My Photography Journey
MY PHOTOGRAPHY JOURNEY
- WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY DAY -
In the Spirit of World Photography day;
I thought it would be really lovely to dedicate a blog to talking through my journey with Photography & show how it all really began...
(Tiny Fiona happily snapping away whilst on a family Holiday)
I have always been a super creative person, often using painting or drawing as an outlet for my other love of animals (mostly Equines) and have always had a camera at my fingertips since a young age.
I eventually became really encapsulated with idea of preserving time and capturing it so that it could be revisited further down the line. I think, this is what kick-started the photography bug.
Of course, at this age I was simply just enjoying taking snaps (on what was probably my Dad or Grandad's camera at the time) but it has certainly been something I have always had an affinity for & engaged with since a young age.
(Photographs above would've been taken on my very own bright red Nikon Coolpix S220...very top of the range)
Many years down the line I did loose touch with my interest in photography for a while.
After being gifted my first DSLR at 16 years old, with the idea of using it to go to College to study photography after GCSE's, I instead decided to stay on at Sixth Form to undertake Art, Film & Media Studies, which eventually led to my Fine-Art Degree. During this time I fuelled my creative drive through producing Artwork, and for a short period of time, undertook commissions to earn some funds.
I would occasionally take my DSLR out, when going to events like Badminton to take snaps of the Pros tackling the course, or to take some photographs of our own horses, but I got caught up in the fact that I didn't really know how to properly use my camera off of automatic modes - and being a typical teenager - I wasn't particularly proactive in putting in the research to change this!
(Graphite Commission producwed in 2018)
Then, midway thorugh the first year of my degree, we were lucky enough to win a Professional Photoshoot with our two Labradors. After getting to experience the full photoshoot process from the client's perspective, the photography bug made a come-back with full vengence.
I was so inspired by the whole experience that I began throwing myself into all of the photography books I had stowed away, online photography courses, webinars, blogs, tutorials, Facebook groups...you name it...
If I had access to it, I was utilizing it. I just wanted to learn as much as I possibly could in order to feel like I understood how to really get the best out of my camera, rather than just my previously adopted technique of 'point, shoot & pray'!
But of course, horses were always goint to be my muse of choice.
(Portrait of Oliver taken in 2019)
Once I had started to get to grips with my camera a little more, I was approached by a friend to photograph their daughter and her pony, which is where it all really started to take flight.
From there I photographed a huge amount of friend's horses (big perk of being on a large Livery Yard...lots of willing ponies to model & lots of invaluable practise!) I created a Facebook Page to have somewhere to store my images, and the Page very slowly gained a small following. A year or so later, I attended my first ever local show as an Official Photographer and really began trying to get my name 'out there' & invested in my website & all of the aspects that come along with a Photography Business.
Now, five years later, I am very lucky to travel all accross the Midlands, Wales, Shropshire & beyond, to meet & photograph a huge variety of beloved horses & ponies.
Most recently, I joined the Guild of Photographers & have gained several awards for my Equine Photography & Portraiture in their esteemed 'Image of the Month' Competitions and I plan to work towards their Qualifications in 2025.
(Submitted Photographs and their Awards from May-June 2024)
Of course, at the very heart of this, is my own horse, Oliver, whom I have had the pleasure of owning & creating treasured memories with for the last 12 years, who is more often than not, the inspiration behind a lot of my work. And those of you reading this who have had a Photoshoot Session with me, will of heard all sorts of stories regarding his antics & things we have gotten up to over the years.
As a passionate Equestrian myself, I truly understand & recognise the hard work, effort, time & love we pour into our horses every single day. Our efforts, passion & bond deserves to be recognised, immortalised & treasured for many years to come, and photography gives us the perfect tools to do so.
“Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving.
What you have caught on film is captured forever… It remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything.”
— Aaron Siskind
Ⓒ Fiona Moore Photography
West Midlands Based Specialist Equine Photographer
Award Winning Equine Photographer available for Equine Photoshoot Sessions & Equestrian Brand/Business Photography.
