Hi, I'm Louise!
Why I do what I do?
I've lived in Cheshire almost my entire life. I love a good woodland walk, the sound of heavy rain and the smell it brings is my FAVOURITE thing and the cosy feeling of sitting by a crackling fire in an old English pub. I live with my beautiful, cheeky little boy and his hilarious and caring dad. Maybe one day we'll have a small furry companion to join our family, but not yet.
Photographs are an important way of documenting our lives. Since becoming a mum, I have taken many pictures on a daily basis. Either with my phone or camera. And while those phone images quickly snapped a moment I will cherish, they don't come close to how much I love all the photos I've taken with a proper camera. And I want to give that feeling to others.
As someone self-conscious about how I look in photographs, I have made it my mission to help others feel relaxed and comfortable in front of a camera. I know how one image can make or break your confidence, and I always strive to work with my clients until they are 100% happy.
I've always enjoyed photographing people, and whilst I occasionally drifted into other forms of photography, I always come back to portraits.
MY STORY
2015
GRADUATING UNIVERSITY
After three years, a lot of hard work, and a handful of all-nighters, I graduated from Aberystwyth University. As a Fine Art student, I focused on illustration and photography. During my years in Aber, I learned all about the magical art of analogue photography, from using a fully manual camera to developing and printing my own black-and-white images. It was the first time I got to try my hand at studio photography. While I enjoyed it thoroughly and occasionally return to it, my heart truly lies in natural lighting.
2016
MY FIRST PAID PHOTOGRAPHY WORK
As all new graduates do, I spent the first year after university trying to figure out what's next. While some people have their lives planned out for years, I had gotten as far as higher education and had made no plans beyond that. In the beginning, my main focus was on Illustration and art-based jobs. While I got a few small commissions, little came from this path. At the same time, through people who knew me and my love of photography, I started to get bookings. It ranged from business portraits to wedding photography. So, I began to invest more time and money into my photography.
2018
i started my own business
At this time, I had still been applying for "normal" jobs, sending out dozens of CVs a day with no responses. (We've all been there). One day I made the decision, "If no one else will hire me, I'll hire myself!" Through all of my education, I had only ever concentrated on art and creative subjects, but now I needed a crash course in business studies. I was very fortunate to get onto one of the Prince's Trust's Young Enterprising courses. I officially registered my business with HMRC, launched my first website and dove headfirst into the scary world of self-employment.
2020
NAVIGATING COVID
Like many other small businesses, when covid hit, my work completely stopped. In the months leading up to lockdown, my work had finally begun to pick up momentum and grow. Unfortunately, this all fell apart overnight. Though there were some out there who found their way through this uncertain time and made it work, I was among those who suddenly found they had a lot of free time on their hands. I completed a couple of art commissions and spent most of my time working on paintings and drawings. Throughout COVID-19, I was also assisting my mum and taking care of my 92-year-old grandma (Nainy, as we called her). Together to looked after her until the day she died, one we before Christmas.
2022
THE YEAR MY LIFE CHANGED FOREVER!
After COVID-19, I began working as a photographer for a car dealership in Stoke-on-Trent. In January of 2022, I got the best news ever! WE, WE'RE HAVING A BABY! Shortly into my pregnancy, I developed anxiety, however, only whilst at work. In the beginning, I went on sick leave, which left me unable to do any of my own work, but after trying to return (unsuccessfully). I had no choice but to quit my job. Whilst completing a handful of photoshoots, I worked very little throughout my pregnancy due to terrible morning sickness and at times crimpling braxton hicks. Not to mention that also in the year we lost my partner's Grandpa, moved house, and lost a beloved family pet dog.
But in the end, 2022 was actually the year the best thing ever happened to us. We welcomed our beautiful little boy into the world.
PRESENT
WHATS NEXT FOR ME...
Though I spent most of my pregnancy unable to work, and at times, it feels like I have little to show for the last couple of years, I have grown and learned so much. Whilst most others spend their maternity leave to focus entirely on their baby, I have been a busy mama. We have done a number of photoshoots together, including a small wedding, and whilst photographing a pregnancy blessing I was left feeling like superwoman when I needed to breastfeed my baby at the same time as continuing to take pictures. I use my baby's naptimes to focus on work and the rest to focus on him. After recently reaching out to a number of other local photographers to gather tips on growing my business, this is finally the time for me to shine and truly show everyone what I am made of and what I can do.