Spent the last few days thinking about what I wanted to rave on about this time but decided to leave all the stuff I can easily criticise and complain about within the industry and instead talk about something that I love. Black & White photography.

I love it for a multitude of reasons, for example the photo above was taken 2 months ago in a hotel but could also have been taken 50 years ago. It has that sleek, sexy and juxtaposed feel even with the complete removal of colour. It sets apart a lot images and always manages to en-keep this beautiful 'timeless' feel to it. 

Another thing I feel black and white does so well is emotion. with the removal of so much context you gain another view which draws focus is this emotion and feel to it wether its playfulness, angst, upset or joy its so easily conveyed and show across a black and white image. I find myself regularly just flipping images into black and white all the time to see if it can convey something more powerful than the colour image itself. (Its saved a fair few images from the bin a fair few times)

Shooting it on film in my opinion is even more fun I find I end up thinking and 'seeing' in 'black and white' as a pose to my (obviously) normal colour view, it has that beautiful nostalgia and I think In an age we live in where everything is so loud and vibrant and constantly with high contrast and over edits. Black and white manages set itself apart with its simplicity and limitations and have found myself loving it more and more in both my photos and my occasional video crusades. 

And finally, you over exposed an image? cooked it proper bad n left your aperture or iso too high? or didn't adjust your flash speed with how far or close you are? Slap it into your software (I'm Lightroom), make it black and white, adjust the whites and blacks and exposures etc. (or if your even bigger brain like myself and you really really fucked the photo, invert the image) See how many 'Flop photos' you end up saving. 

Some free game in there for my loyal readers :) 

Love
D x

Definitely one I've been meaning to write about as someone who does a lot of the time struggle with balance, burnout and repetitiveness within my work and the jobs I do.

I cannot stress how important it is to variate and explore new techniques, people, styles, spaces and places in which to shoot in. For me it's so important (Otherwise id go fucking mad) to do so.

I do this for a multitude of reasons, firstly my slightly weird analogy of the 'collision theory' which is the more you stimulate and are present within environments the more likely you are to collide with people that may end up hiring you, collaborating with or even just becoming really fucking good friends and creating some amazing memories with. I quite regularly (not tooting my own horn) get DMs or messages from younger and starting photographers 'how did you access ____' and which my answer is BUY A TICKET AND GO its gonna sound harsh but if your not willing to fight and weasel your way into rooms and conversations and you want to work in this industry your going to struggle.

Ive found on so many occasions people who are better shooters but lack social skills in those circumstances its a lot harder than people I also know who I personally think aren't that good but are fucking unbelievable networkers and get themselves in those precious rooms (usually with a fucking Contax G series).

Ive already stressed the importance of TFP shoots (Test shoots) and how valuable they are go and work with a bunch of people and make something different. Don't be scared to push the boat out, fuck up and find something brilliant within it, it's so important. If I could give any pearl of wisdom in stuff to play with TAKE THE FLASH OFF THE CAMERA, LIGHTING LIGHTING LIGHTING.

But also alongside all of this I think still photographing mates bdays, pub nights, nights out super super unserious and not work stuff is the biggest winner and a nice way to still feel so connected to your work as a photographer but there also the easiest people to test stuff on!
Keen to know how people deal with boredom or repetiveness within work and how they avoid it :)
All the best,

D x
Also please feel free to message me and ask more questions and or have a conversation I love em :)

The NEVER ending battle and question within my work and the industry I operate in is Payment.

Your either wrangling usage fees, chasing a 5 day late payment you have already been waiting a month for. or even just trying to find out if your getting paid at all??

For me it's taken a fair few fucking years to get a grip on payment and navigating that between friends, clients, people I don't know and brands. And ultimately it's VERY CIRCUMSTANCIAL. As someone who spent a lot of there 'unofficial' / early career just shooting and not really thinking about the prospect of making money or photography being a job (First 6 years probably 25-21 years old) But after my first job where I got paid over £150 in a day and was done in less than 8 hours, the penny dropped. 

