My (photographic) story

 

 

Although I was born in London, I had lived in four continents by the age of sixteen. I started school in Northern Ireland but soon afterwards we moved to Brunei, where every evening I would happily sit on the veranda looking out at the view of the South China Sea. In the holidays we would go and swim in waterfalls in the jungle and visit the orangutans. Next we moved to Namibia, which is the most beautiful country I have ever seen. I ran down the sand dunes, played with cheetahs and breakfasted with Elvis the baboon. My mother is a photographer and back then I was constantly asking to borrow her camera. I remember being particularly proud of one photograph I took in Namibia of a cheetah with a rugby ball. My mum thought that the picture was hers but I knew it was mine.

Very happy with cheetah, Namibia

Very happy with cheetah, Namibia

Back in London I began to take my photography more and more seriously, posing for self portraits with my new Pentax (and soon after with my Rolleiflex), and making my brother and friends sit for countless photographs. It was during this time that I got offered my first job photographing a wedding. I was terrified. (I still am.) On the way to this wedding we got stuck in solid traffic, but my dad, a law abiding soldier, sped up the hard shoulder and managed to get me there just in time. I don't think I exaggerate when I say that this may have affected the rest of my life. I shot that wedding (and many others) on film and processed it all in my mum's darkroom. I am still proud of the images I shot that day.

Self portrait age seventeen

Self portrait age seventeen

Me and brother with an orangutan, Borneo. 

Me and brother with an orangutan, Borneo.
 

It was around this time that I decided to be a photographer. We then lived in Colombia for a couple of years before the family headed back to London. It was soon afterwards that my mum bought me my first camera, a Pentax K1000. This camera would accompany me on my first solo photographic trip to Cuba aged eighteen and would, more importantly, capture my first wedding photographs.

A cheetah with a rugby ball, NambiaBy Phoebe or her mum.

A cheetah with a rugby ball, Nambia
By Phoebe or her mum.

Running down the sand dunes in Namibia

Running down the sand dunes in Namibia

I then lived in London and started working as a photographer. I started shooting actor's head shots, concerts and musicians and lots and lots of weddings. Although I always found photographing people much more challenging than photographing buildings or food, I knew it was for me right from the start. I sought out actors, writers, politicians, anyone with an interesting face or an interesting story. I couldn't stop. 

In 2009 I moved to Mexico where I continued working as a photographer. I shoot for magazines, have made books and have had exhibitions. My work has been published in Vogue, The New York Times Magazine and countless Mexican and Latin American publications. My work has been displayed in The National Portrait Gallery on two occasions.

A portrait that I shot as part of a series based on poems by WH Auden

A portrait that I shot as part of a series based on poems by WH Auden

A portrait of mine that has been displayed in the National Portrait Gallery in London

A portrait of mine that has been displayed in the National Portrait Gallery in London

 

I continue to work as a wedding photographer, mostly in Mexico and Europe. I have photographed weddings in haciendas, ranchos, pubs, thirteenth century abbeys, on beaches and in castles, in the pouring rain and in baking sun. I cherish the variety. Photographing weddings has allowed me to walk into worlds beyond my own and to witness other people's lives at their happiest moments. It is incredible work and I consider myself privileged to do it. Please get in touch and maybe I can photograph yours!

 

 


 

MORE PHOTOGRAPHS...

On the veranda with Tashie, Brunei

On the veranda with Tashie, Brunei

Thinking I was very cool, Colombia(Cat perhaps not so happy)

Thinking I was very cool, Colombia
(Cat perhaps not so happy)

In the jungle in Borneo

In the jungle in Borneo

Elvis the baboon, NamibiaElvis was actually quite aggressive and a little scary.

Elvis the baboon, Namibia
Elvis was actually quite aggressive and a little scary.

Making my brother pose for me, London

Making my brother pose for me, London

Namibia, the most beautiful country I have ever seen

Namibia, the most beautiful country I have ever seen

The view of the South China Sea from our house in Brunei

The view of the South China Sea from our house in Brunei