-saving club, documenting training sessions and competitions. Parents loved the images, and I got the hang of candid photography, capturing moments as they happened. I also started learning more about Photoshop and digital art, creating fantasy images with the photos I took. It was then that I realized what I truly wanted to do, but I didn’t yet believe in myself enough to pursue it seriously. Photography and videography remained hobbies, things I did for free, rather than the career I dreamed of.

I also began making vlogs and short holiday films of our trips, enjoying the process of combining both photography and videography. Although I gradually improved, I struggled with self-doubt and went through darker times, constantly battling the fear that I wasn’t good enough to make this my full-time job. I often started projects but gave up before fully committing. I never dedicated the time I should have to truly mastering editing or filming techniques, and that set me back.

But with the support of my partner and my aunt, I never gave up completely. I kept working on my skills at home, trying different things, failing at some, but always learning along the way. As they say, everything happens for a reason. Now that my kids are older, I have more time to focus on myself and my craft. I’ve also made big changes in my life, like giving up drinking and focusing on my mental and physical health. Looking back, I realize that every challenge and every small step I’ve taken has brought me to where I am today.

Now, I feel confident in my abilities as a photographer, videographer, and content creator. I have a wide range of skills, from photography to graphic design and videography, and I love capturing both personal moments and professional events. Whether I’m out hiking and exploring, or working with clients at bars, family events, or competitions, I’m passionate about what I do. I’ve upgraded my equipment and I’m dedicating more time than ever to developing my craft.

As I move forward, I’m excited to share my journey with you all. I’m no longer held back by self-doubt, and I can’t wait to show what I can do and help others along the way. Whether I’m capturing the beauty of the outdoors, creating content for businesses, or simply documenting life’s fleeting moments, I’m ready to push my skills to the limit and embrace my passion for photography and videography. Stay tuned—this is just the beginning!