If I was to give any advice to my younger self it would be USAGE USAGE USAGE. The amount of photos and work where licensing wasn't discussed or agreed and I see artists using them on billboards, artworks for albums and singles, reworking them for posters etc it goes on. To put it in plain terms THERE MAKING BREAD OFF U AND U CANT DO NISH ABOUT IT. It's something i've had to grow to learn to stand my ground on and set boundaries within contracts etc as well. If you can do this fairly early on and understand some key terms (PERPETUITY = FUCKING DOSH) your gonna be making a fair bit more but also have more control over your imagery and where its being shown and to what level.

Next we move onto the art and benefit of working for FREE (wish I could add star emojis or something). It may seem a bit counter intuitive to be doing a segment on payment and be talking about free, but let me land. Your boy is blabbering about it for a reason. Firstly i've done shoots before that the imagery afterwards has been licensed or used in a promotional capacity and got me paid, in which in turn I consider 'getting paid from a job'. Secondly doing TFPs (AKA agency and professional term for a test shoot where no one gets paid) you can showcase skills but also try stuff and have the creative freedom to showcase and post and potentially get you work and or access to other places. And finally sometimes going somewhere for free and not having the pressure of it being a 'job' you tend to perform better but also when in those scenarios you have EVERYTHING to gain. I regularly look at some jobs as: who am I going to meet? who's going to be there that might hire me? Is there anyone worth photographing to build my portfolio or just use to aura farm on instagram? Hate it or love it, It works. 

Finally - Adaptability. This for me is the real skill knowing when to drop your rate or raise it, I'll keep it simple. 

- People who shout you consistently and pay quickly and are transparent / lay it all out from the outset - Keep lower and adjustable rates but they also tend to respect you and want to pay you well so its a good one to notice and focus on. Relationships & Trust = MORE DOSH & OPPORTUNITY.

- Big brands : Always go in High and I tend to offer them multiple rates with different deliverables for example option 1 : Digital     Option 2: Digital and Film - you get the jist and make sure to ask where the photos are being used after - advertising and paid usage = MORE DOSH.

- Agencies / PR : flip of a coin on this one as they get you into good rooms but sometimes the budgets just are tight but again go high and work your way down.

- Artists & Labels: These are usually either the easiest or the worst unsigned artists its usually a walk in the park do the shoot, once shots are delivered - you get paid. Now labels there bastards they will try and license everything and then might pay you within 90 days, if they remember. Contracts and communication are very very important. Stay on em there sly dogs.

Finally learning to say no and or respect boundaries, something I struggle with a lot with 'RUSH's' put on jobs and fast turnarounds, ultimately no ones going to die and also if they don't pay for the RUSH service nowadays and we shoot on a Friday your getting it next Monday. Learn to rest, set boundaries and in turn respect your peace but also your integrity.

Big one today felt like it might help a few of you if you do read it.

D x

Loss. 

It feels right that I kind of use my site 'blog' as a space to talk about everything I guess in some ways a diary or even 'therapy'. cant be fucked to use another app like Substack or becomings some doom and gloom raving don on my instagram so heres kinda perfect. Easily In view, but not screaming for attention.

I think across a lot of Press stuff or documentary shoots with artists where we are walking and talking we usually cover some form of loss. In either friends, family, managers or even headphones and USB's it's interesting and is usually a point of contact that connects me with the person and takes the course of our shoot. I like to do photowalks as it opens both of us up to each other and with those who can be a bit more nervous or uneasy in-front of the camera they tend to find these a lot easier and for me are a lot better to shoot.

I lost my Grandad last week, it's a weird one for my 25 years of life I've had the pleasure of all of my grandparents in the picture and good relationship with all of them. It's the 2nd loss after my uncles passing but with this one being so much more abrupt and sudden in nature it definitely feels a lot weirder. Im definitely using work to help me through this and not be out too much. Its also connected me a little bit more to I guess the more emotional side of some the images I take and there importance. Anyways I feel like i'm rambling a bit now but yeah its a weird one.

I guess what I was trying to say is its funny how stuff that can be so sensitive and upsetting can actually lend to the shoot and or 'make the shot' as well as establishing a better connection with the people you work with. Remember like light and shadow they balance, as does good and shit. 

its not always Rosie and happy endings but thats where a lot of beauty can be found. 

