Celebrating 16 years being a professional photographer based near Reading
Professional photography Reading | Professional photographer Berkshire
Well here we are again with another work anniversary - this time - it's 16 years in business!
Wow - little did I know back in 2009 when I started working as a professional photographer, that I would still be working with fantastic clients all over London and the South East.
This milestone has got me reflecting on how differently things looked back in 2009. Instagram didn't exist, smartphones took grainy, pixelated photos and most people thought photography was something typically reserved for weddings, families and holidays.
Sixteen years later, I’ve witnessed firsthand how much this industry has changed—not just in terms of equipment and technology, but in how people
value visual storytelling. Whether you're a fellow photographer, a curious client, or someone thinking of entering the industry, I thought that I would share a handful of the biggest changes I’ve seen.
The rise of Smartphones and DIY Culture: There's no doubting that smartphones have been a game changer - today, everyone has a decent camera in their pocket. In theory, us photographers could see this as a threat - however, while smartphones made photography more accessible, they also taught people what great photography really looks like. People are much more visually aware and they recognise a decent photo when they see one. And let's be honest - it's not just what you take a photo with - it's also the lighting, composition and having an eye for a cracking shot - a smartphone can't replicate that.
Social Media has changed everything - back in 2009, the main social media platform in use was Facebook. Whereas nowadays, it's Instagram reels, TikTok and DM'ing people. My social media posts are now as important to my business as my website is. Clients want to see the person behind the business - your work and your workflow. People buy people - and it's never been more important to show your face, your story and enable people to connect with you.
Clients are more informed (and that’s a good thing!) - nowadays clients often share Pinterest boards, mood boards or references from image libraries when discussing their upcoming photo shoot. When I first started in 2009, I'd be lucky if I got anything more than a verbal brief! So now the photo shoots are more of a collaboration and a creative partnership.
The AI Boom:
16 years ago, my editing was mostly done in photoshop and AI wasn't even on the radar. Nowadays, editing software is incredible - if necessary, you can replace a sky with the click of a button or even completely change the subject background. However, I still believe that you can't replace the energy or the emotion that can come from a beautifully captured image.
So, to sum up, the past 16 years have been an absolute blast and I still get a buzz from the wonderful feedback I get from my clients after I have delivered their gallery of photos. The variety of clients that I get to work with always blows me away - just this week I have taken some headshots for a firm of Solicitors in Newbury, photographed an event at a beautiful location in London and created a bank of images of a stunning property in Surrey for an Interior Designer. Long may that continue 😊
