Ayrshire Newborn Photographer | Where did it begin?

I'm frequently asked how I got into newborn photography and how long I've been doing this job, so I thought I would give you a little bit about me and how I got to where I am.

I've been taking photographs for fun for 8 years and started to take it seriously and began specialising in newborns 3 years ago.  I only gave up my career to pursue my dream a year and a half ago, and desperately wish that I had done it sooner.

Back in the day I studied Management Science and Finance at university and started off working as a Business Analyst and then a Performance Officer working for local authorities....analysing spreadsheets and report writing every day.  It sounds like great fun, right?? I 'think' I did enjoy my job when I started, but the more I got into photography the more I realised that sitting at a desk all day was just not for me anymore.  I remember that sinking feeling every Sunday and then wishing my Monday to Wednesday away so that I could get back to my photography.  I now NEVER get that Sunday feeling.  I get ridiculously excited planning every session and much as being self-employed is a rollercoaster, the highs are incredible (and way more frequent than the lows) and with every challenge that's thrown at me I am so driven to fix it and to learn from it.  That side of me was long buried in my previous job and I'm so happy to have my old-self back!!!

Where did my photography bug come from? As long as I can remember I've loved taking photographs but it wasn't until I was visiting China that I had the burning desire for a good camera.  So I got my first DSLR....a Canon 450D, 8 years ago.  I was clueless.....like, completely clueless.  I took countless out of focus images and finally went on a beginners course to learn the basics.  My parents then bought me studio lights for my 30th birthday. Again, I was completely clueless.  I literally had no idea what I was doing....so I went to London and did a studio lighting course.  

From there I have literally trained, and trained, and trained...........and continuing to do so.  I have trained with the most amazing world famous newborn photographers (well, famous in my world).......Jillian Greenhill from Abu Dhabi in 2015, Jade Gao from Australia in 2016 and Rachel Vanoven from the USA in 2017.  This month I have business mentoring lined up and then a weekend of training at the Guild Awards and Photohubs in Crewe in February.  I am ridiculously excited about all of this, which says it all about my love for my job.  

If you managed to make it to the end.....well done and thank you! Here are a couple of images.....one of me at work and then the end result.

I hope you like it! 

​Lynne xx

Thank you to Maria Pavlickova for the image of me at work!

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P.S. I love to read other photographer's stories about how they got started and what drives them.  It's amazing, if you check out Amanda Haddow Photography's blog about this same subject! She's specialises in newborn photography in Victoria, BC in Canada.