Hello…
I’m Ally, a photographer based in Croydon, South London with a love of all things photography, business, coffee, books, running & the great outdoors.
I help businesses stand out & make a great first impression with high-quality & creative professional photography. Essentially, I am a storyteller. However, I tell stories with photos rather than words.
Want to chat about all things photography?
My Photography Story
My passion for visual storytelling was ignited during a teenage summer volunteering at a children’s camp in Romania. Nestled in the Transylvanian mountains, I encountered incredible people enduring unimaginable hardships. When I returned home to the UK, I was brimming with stories about their lives – their kindness, compassion & resilience.
I would recount these tales endlessly, but it wasn’t until I shared the photos I had taken that people truly connected with their stories. This experience taught me the profound impact of visual imagery.
Fast forward 20 years & I’m now based in Croydon, running a photography business that helps brands tell their stories. Through photography, I enable businesses to connect & engage with their ideal clients in meaningful ways.
From a childhood spent painting, drawing & crafting to receiving my first 110 film camera at age nine, creativity has always been part of my life. Art A-levels, a proper SLR camera for my 18th birthday, a year at art college & studying photography at university all shaped my journey.
I feel incredibly fortunate to have transformed a childhood hobby into a fulfilling career & a thriving business.
“Choose a job you love & you will never have to work a day in your life”
My Brand Values
Always act with integrity.
People will trust me because I am honest, transparent & ethical in everything I do. I work hard to achieve my goals.
Be passionate, engaging & excited about what I do.
This shines through in the quality of my work, my depth of knowledge & my willingness to share, inform, support & encourage.
Build positive, friendly relationships.
A concept that’s central to my approach to photography, and something I put a lot of emphasis on. As a solo business owner, I always work directly with my clients, at every step of the process from enquiry to image delivery.
Relationships deliver results, and we make a difference by working together.
A little bit about me when I’m not taking photos…
One of my dreams is to build a business that provides the time & flexibility to focus on the things I love most – spending time in nature, exploring new places, adventuring, running & simply enjoying life.
At my core, I’m a passionate long-distance endurance runner. Most weekends, you’ll find me with a camera in one hand & a snack in the other, navigating a hill or muddy trail somewhere in the South East of England.
Whenever I can carve out more time, I venture further afield. With my tent & camping stove packed, I’m happiest spending days running along the Pennine Way (photo one below), exploring the rugged beauty of the Peak District (photo two), or following the stunning South West Coast Path (photo three).
I feel incredibly fortunate and privileged to be able to do this. I’m grateful to be fit and healthy enough to spend several days exploring some of England’s most beautiful trails. I’m also thankful to see my business evolving into the sustainable venture I’ve always dreamed of.
Fun Fact!
I’ve run 200 miles in 71 hours & 7 minutes…! In 2023 I took part in the inaugural Winter Downs 200, a 200-mile foot race. For three days & nights, I traversed around the South East of England with 100 other intrepid souls. I’ve also run several 100-mile ultra-marathons & they are a true test of grit, determination & perseverance.
Over those sorts of distances, mental strength is as important as physical strength.
I’m an England Athletics-qualified running coach. One of my greatest passions is sharing my love of running with others.
Three things I love
Coffee
I’m an early riser. One of my
I rarely say no coffee, nothing fancy, a straight
Books
As well as telling visual stories, I love to read other people’s stories.
To me reading is a chance to relax, to lose myself in words & become intertwined in someone else’s story, to feel their elation, happiness, fear & sadness. My favourite books are those filled with characters where for 300+ odd pages their lives become part of mine.
The Sea
I dream of days by the ocean & will often plan a run to finish in a seaside town simply so that I can paddle in the sea!
There is something very calming & relaxing about sitting & watching the waves.
THALASSOPHILE
From the Greek word thalassa, meaning “sea,” a thalassophile can be defined as “a lover of the sea.”
Sammy the Dog…
I’m Mama to Sammy, a three-year-old Akita who we adopted from Battersea Dogs Home in 2023.
She immediately turned life upside down & created chaos but she also makes me smile every single day! And just like her mama, she is a strong, stubborn, independent female!
Want to chat about all things photography (or even running!)
Drop me a line & let’s book a time to connect!
If you want to read more about what I do when I am not a Croydon-based business photographer, have a look at my personal blog about my running escapades as Photo Girl Runs!