Be interested to hear peoples thoughts so if you do read this Id love to chat about what you think.
Best 
D x

I know I said I would be more on it with this space of my website and I guess my mind, but the endless excuse I use but I have been really busy. Ive now been in London a year and it's an interesting one. Definitely still adapting to the pace of this place but also love the rush sometimes but also hate it at times, I think that it is also dependant on how much Im out and or drinking leads to much faster and quicker burnout. 

Saw this backdrop the other day and thought it looked great definitely want to use it soon. but I think thats something that makes here so great, the ever changing backdrops, ecosystems and ruins that lay in and around this place leave me endlessly on lime bikes scouting and jotting places down. the overground also being an amazing moving viewing platform across a lot of the city.

Anyways ina bit.

As we near a year in London it's definitely time to do some more reflection and actually put some more effort into these and doing them more often as a pose to just huge dumps of information. Again to anyone reading Hi. 

Well after briefly scanning my last blog on this I have since worked on even bigger projects and been all over the world an to be honest and is continuing to happen which I am truly grateful for. It's mental to me sometimes truly it is. But at the same time this has come with some of the most intense self doubt and to be honest hatred in my work at times either via burnout or imposter syndrome or just feeling like I'm just a repetitive machine. 

I think after some strategic breaks, exercising more regularly and also spending time learning new techniques and actually spending more time with the work / images itself has also been a good way of mediating what I post / showcase either on here or my website. 

But all in all as I near 1 year in this absolutely mental place I'm definitely on a great trajectory and surrounded by amazing friends, colleagues and people to help me with this as well as my partner who has made me trying to 'relax' and 'take time off' far far easier. As me 'Switching off' is really fucking hard sometimes and creates a whole other complex of self doubt and stress as well. 

But anyways its all a learning process and thats never gonna change but learnt so much the last 11 months and ever grateful for it. 

See you sooner than expected I got some other shit I wanna talk about :) 

Doz

Kinda weird to think it's been just over 6 Months since I made the move to London. 

Guess it's probably quite fun to do the what went well's and even better if's. 

WWW: Probably some of the best work i've done and largest Jobs I've done have occured in the last 6 months with making to be honest massive strides in my personal style, editing and overall ability and capabilities in stills and video. 

Managed to maintain a fairly good balance and continue to be fully freelance over that time through the ebbs and flows which I'm still navigating and slowly building a more cohesive client base and portfolio. 

Over-archingly though very happy when I look back at stuff I've done and reminding myself of how young i actually am and there Is to experience, see and do going forward.

EBI: Christ I did not know the thievery that TFL is Jesus Christ need to get my back wheel fixed because its mental like £10 a day if i'm on the move a lot its mental. And aside from that I guess im still very much learning to be ok with 'slower' periods of work and stuff being cancelled or not going my way, I think because I rely so heavily on it financially when a job does fall through I tend to spiral most times out of 10, that being said its usually temporary as something else tends to come up. But again still navigating that side of it and hows best to prepare or be ready for moments like that. 

But anyways its been pretty good so far see you lot at 9 months :) 

The addictive Highs and unbearable lows. Is it all worth it?

Its something I think about a lot I find it hard to say no, but also love what I do and the opportunities it comes with, but when I find myself ill, exhausted, emotionally unstable and other health issues is it worth it? 

I guess I'm still learning balance in many regards learning to be more ok with days off and saying no to work that just isn't going to be as good but it doesn't happen easily when the idea of losing out on even small amounts of money which pay for what I do and things I want to do. 

Anyways off on tour next week and some fun bits coming.

Peace
Doz x

Think it's something I feel utterly quite used to but still has a similar effect on me. You get reached out to work, spend the next few days moving stuff around orchestrating it and getting yourself mentally ready to 'perform' in a sense and start to ideate and then in a blink of an eye its taken away from you. 

Usually nothing to do with you specifically but a choice by them made on there end of just choosing someone else, personal preference, favouritism or just dates or ideas not aligning.

