Press Career Started at Solway Press Services
Long before digital cameras and instant previews, my career was forged in the high-stakes world of analog press photography. Between the 1980s and mid-90s in Dumfries & Galloway, I learned the craft when every frame mattered, deadlines were brutal, and technical mistakes simply weren’t an option.
My journey started as an apprentice press photographer at Solway Press Services in Dalbeattie, earning just £25 a week. It was there I mastered everything from loading black-and-white film to processing negatives and racing to get finished prints dispatched to hit deadlines for regional and national newspapers. That high-pressure environment instilled the discipline and instinctive understanding of light that still anchors my work today.
Studio and Commercial Experience at John Donnelly Photographic
From there, I moved to John Donnelly Photographic (pictured) in Dumfries, where I traded the darkroom for the studio and also selling cameras. I refined my technical skills using medium-format cameras and professional studio lighting, learning how to balance creative flair with commercial objectives and client needs.
High-Volume Event Photography at Butlin’s Bognor Regis
Seeking a new challenge, I took a leap into the fast-paced world of high-volume event photography at Butlin’s in Bognor Regis. Capturing up to 400 colour images a day really sharpened my ability to work fast and, more importantly, taught me how to put people at ease to capture genuine, natural moments under pressure.
A Documentary Approach Built on Decades of Experience
This analog era shaped me into a versatile editorial and lifestyle photographer. Whether I’m working on editorial, event, or commercial projects, my approach is built on those decades of real-world experience—anticipating the moment, telling a story, and making every shot intentional.
Returning to My Roots: ‘Film/36’ Project
In fact, only recently I have purchased a 35mm Nikon F3HP film camera to explore slowing the pace of my professional life and challenging myself to shoot a few personal projects on 36exp film —watch this space!