1. What did you want to be as a child?
I’m not so sure I had any particular “jobs” in mind for myself as a child, though I did know from a young age that my passion could be found in the creative field. From as young as preschool, I was the “crafty kid”... this developed into a fascination with magazines, and the graphic design world – and now, into photography!
2. Did you find it hard to build a portfolio and what is your advice to photographers starting to build theirs?
My portfolio is something that has developed slowly over the years, so I can’t say it’s ever been a “hard” task. It is, however, something I always feel I need to build on – as simple as it may be, I feel that every time I shoot, I add to my skill set in one way or another, and therefore my portfolio, so it’s a bit of a win-win scenario for me! The best advice I could give is to shoot, shoot and shoot! ... photography is a very “hands on” industry, so in order to really start building a portfolio to be proud of, you need to shoot / make mistakes / learn / and shoot some more.
3. Which other career paths did you consider?
I actually discovered my love for photography whilst studying at university. Prior to changing to a major in photography, I spent a couple of years at uni studying IT and graphic design.
4. Do you think creative jobs have become more common?
Absolutely! Thanks to the current digital age, all areas of the creative industries have become far more accessible. And who knows where I’d be now without it!
5. Which 3 items couldn't you live without?
That’s a tough question! Perhaps if I were actually in a scenario where I found myself stranded on a desert island, I would probably have to take with me my camera (of course), ipod (music to keep me sane), and some sort of entertainment (to cure the boredom).
6. If you went on an around-the-world trip, which 5 cities would you stop at?
So many to choose from! I would have to go with –
• Reykjavík, Iceland
• London, England
• Leipzig, Germany
• Utah, United States
• Not quite a city, but the Fiordland National Park, New Zealand