You read it, your upset, your irritated and also questioning 'is it me?' but still I reply with the nice gracious 'thanks for thinking of me let me know of anything in future would love to work!' which is true I would and you hope they 360 on what they have just said most times it doesn't but you never know. 

I've learnt to take these as lessons or me 'dodging' a bullet or im simply not ready. Im 24 years old and I have a long time to do all of these opportunities and jobs that will come over time. in these moments I focus on the things I know I have coming up work wise and focus back in towards them. It's tough to do and takes a lot of discipline. But ultimately it's part of my job and if I can't handle it I shouldn't do it. 

Just thought I would vent and also if people do read this that they're not the only people, and its normal sadly but half the time has nothing to do with you despite how it may seem. 

Keep moving, pick yourself back up put yourself out there and something even better will arise. Be gracious even when stuff doesn't go your way, even if your'e upset.

I think this has always been a tough one for me to decide between and choose from. For years I exclusively shot film and still think in most regards to myself and my 'photo style' film is superior despite its ever risings costs & fail ratios that are far higher than digital. 

It's been odd though I think the last month or so my Sony A7iii has really grown on me. wether thats through my different use of both on camera and off camera flashes. Or that my ability to edit digital has improved over time as well. I think after 10 years of shooting my 10,000 hours in that regard of actually 'using' a camera in most senses is there and my understanding of its variations and variables I am confident in my ability in. 

I guess now my next 20,000 hours lie in, lighting, editing and maybe direction which in turn will enhance my imagery and skillset further. Its been nice to be almost 'learning something new' in a sense and that digital isn't as shit as I said it was a year ago hahahaha

I don't think I'll ever stop shooting film as it will always have a place for me in any scenario, but for jobs like test shoots, lighting tests and unpaid jobs digital is great way to work and significantly curve the incurred costs that film hold in that sense. But I guess thats something I gauge on whats worth using film on and what isn't. 

Anyways just some thoughts for the ether. Laters.

D x

It's now been a little over 3 months since I moved to London, been a lot of takeaways and lessons learnt. some work i've really enjoyed doing and some work I haven't as much. Peaks and Troughs of what I do. I feel as if now as we are in the new year I want to level up more. Do More and Be more but I get the feeling of lack of motion with it being the start of the year. 

In these moments I Try to remind my self of when all I wanted was a break or for it to be over. Balance is still something i'm very much working on guess we shall see what this year brings.

It's been Just over a month now since I moved down to London and its been a ride already, met people I dreamed of working with, feel like i'm making good head way with my skill & building out my portfolio and clients, as well as feeling more adult in general. 

Still adjusting to thieving TFL at 3 in the morning and the long bus rides and busy rush hours but on the whole feel like it was the right move. 

Speak soon 
D.

After 6 years in Manchester I moved back to London. 

Mainly it was for work and secondly a change. Felt a bit stagnant in Manchester and felt as if London had more to offer me in terms of my career, friends and experiences. I've been here for a week fully pretty much and I can confirm I was right. Im pursuing full time freelance which is terrifying but also, I think necessary. 

Since then it's been a whirlwind already, being reached out to by artists & brands I kinda would have never thought I would work for / with. As ive said before this blogs almost a diary to me now & I know it's been a while but I cant recommend it enough. Jump all in, be prepared for stress & uneasy times but with that you really learn to cherish the highs and 'career moments' as you go a long that road. 

Took a while out from looking after this website, think on top of general burnout and all round overworking myself I neglected something important. 

I took some time off and have re adjusted some aspects of the site & the way I show work in general, less is more in a lot of regards. But again is all still a learning process. 

I think understanding that I am multidimensional in my work and projects is ok and I can sit between both and show and be proud of both under the same brand (Me). The image above is from my birthday on the 4th of July in which I spent at my parents new house In the lakes. 

Was amazing, anyways I'll try to be more active. Peace.

Another addition to my roster of kit is a polaroid I-2 a fucking beauty to be honest and something i've been after for a while. For 2 main reasons; the first being the film is fucking expensive and you don't get a lot of it. This in turn makes me more selective in what I photograph and why, it makes me isolate moments in time so primarily I will use this on a lot of people be that friends, family or encounters I didnt expect.

