Tell us what you do?
I am a photographer based in London with nearly 10 years' experience in the industry. I cover a range of sectors including PR, fashion, lifestyle, corporate and - my specialty - luxury events.
What does a typical working day look like for you?
My typical working day could involve going out on location for a fashion shoot in the morning before returning to the office to edit the images to send over to the client. This is then usually followed with some admin, such as enquiries and invoicing. Finally, I will normally end the day by finding myself out on location again photographing an event taking place in London.
What do you like most about your job?
I really like the social interaction of photographing an event. I love people and working with them. There is an element of excitement to be had in the middle of an event and capturing those important moments and key guests for your client. Fashion is a fun sector to cover as it is always different and can really immerse you within a vibrant and ever-changing world, however it does still come with its pressures.
Least?
The least favourite element of my job is most definitely post event / shoot. The selection of images and edit is always the most challenging and time-consuming part of my day, and can very easily take over if you are not disciplined and keep on top of it.
What attracted you to the creative sector specifically?
I think I have always had an eye for detail and creativity, and therefore naturally steered my talent for photography into this specific sector. Outside of my job I have many personal projects that I wish to complete, and I think these are what drive my true passion as a photographer and a creative. I love to tell stories with my photography, and my documentary style and experience within the sector has given me a timeless instinct to capture those priceless moments.
What was your path to the role you have now?
In many regards I consider myself very lucky to be on the path I'm on. It certainly was a case of right place and right time, along with extensive on-the-job training and development of skills. That being said, it was not without hard work and dedication of study though a foundation course at BCOT and then onto a BA (Hons) at the University of Portsmouth. All of the skills and technical elements that I learned through study opened the door for my on-the-job training, which is where I really developed my skills as a photographer: learning the how to’s and developing the instincts needed to capture and tell the story of an event or fashion show.
What advice would you give someone looking to get into the sector?
First and foremost you need self-belief; always back yourself and your dreams and you can achieve your goals. Equally as important is hard work and persistence. Another important element is networking: meet and speak with as many people as you can and, like me, you may just meet someone who is able to open the next door for you.
Email: adam@adamdukephotography.com
Social: @adam.duke.photography
