Hi, I'm Naomi 👋, a photographer based in London, London, England, available for photography services across the surrounding areas.
My journey into media started with film while I was at university in 2006, working for a production company called The Jump Off. I learned how to film and edit video content before graduating with a degree in law. I then picked up photography because it was more affordable than buying film equipment, and soon discovered that being able to work across both photography and video was a valuable combination.
Photography remained a hobby for around 10 years before the Covid pandemic prompted me to rethink what I wanted from my career. I had enjoyed a successful career in law, but I wanted to spend my time doing something that felt more meaningful and rewarding. After completing an online business course, I realised that becoming self-employed was more achievable than I had imagined.
1 August 2020 was my first day of self-employment, and I haven't looked back. Since then, I've worked with previous colleagues and my former law firm, as well as building relationships with many new clients through recommendations.
When I'm photographing candidly, I sometimes feel like I'm working for MI5! I love blending into the background and capturing people being their authentic selves. There is something incredibly rewarding about freezing a genuine moment in time that nobody else has noticed.
Candid photography is also mentally stimulating and challenging. You have to constantly observe what is happening around you, anticipate interactions and react quickly. Once a moment has gone, it cannot be recreated.
For candid photography, I typically use a telephoto lens, allowing me to get close to the action without physically being close to the subject. This helps people remain relaxed and unaware that they are being photographed, allowing me to capture genuine moments at weddings, conferences, meetings and events.
For posed photographs, I work with the subject to create a relaxed environment so that the images still feel comfortable and natural. I'll provide guidance on posing and movement, helping people feel confident rather than looking like a deer caught in headlights!
Outside photography, I'm an avid boxer and won my first white-collar boxing match in September 2023. It was never about starting a boxing career; it was a personal goal to see how I would perform in the ring, so winning was an incredible achievement.
I'm also a regular gym-goer and always have another challenge in mind. My current goals include running a 10K, despite not particularly enjoying running, and progressing my incline leg press from 160kg towards 200kg.
I keep myself inspired through passion projects. These are often self-funded or collaborations with little or no budget, giving me the freedom to experiment, try new ideas and push my creative boundaries without the restrictions of a commercial brief.
As a candid photographer, I naturally prefer working with natural light. I try to avoid artificial lighting whenever possible because natural light is constantly changing. That presents another challenge to overcome and can create timeless images that would be difficult to replicate with artificial lighting.
One of my favourite photographs is an MMA image that came together completely spontaneously. In such a fast-paced environment, I happened to be in exactly the right place at the right time, capturing a powerful moment filled with emotion. That's what I love about candid photography.
The people. Every person I work with and everyone I meet at conferences has their own story, and I've been privileged to share in some of those stories.
I particularly enjoy working with women in business who may initially feel shy or uncomfortable in front of the camera. Seeing their confidence grow throughout a shoot and watching them leave feeling like a complete boss is incredibly rewarding.
The main emotion I want people to take from my photographs is authenticity.
We live in a world full of filters and carefully curated images where people often feel pressure to show only their best side. I love photographing people as they really are and finding the beauty in moments that society can sometimes teach us to overlook.
I absolutely love photographing animals too! At the moment this is mainly where I get to have fun with photography, although I'm still waiting for my first paid animal photography commission.
I'm also a presenter for The Rebel School, helping people start their own businesses without relying on loans or traditional business plans. I also take part in school careers days and other events designed to inspire people to explore self-employment and entrepreneurship.
If you'd like to find out more or discuss working together, please get in touch.
