Why music photography? Why now?

* Disclaimer - I promise that this will be the only blog in which I shamelessly bang on about myself and not musical people and / or photography. I just thought that this might be a good place to start.

I've been a photographer for 7 years now and my business has undergone several transformations - albeit probably imperceptible ones to the average onlooker.

I started my business after 14 years as an Occupational Therapist in mental health services so was very much starting from scratch in the photography world.

When you start a business you do anything and everything - partly for the funds, and partly to see what you're drawn to (and equally, what you're not). Each type of shoot offered new learning opportunities.

When I first started my business I also offered stop motion animation workshops - I mean, every kid born in the 80s wanted to be Tony Hart and mates with morph right?

I shot a few weddings. As much as I enjoyed doing them (and the clients loved their photos), I found that weddings just ain't my photographic thing.

I even tried property photography to assist people in selling their houses - but that just confirmed that people are my favourite subjects.

So after a few years, I knew I wanted to focus on family shoots and (the people side of) commercial photography.

I guess these areas helped me to 'cut my teeth' (where does that phrase come from btw??) and I still love offering these services. Anyway, the bit I haven't mentioned yet is that I went to Ibiza in 2003 and became a DJ.

Well kinda.

I'd always loved house music, but none of my mates shared this passion. I went to Ibiza with two friends (who hated clubbing) to have a chilled holiday. Of course I made sure we had at least one night out clubbing (which they hated) but it changed the course of my life. Sounds dramatic but it's true. I saw Lisa Lashes on the decks at Eden and she totally inspired me to give it a go. As soon as I got home, I ordered some cheap decks, and taught myself to DJ using books and YouTube videos.

Here's me back in Ibiza about 6 years after that 'Lisa Lashes moment', playing at a San An bar...

... and playing lots of fun and random places over the following few years...

Just to go back a bit... during these DJing shenanigans I was working full time as an Occupational Therapist too. No idea how I did the two at the same time. Highlights include; playing at The Warehouse Project in Manchester, DJing every year at The Wickerman Festival for Skiddle and making a track that Danny Rampling played in Ibiza (whilst I was in the club) - but mostly getting to know loads of thoroughly amazing people in the local music scene.

In 2014 I had my gorgeous daughter, shortly followed by a huge decision to quit my OT job and start my business, as I was pretty burnt out as it turned out. But DJing got left behind amidst the gazillion other things I had going on. I honestly thought I had hung up my headphones for good.

But then in 2019 the itch came back... and I started dabbling again.

Then the pandemic had other ideas.

Then I used the pandemic to start mixing at home again.

And then once lockdown eased and thanks to the support of some very lovely old and new friends, I have started gigging again!

Me DJing again for the first time in forever at Kanteena...

Since then, I have only bloody gone and followed on from Dave Seaman and Darren Emerson at Highest Point Festival!

Anyway, so I guess I am saying that I love music and I love photography and I would very much like to have my cake and eat it and be a music photographer please. Now that my youngest has started school, now seems like as good a time as any to do just that.

In a nutshell, that's the answer to the question you probably never even asked ;).

At Highest Point... (Warning: flashing lights)

Track ID: Tensnake - Coma Cat