Hi Nicholas, welcome back to NE. Can you tell our readers a little bit about yourself? Thanks for having me back. I’m a photographer. I just graduated in July and now I’ve started my own photography business and taken over a studio in Gateshead. I thought it was a great opportunity to go self-employed and that I would kick myself if I didn’t go for it. You were last featured back in 2015 when you were still doing your Foundation Degree, how did you get on with that? Well it seems like a lot longer than that! I managed to finish my degree and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. My final project was a series of images of comparing cosplayers in and out of their costumes which I am now looking to reboot in my new studio and possibly publish as a book hopefully next year. What advice would you give to anyone that is either doing or thinking about doing a Photography Foundation Degree?
32
Make sure you have the passion! There’s really no substitute for loving what you do. I never imagined I’d be a photographer. I took it as an alternative to Art at A-Level and ended up falling in love with it and 7 years later here I am. But even if you love photography, qualifications aren’t essential. It really benefited me because I was really interested in lighting and experimenting with new tech-
niques and it gave me the security to do that. If you love photography just take photos then look at them and try to be critical and push yourself to do better. I’d say that’s how a hobby or an interest really becomes a passion. When you stop doing it for fun but apply a critical eye and push yourself to be better. You have just taken the big step of
