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Angie's Angle - Francis Pullen - part 3 of 1 2 3 4

by Angela Adams Published 01/10/2015

If you could start your business again from day one,what would you do differently (if anything)?
I would have migrated to digital cameras a few yearsearlier because of the flexibility they offer in real-timeshooting, especially at weddings where conditionschange so quickly. Having said that, I still shoot film forspecial projects, or if a client requests it, and still lovethe analogue results it gives.

What's the best single piece of business advice you'dlike to share?
Make a well-researched, solid and realistic businessplan that sets you and your style apart from otherbusinesses. Monitor it regularly and make the changesneeded to keep yourself on track - no matter howpainful they may be.

Was this what led you to offering photography walksacross the UK?
My Cambridge Photo Walks evolved from the businessplan, as I had been photographically documentingCambridge city for many years. The city has a hugediversity of population, plus another 25,000 studentsat the 31 colleges. Tourists flock in from all over theworld, there's beautiful architecture, many hidden andless well visited areas, and quite a few ghost storiesto tell. So the walks combine photographing all theseplus advising people how to get the best out of theircameras and improve their photography whilst doingso.

Not long after I started the Cambridge Walks, I startedreceiving enquiries asking if I could organise PhotoWalks in other cities, which I now do.

What's the one piece of kit - camera aside, that youwouldn't be without and why?
Actually it's not photography related at all! I alwayshave plenty of bottles of tap water on hand, becauseI dehydrate very quickly, so it's essential to replace mywater loss.

Learning to become a competent photographer isa serious challenge, one that keeps us learning andexploring - what would you say is the most importantchallenge you've faced as a photographer?
Keeping my work relevant and current, amongst a fast-changingtechnical industry, accompanied by vastlydiffering client expectations.Looking at a photographer's portfolio can be revealing- what does your portfolio reveal about you?I would hope it says I'm a more than competentphotographer who meets or exceeds a brief. Whether astraightforward corporate head shot, a full-on wedding,or an engaging portrait or model shoot.

Do you enter competitions? If so, is it with your day-to-day work or do you shoot specifically to create acompetition image?
I rarely enter competitions, but plan to become a littlemore active in that field with styled and themed shoots,created specifically with competition in mind.

What do you love the most about being a photographer?
I love engaging with the diversity of people I meet,discovering more about them and trying to reflect theircharacter in the resultant photographs. I also love thereactions when clients view their pictures.

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1st Published 01/10/2015
last update 09/12/2022 14:54:26

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