The second reason the instant physicality of the product after just a short while I have the image myself I can write on it and date it, no need to scan or develop and I can show it however I want be that a photo album on my wall or in a box this again feeds into the narrative of 'capturing moments lost in time' 

To explain this term more and into why photography is such a passion of mine. It's the ability to be able to isolate key or singular moments in time and in a sense immortalise them. Meaning that photo you take of that mate at that year or that time can be remembered, dated, stored, archived and becomes a waypoint or a sort of marker in your mind. Images can be a great form of mental arithmetic and something that I find a lot of happiness and solace in.

Laters :)

what you want is already here.

its an interesting thought and something  I have been thinking about , I saw this image on someones story and thought it carried a good message behind it. The title is from another video I watched recently and within it talks about bringing yourself forward and bringing the "real" you into view and that through perseverance and dedication  you can change things about yourself and that there isn't a "future you" its a process that "future you" you desire and or are looking for is already there it just needs to be surfaced and brought into view.

the same  can be seen in goals or what we are working towards if you remove this air of I cant do this, I wont get there, its not gonna happen - these thoughts hold you back and its interesting to see, you decide to be there or get their and deserve to be there. thoughts like the law of attraction and  affirmations in my eyes couldn't be more true but anyways ill leave this quote here and the videos link in the URL. 

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Over the last few weeks id drove myself mad building this 'preset' for a shoot and images going forward, I saw that people have their like 'USP' (unique selling point) that makes theres identifiable which to be honest is something thats been maintained mainly by my RAW and sharp photography in a quite graphic sense. But for my more refined work I have created this, its almost a film simulation to be honest with a change in colours and is partially adaptable to each skin tone and or back drop which is cool, its almost like the 'base' that I can then tweak and build out of. I always try to find a way to stay somewhat centered, where I can move and tweak things either way if I need to and think its a good ethos in life to be able to float between wether thats with work, art, friends or where you are. 

I dont know why I decided to do it but here it is. 

Peace x

This week has been a massive array of emotions, yesterday I said goodbye to a close family member and was the first time i've had to properly do it in my 23 years of living. We went and sat with him on this beach and watched the sun go down across the water. To be honest was one of the most beautiful moments for all of us, Im furious I didnt have my camera with me so this photo of my phone will have to do.

These moments make you treasure everything else in and around your life and certainly does resonate with me a lot. Im so lucky and it reminds you the small things you're stressing out or worrying about are so small and irrelevant when it comes down to it.

It's given me a big push to do more - Care less - Enjoy it all.

I recently spent some time away from work in Paris. It was a break out of need to be honest, I felt quite overwhelmed and unhappy with my current work and where I was and just needed to get out so I got a return flight for £30 to Paris and back. 

On the trip I spent most of it walking and to be honest having an internal dialogue I find being so present on social media quite difficult to manage, I find myself naturally comparing myself to peers and other creatives and shunning my own work. 

Its a constant battle but I regularly find resolve in removing myself for short periods and focussing on why I do it and for what reason and how lucky I am to be in a position where I do. it also exposes me into a whole new breath of ideas and inspiration from different cultures, the image above is off an old cover from THE FACE I like the text and its movement and change as it went to engage the user.

For a while i've used this segment as a place for me to highlight images and talk a bit more about them, but to be honest thats become a bit of a chore so i'm going to start showing videos, ideas, conversations and processes in my journey moving forward. It's nice because I know a lot of people don't read this, so is more for me personally than anything else. 

This image is profound pondering I guy on YouTube fairly regularly I find a lot of peace and resolution in my mind in these videos, as someone who does so much creatively I regularly find myself scared, feeling like i'm not making enough or its not working and I need to just get something secure or easier. He quite regularly manages to remind me that I am young, every step is a step and its part of the process and that raw intention and affection toward yourself and your craft.

But yeah I will probably log this a fair bit, feeling very imposter and stagnant at the minute but It will pass, I guess this is something new for me to use as an outlet for this and I will also be embedding the videos and or articles I read or write about.

Doz