QUESTIONS
ANSWERS…AND CHAT
FAQ = Frequently Asked Questions!
There are a few questions that I’m asked on a regular basis, and I hope that by chatting through some bits here, you’ll get to know a little more about me and the way I work.
Got a question that’s not quite covered? Please let me know via the Contact Form or request my Pricing Brochure, and I’ll do my best to help out!
How long have you been a photographer?
I set up as a business in 2008 – spending a number of years photographing people, thanks to recommendations – but always feeling that I was more drawn to the creativity and quiet of gardens and landscapes. The short answer is that I was given a Polaroid camera in Primary School and became mildly obsessed – I still have the first little album of photos I put together…
How did you get into garden photography?
My degree is in teaching; having switched career, I spent more than 10 years photographing weddings and people portraits, but my photography background – way before establishing a business – was in landscape photography. I applied to, and joined as a member of, both the Garden Media Guild and Professional Garden Photographers Association in 2019, and I’m once again fulfilling my true enthusiasm and passion in photographing the land. The Garden Media Guild are a fantastic network of knowledgeable garden professionals; it’s also encouraged me into studying the RHS Horticulture Level 2 course – the additional plant knowledge is invaluable when working with the real horti experts!
Who do you work for?
I’m freelance. As a few examples, I’ve worked alongside the National Garden Scheme; collaborated with garden writers for commissioned magazine articles; taken photographs of gardeners and garden authors for books; documented private gardens, public gardens, and flower farms; and produced imagery for garden designers and garden companies. I also create promotional pictures for local food-and-drink small businesses, with a connection to the land and its story. I recently signed with the GAP Gardens photo library, supplying pictures for stock.
What equipment do you use?
I use full-frame Sony mirrorless cameras. These are paired with prime lenses – wide, mid and macro range – for sharpness. I have a favourite Manfrotto tripod (it’s a few years old and a bit heavy, but it makes it sturdy against any wind!) – plus other essentials such as tri-grip reflector, a cable shutter release, and apps such as SunSeeker to track the light’s direction throughout the day (as well as noting times that the sun may be hidden behind higher ground).
All RAW photos then need to be processed in the digital darkroom, where I favour Lightroom for general editing. I find Photoshop useful when a more precise tool is needed, such as removing leaf blemishes. I’ve recently started offering aerial photos with a DJI drone, where conditions allow (stills photography only) – please get in touch if you’d like this added to your package.
Is it your full-time job?
Yes it is, though it tends to be a very seasonal job with far busier periods from April through to September. Being a self-employed sole trader, it means that I’m my own marketer, website developer, editor, writer, accounts & admin manager, as well as attempting to generate an income stream in the quieter months from stock photos and products such as notecards – so there’s enough to keep me occupied!
What's the best time of day for photos?
Without a doubt it’s the hour or two when the sun is around the horizon. The temperature of light hits the warmer end of the spectrum; sidelight emphasizes texture and form of plants. I stick to a low ISO to maintain crispness in pictures if they end up as larger prints.
The coolness of night allows morning shoots a much higher chance of mist, haze, frost or dewy sparkles first thing – atmospheric conditions that generally pass us by in the course of a normal day, and they make for fantastic photo opportunities. I’m a big fan of sunset light (many of my own favourite photos are evening ones) – the glow is warmer and comforting somehow, any blooms are fully open, and there’s a stillness of everything wrapping up for the day that I feel emotionally connected to.
And the best time of year?
All year! But each garden tends to have focal points where particular plants or features will be at their height, and so it makes sense to work to those strengths. It’s important to collaborate with garden owners so that everything looks at its absolute best – and that often means stalking several different weather apps, leaving a few optimum days available in my diary, liasing to make sure that weather hasn’t battered blooms and that there’s been opportunity for tidying and deadheading beforehand.
I’m always on the lookout for great winter gardens, too – the ones with structure and ‘bones’ when the flounce of the summer is gone! But it’s the planning and prep – including the chance to look around in advance – that all contribute to bringing out the very best of a garden in photographs.
What does a typical garden shoot look like?
A morning or evening session will typically be between 2 and 4 hours. If I’m capturing sunrise light, I really need to be in place before the sun breaks the horizon, so I usually travel while it’s still dark. I continue photographing while there’s sidelight giving form to the planting – capturing wide views and little garden scene vignettes. Once the light is more even, it’s a good time for plant studies and close-up details. Every session is different but each will then have the images processed, from a digital negative ‘RAW’ file into a finished and unblemished image that reveals all of the colour, contrast and light of the scene.
There’s more information on this if you head to my ‘Process’ page.
How do I receive the images?
I create a private online gallery for you, so that you can view and download your photographs – you have the option to download each picture individually, or as a complete set. You will be sent a link and a password; your photo files come with rights to use as you wish, in whatever media or format, in perpetuity. Finished, full resolution files are suitable for printed matter, for wall art, for online use, and are large enough to be printed on advertising banners of several metres dimension. 
Everyone has cameras these days - why hire a professional?
It’s true, I doubt there are many people now without a camera on them when they’re out and about, even if it’s just their phone. The phone cameras now are often terrific with a range of options, too. However, for printed matter there’s a requirement of a higher resolution than phone cameras can provide. For capturing details and handling the light, the professional equipment can’t be beaten. And while everyone may be able to take a photo, there’s a skill in framing a picture in such a way as to draw the viewer in, and captivate them, while avoiding distractions.
It does help to hire someone who is a specialist in their field, too – being immersed in the subject really helps me to understand what visual content works well, and what editors are looking for. It’s also worth noting that I am fully insured.