I love photography and I love (most!) people. Simply put, that's why you find yourself here. Combine with my unrelenting determination to be the best I can be, doing the thing I love the most, and BOOM! You have a portrait photographer who is going to take the best shot you've seen of yourself. A bold statement, but I'm sticking with it.
I was born and bred in N.Ireland, specifically, Aghadowey (the largest townland in Europe - i.e. a large collection of fields!). Growing up my Dad was a keen amateur photographer, mainly interested in landscapes, but taking some beautiful portraits too. He passed along his love of photography, but instead of being inspired by landscapes, I fell in love with portrait photography when I started travelling in my late teens.
My whole childhood was spent in Ireland. The first chance I got to travel, I went to Kenya and Uganda on a youth project to climb Mt. Kenya and work with street kids who had been orphaned due to HIV/AIDS. This was the first time I realised the power of digital cameras in helping to connect people. It was magic to immediately show the kids their photos on the camera screen and see their reactions. Transcending language and cultural barriers, making them smile and laugh.
One of my core traits is steely determination, if I want to do something, I make it happen. Always wanting to go bigger and better, the next summer, I went back to East Africa to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. This trip firmly secured my love for travel and adventures. Since then, I've been lucky enough to explore Australia and a chunk of S.E. Asia.
My adventures in my early twenties took me off the conventional career path after uni. I love to try and learn new things. I was a Surf instructor. I became a Pole Dance instructor. My latest hobby is Fire Dance.
I love to challenge myself. The thought of being on stage absolutely petrified me. So what did I do this year? I performed with my fire troupe at the Hammersmith Apollo in front of 2,400 people!
But until my fire career takes off....
I don't want to work a 9-5. I want to be my own boss. I want to do something I truly love. Photography ticks all the boxes for me. It's creative; you can follow infinite paths; it's challenging; it's a skill I can share with people; every day is different; I can travel with it, I meet new and interesting people all the time; and best of all, I love it!
