Who Am I & Why Photography?

I have just finished editing my most recent family session and the question popped into my head, Why Photography? What is it that interests me and draws me to taking photos? So I thought, why not write it down and find out, so, I’ll take you along with me.

I write this on a Saturday afternoon as I’m sat on my sofa next to my 4 month old Labrador puppy. Cute right? Wrong. Just writing those first four lines above I have had to stop her from trying to bite my hard drive, let her outside for… the toilet, stop her eating some kitchen roll and getting her away from close call with a Bumble Bee (for the second time this week). So this post may take me some time to write, but let’s give it a try!

Said Puppy!

  First, a little bit about me and how I got to where I am now. From a young age I have always wanted to help take care of young children. In Year 6 I would help look after the children in Year 1, in Year 10 I joined a Nursery for a week’s work experience and continued to help out in my school holidays.  I would also help my Auntie with my younger cousins and then, when I was finishing school at the age of 18 I applied to Norland College. I learnt so much at Norland, including understanding how to interact with families, children and parents alike. Since graduating I have had nanny roles that have taken me all over the world alongside working and living amongst families that weren’t my own. Then, 2 years ago I was offered a job as the Manager at the nursery I had that week’s work experience at back in Year 10.  A real full circle moment. This role currently means working 10 hour days, 4 days a week, meaning I have one day a week to spare. I use this day for life admin, catching up with housework, looking after the puppy/ giving my husband a day off but there was something else I wanted to try. Why not use that day to build on my hobby? Maybe even try and turn my hobby into a business? My hobby? Photography of course.

                  My dad actually got me into Photography, he has always been interested in it meaning I had access to a camera on every holiday, every family event and even on dog walks. I learnt the basics in my Photography A-Levels and since then I have taught myself, first using my dads camera and then, with the help of my parents for my 30^th birthday I splashed out and bought my Canon R6 Mark ii. Since my A-Levels I learnt that whilst I was fascinated in photographing nature, it was the feeling I had when showing people the photographs I had taken of them and/or their families. Their faces lit up and their smiles grew when they looked at the images. I photographed family and friends, slowly building my portfolio. My family kept telling me I should make business cards and offer my services to other families so eventually, I took the plunge and I’m so glad I did. I loved every minute, from charging my camera batteries pre shoot to getting the emails back in reply to the galleries I had sent clients. Now, here I am in July 2025 with consistent new clients asking for family photoshoots, being asked by friends to shoot a wedding and even a big job in a few weeks for some headshots in the City.

Who knows what and where my side hustle will take me but for now, I love what I do at the Nursery and I love where I am going with Fran’s Frames. Stick around and find out with me.

Now, wheres that puppy got to?!