Norfolk photographer Angela Adams started her own photography business at the age of 41, after overcoming years of ‘imposter syndrome’. Here she explains why she never gets bored of taking corporate headshots because everyone is a such a joy to meet!
Life presents its highs and lows and therein lies the balance; I believe we can’t appreciate one without experiencing the other. If we choose to, we can learn from each life event that presents either about ourselves, the people we share our lives with or our life choices. When I look back, even the lows have set me on a path I may not necessarily have followed. I love a challenge and always try and look for a positive outcome wherever and whenever possible.
I’ve always enjoyed taking pictures, especially with my dad when growing up in London and Suffolk – he loved photography and was an avid Super 8 cine filmer too; mum preferred to take in the surroundings rather than view them through a lens. Fast forward a decade, and armed with my English Degree, I was writing freelance for national magazines. I remember the day I was plunged back into the world of photography quite clearly… Freelancers were advised that going forward, ‘all written copy needed to be accompanied by associated photographs’. What seemed scary to many was a gift to me (I mentioned earlier that life events have a way of leading us down a route we may not have considered – this life event certainly did).
Those were the days of film, so being sent on an assignment not knowing if the pictures I’d taken were acceptable until they were developed was quite a thrill. It certainly kept me on my toes. Fast forward again and during the early noughties, photography became more lucrative than writing – magazines were under pressure and budgets were tightening. Working for publications had honed my eye as to what was a saleable image, but it still took me time to build a new business, so for a while, I worked a second job a couple of days a week to keep the pennies flowing and undertook a number of business and photography training courses to upskill. I will always remember the words of my mentor: ‘You could be the best photographer in the world but without business acumen, you’ll never make a living‘.
Imposter syndrome prevented me from going it alone for years, I can honestly say it held me back and had I taken the leap sooner, I’d not only have been much happier and fulfilled but would have valued myself more too. But hey, hindsight is wonderful and revisiting the highs and lows, I mentioned earlier, made me appreciate what I’ve achieved more, due to the latter.
During the years that followed, working solely as a photographer, there would always be a little voice in the back of my head that said, ‘go write something, you know you want to‘. And indeed, I did. I feel everyone has at least one book in them, but I couldn’t settle on writing fiction. You see, I love people and I love hearing their stories. Non-fiction writing allows me to meet people, listen to their life events and weave them into an 800 to 1000-word feature (along with associated photographs, of course) that allows my readers a glimpse into their lives. It’s quite magical! I carry that through with my photography now had niched down to business, brand and editorial – the front of my business card reads; ‘we create story-driven pictures that get you noticed because your story matters!’ There’s a symbiotic relationship between my writing and my photography – they both revolve around people and their stories.
At the start of the lockdown, I had a meltdown, being in the vulnerable category due to taking medication for an autoimmune disease, I was petrified. Not being able to work was a worry on two levels: income and health. And with a partner who worked in education, another risk loomed. It took me a few months to relax – with the help of meditation, Reiki and our stunning Norfolk countryside – I am also blessed to live in a village surrounded by stunning vistas with a garden that needed attention and a tandem in the shed. Our daily exercise took place on our tandem! I know this sounds bonkers, but I can remember holding my breath when we cycled past walkers in those early days. I’m not keen on the word unprecedented but it fits!
I set myself a task during lockdown, to create a coffee table book, mainly to keep me busy but I also wanted it to mean something. The book featured the ICU unit staff at James Paget University Hospital and photography friends across the UK. My friend Caroline is an ICU nurse and a wedding photographer in her spare time. She spoke with the hospital who allowed me access to the staff. We set up a Facebook Group and staff members sent me their mobile phone pictures taken whilst working in ICU and comments on how they felt during the pandemic. I’m getting quite emotional now just thinking back… Each day pictures and quotes would pop into my inbox and most days I’d be in tears reading them. The second section of the book featuring photography friends was so very different and showed how out of balance the world was. When the book was finished, a digital copy was sent to everyone featured. Some asked for a hard copy, so I had the book printed. I’m proud to have provided a record for those featured for them, their families and future generations. Have I mentioned that l love people and their stories? When we emerged from lockdown, I felt as if I’d been in hibernation, and it took a long time to feel comfortable in the world proper again.
I work to serve businesses, with business headshots, brand portfolios and editorial photography for magazines. I don’t classify myself as a commercial photographer as my focus will always be people and their stories. Even a corporate headshot tells a story! This month will see me complete an 11-month commission photographing all the staff of Brown&Co Estate Agency – many have asked me, ‘don’t you get bored of headshots?’ Put simply, no, never! Each person is a joy to meet, and I get a buzz from providing them with a photograph of themselves they like. I’ve created guides for headshots and brand photography too, in this area I mainly serve small businesses, mostly female entrepreneurs. The editorial side of the business sees me pitching to magazines, usually about people I’ve met that interest me and I want to take their picture and share their story. I also receive commissions from editors I’ve built relationships with and have a column in Professional Imagemaker where I interview photographers about their business journey. I keep coming back to the narrative, don’t I?!
I feel it’s important each business does what they feel comfortable with, what’s right for a large corporation may not be right for a sole trader. Of course, we need to stand out from the crowd and get noticed. Let’s face it, not standing out is the same as being invisible in a saturated market but I also honestly feel that networking and building relationships can provide the know, like and trust that pictures can too. It all depends on disposable income and individual priorities. People don’t buy goods and services, they buy relationships, stories and a little magic!
One dream has already come true…to have my partner working with me. We make a strong team and have such different skill sets, it just works. I can trust him implicitly to not only be there for me but to add that little extra to each commission which allows me to deliver and serve to a high standard. A quotation comes to mind for the future… Judy Garland once said, ‘always be a first-rate version of yourself, rather than a second-rate version of somebody else’. I’m happy being me, I’m happy where I am in the business
Visit www.angelaadamsphotography.co.uk
Featured image of Angela Adams, by Photography Assistant (and Husband) Paul Parker
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