After booking the Dogs in Action workshop with Claudio Piccoli in 2017, my photography journey took a significant leap forward. It was there that I met Alice Loder from Alice Loder Photography, who was hosting the event. We quickly became friends and shared a passion for capturing the beauty of dogs in portraiture.
Our connection led to something wonderful: two photography workshops hosted in Scotland during the breathtaking seasons of spring and autumn in May and November 2018. Those workshops were pivotal in building my confidence and honing my craft, and they gave me the push I needed to start thinking about photography as more than just a hobby.
In 2019, I joined the Master Photographers Association and began working towards professional accreditation. By February 2020, I achieved my Certified Professional Status—a proud milestone that marked a new chapter in my journey. Around the same time, I became a member of the Flourish Academy and Hair of the Dog, connecting with incredible photographers and learning communities that inspired me to grow further.
The summer of 2019 brought an unexpected but thrilling accomplishment. I submitted my work to the International Pet Photographer of the Year Awards, competing against thousands of talented photographers from around the globe. To my astonishment and delight, two of my images placed in the Top 100—one in the Open category and the other in Pets and Their People. It was a proud moment that confirmed I was on the right path.
I had big plans for 2020, ready to continue growing professionally. But, as life often does, it threw a curveball. The pandemic turned the world upside down, bringing my aspirations to a halt. Like so many others, I found myself juggling homeschooling three children during lockdowns, coping with immense personal loss, and trying to hold onto a sense of normalcy. The passing of my mother-in-law to aggressive cancer during the first lockdown was devastating. That year, instead of flourishing, I found myself in the depths of mild depression.
Despite the challenges, 2020 marked the beginning of an unexpected spiritual journey. I began searching for meaning—not just in life but in how my photography business fit within it. It was a time of reflection, recalibration, and quiet growth.
By the summer of 2023, my passion for photography was reignited. As the saying goes, “When the student is ready, the master will appear.” For me, that master was Damien Symonds, whose editing classes gave me the tools to perfect my craft and take my work to new heights.
In spring 2024, I joined That Tog Spot, further immersing myself in the photography community. It’s been a joy to continue learning, growing, and refining my skills, moving closer to mastering my craft every day.
As I look back on this journey, I see how every step—every workshop, every course, and even every setback—has brought me to where I am today. Photography isn’t just a profession for me; it’s a lifelong love, a constant source of joy, and a way to tell the stories of the dogs and people I cherish so deeply.
