Becki Williams Photography

View Original

Becoming a Photographer - My Journey

I was never going to be a Photographer. 

When I was young, I was going to be a Librarian (stick with me here...)



My plan was actually that I was going to be a Writer.
Now I either didn't think I was going to be a very good writer, or I was wise beyond my years because I decided I would need job security, and I was going to get that at the library. 

The theory was, when the library was quiet, I would have time to write my books and when it was busy, I would get to at least spend my time around them. 




Alas, as I grew older I decided that maybe a library wasn't for me.  Instead, I would be a Journalist. 


College - Journalist! No wait - Film Director!  No wait - Editor!

We won an award for one of our college videos and were in the newspaper!

At 16 I started looking for Journalism college courses and found the perfect course at West Herts College - perfect apart from the fact it wasn't a course in Journalism. 
I spent the next two years studying Media and Photography and roaming around Watford filming and taking photos with my friends.  

At first I was going to be a Director (who am I kidding, I'm not bossy enough!) and then I decided I'd be a video editor. 

For me back then, photography was just a hobby.  It was an easy class where I got to mess around, play with chemicals and roam around Watford High Street calling it 'work'.  

I used my savings at my first job at the Co Op in Warners End to buy my first proper camera off of Ebay.  I had no idea what I was doing!


Oh, you took a Gap Year!

After College I took a Gap Year where I worked like crazy to save for a once in a lifetime trip to Australia.  I spend 2 1/2 months travelling around with people i'd never met before having the time of my life. 
Once I was home - it was time for university. 


I am a HUGE University advocate.  It changed my life.  

I did stupid things.  I met amazing people.  I worked really damn hard. 


In September 2005 I started Staffordshire University - a tiny campus in Stafford that doesn't even exist any more. 

Along with having tons of amazing experiences - I'm also proud of the work I did.  It makes my cringe to look back on now, but a lot of sweat and tears went into that work. 

I finished Uni with a 1st in Video production and it was time to head out into the big wide world. 


My first job was a Runner at Pinewood Studios.  I made tea for Ant and Dec, I ran into Jack Black on the lunch run. 
They were filming Harry Potter right outside our office so I was on constant celebrity watch. 

The hours were long, the commute was crazy and the pay bad, and with my boyfriend working shifts we hardly got to see each other.

I finally gave in a concluded that life in the fast lane was not for me.   


And so it all began...

        logo - the beginning - 2016

                logo 2017 - present

I was on my honeymoon when I decided that it was time to take this photography thing seriously.  

I was working full time as a corporate video editor in Harpenden and had been doing free shoots at the weekend to get experience.  I had bought a website domain (I used my husbands surname even before we were married, pretty much forcing him to marry me one day!) and when I came back from Antigua I registered myself as self employed (hello tax returns!) and worked out my pricing.  I took on more clients and my evenings and weekends began to fill up with editing and admin. 

A few months after that, I was made redundant from my full time editing job. 

It was a huge shock, but it was also the perfect little push to take my photography full time.


That was back in October 2014, and I have not looked back since. 


Over the last three years I have put a lot of effort into building my photography business into something that I am extremely proud of.  It's not just my photography that has improved, but also the experience I give my clients. 

I am constantly improving my skills in everything from baby safety, photography and business as well as researching and providing a selection of gorgeous products.


I meet new people weekly, getting to know them and watching their family grow.

I get to capture moments in time that those families can look back on and enjoy forever. 

I cuddle newborns, I sing with babies, I make tea for tired and emotional mums. 

I get to edit in my pyjamas! 


I love my job and I love every client for putting their trust in me to provide them with an amazing experience and images they can treasure forever. 

If you are one of them - thank you!  If you want to be one of them - thank you!

I can't wait to meet you and your family and continue this crazy photography journey. 

xxx


If you have any questions or would like to book a photo shoot, please

Get In Touch!


See this gallery in the original post