From mentee to mentor

I always knew I wanted to help people – I kind of assumed that meant being a nurse or school teacher. But recently, I have realised ,that I have found a way to help others, whilst doing something I love – I think I have the best job in the world – teaching and supporting others on their creative photography journey.

In the last 10 years, I have worked with some amazing individuals who have encouraged and supported me to develop my creative photography via mentoring. Because I have experienced this on a personal level, I recognize how valuable this can be as a way to develop not only skills and knowledge, but also self-belief and confidence in what I want to create as a photographer and artist.

After a course, if my participants go away with a desire to experiment and be themselves, I feel very happy. I am delighted to be part of the desire of so many, to bring creative elements into their photography practices. I offer online and in person group training and mentoring, as well as on an individual basis in ICM, multiple exposures, project creation and creative expression. I am based in the Netherlands, but originally come from the UK, and often return for workshops and photography tours.

For me, creativity is being yourself, and allowing this to show in the work you produce. 6 years ago, I was producing technically correct images, which showed not a hint of myself, only a reproduction of what I was seeing. I realised I needed to find a way to express what I was feeling into my images, and that was when I fell in love with ICM.

I hear so many photographers say that they want to escape the confines of the ‘expected’ or the ‘correct way’ to photograph. I have also experienced this, which is why I think it is so important to embrace creativity and encourage photographers to fall in love with the process of making photos that they love again.

Although I was working with individuals before COVID arrived, it is really since I started offering mentoring and training online, that I have developed a passion for sharing my knowledge and helping others to feel the same excitement and enjoyment as I do every time I go out with my camera now. I absolutely love the fact that my groups comprise individuals from the world over, I think it offers a wonderful experience to everyone in the groups. Last night I was online and I had individuals from Israel, California, Ireland, the UK, Sweden and Australia! I still have to pinch myself, that I have been found by individuals outside of the UK or Holland.

The enthusiasm I have for experiencing and, trying new things and following the path that others have not yet taken is something which I hope to impart to anyone who I work with. I love experimenting, and trying things regardless of knowing how they will work. Since being introduced to working in projects some 6 years ago, it is a way I love to work. So much so, I offer courses, webinars and group mentoring specifically on project creation. Right now, I have a group of 10 who will meet on a monthly basis in 2023, taking the concept through from brainstorming ideas and looking for inspiration, right through to presenting the end product.

I’ve been lucky enough to work with three wonderful mentors who have encouraged me to be myself and follow the creative path I have developed. Lesley Chalmers, my first ever mentor introduced me to ICM. Hamish Scott Brown mentored through my successful Master craftsman qualification journey and encouraged me to submit a panel of ICM multiple exposures, even though it had never been seen as a submission before. Most recently and ongoing, I am working with Tony Bridge, from New Zealand who once again is encouraging me to be brave and follow my heart and make the images I want to. None of these mentors was specifically for ICM, but for creativity and development of my photographic journey in general.

Creative photography training opportunities are bountiful now, compared with 10 years ago. Once upon a time, creative development was just for artists and painters. When I started, there was literally only Doug Chinnery offering to share his knowledge freely. However now, there are so many wonderful photographers offering support learning opportunities targeted at creative development.

In October 2022 I was delighted to run workshops during the Creative Light event run by Margaret Soraya – it was the most amazing experience, being surrounded by 50 other people in one room who just wanted to be ‘creative’ and make themselves happy doing it! Being surrounded and supported by others on their creative journey is a wonderful bonus when you join a group course or mentoring. From every single group course I run, the feedback always refers to the added value attendees felt by seeing the work of others and hearing the experiences that are shared during the courses.

If my students go away, after spending time with me, with a desire to experiment and be themselves I feel I have done my job as a mentor or teacher. I run my mentoring and courses with the idea of providing a toolbox of skills and ideas that they build on the courses, and then can utilise with their own interpretation, as they continue on their journey after the time we have together. I share my experience and knowledge freely, but ensure that I always make it clear they are concepts or ideas – never rules. In fact, if I make any suggestions, I often encourage students to break my suggestions and deliberately try the opposite to see what happens. All my courses and mentoring integrate my teaching of concepts and technical aspects, but a bigger part is the feedback and discussions that follow the completion of assignments. I don’t just critique images – we discuss the whole experience to ensure a deeper understanding.