I started out with my photography back in January 2010. I have always grown up with a love of imagery and being creative, I was never an academic. I absolutely loved drawing and being artistic, that was just me, so I excelled at art & design in school and this is the area I chose to progress in to. In college I did Graphic Design, with a bit of Photography as well, and went onto University to carry on with Graphic Design. I wasn’t enjoying the course as much as I had at college, and this is when I split off and decided to explore photography more.
Growing up, having spent my teens buying the music magazines weekly, like Kerrang & Metal Hammer, I would always adore the Live Music shots the most. Music was (and still is) a big part of my life, and I always wished that I could be taking those photos. Every gig I went to, I would always try to be down the front with my little basic snap and shoot camera to just capture that energy on stage. It wasn’t until the end of 2009, at an Alice in Chains concert, I noticed a photographer in the pit and saw her name on her camera equipment, Kate Booker. I plucked up the courage to give Kate an email and explain I would really love to give music photography a try, and if she had any pointers. She was incredible with her advice and help, and with that I contact the Purple Turtle in Camden to ask if I could come down and shoot some of their bands. And this is where it began in January 2010!
I eventually had Kate email me a few months later about helping to cover the Camden Crawl, which I jumped at and had a blast doing to, one of my images even made their front page at the time. I then started shooting for a website regularly and got some access to some amazing gigs over the 2 years I spent doing this. I also during this time got to assist one of my favourite music photographers, Tina Kohonen, who was always a massive inspiration to me.
Europe at Shepherds Bush 19th February, 2011
I eventually had Kate email me a few months later about helping to cover the Camden Crawl, which I jumped at and had a blast doing to, one of my images even made their front page at the time. I then started shooting for a website regularly and got some access to some amazing gigs over the 2 years I spent doing this. I also during this time got to assist one of my favourite music photographers, Tina Kohonen, who was always a massive inspiration to me.
After about a year of shooting music,, so early 2011, I eventually got the confidence in shooting models, and was fortunate enough to know some great models in the alternative scene from my modelling days, who were more than willing to help me out. Also, being at university I used to offer my services to the fashion students, so I really got to do a wide variety of styles. This was also when I began self shooting, as I wasn’t always able to shoot models due to time, so I would experiment with lighting and styling on myself.
And the rest, as they say, is history. I am so glad I am still here creating and doing what I love doing. There is no better feeling than being so passionate about something, and bringing your visions to life. I have been so fortunate to have worked with some amazing people over the years, and shot some amazing events as well, and I am excited to see what the next 10 years could bring!
JL x
