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.

Essentially, I am a storyteller. However, I tell stories with photos rather than words.

My Own Photography Story

My passion for visual storytelling stems from a teenage summer spent volunteering at a children’s camp in Romania. Deep in the Transylvanian mountains, I met the most wonderful people living in unbelievable poverty. I came home to the UK full of stories of their lives, their kindness, their compassion & their struggles.

I would talk and talk and talk but it wasn’t until I showed the photos I’d taken of the people I’d met that the stories elicited any response. Through this, I learnt about the power of the image.

Fast forward 20 years. I’m living in Croydon & I’m a photographer running a business using photography to help brands tell their stories. Helping them to connect & engage with their target client.

From a childhood spent painting, drawing & making things, to my first 110 film camera when I was nine. Through art A’Level, a proper SLR for my 18th birthday, a year at art college & photography at Uni, I’ve always been creative.

I feel very privileged that I’ve been able to turn a childhood hobby into a career & a successful 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.

I’m a long-distance endurance runner & love nothing more than throwing on my trail shoes, filling a bag with snacks & water & running for several hours. I actively avoid roads & cities, preferring the hills, mud & trails of the countryside. In my head I’m an intrepid explorer, in reality, I go anywhere I can get to by train from London in an hour or so!

Fun fact! I’ve run 100 miles in 18 hours & 27 minutes! Yes, without stopping. No, I didn’t sleep… I’ve run several 100-mile ultra-marathons & they are a true test of grit, determination & perseverance. Over that sort of distance, mental strength is as important as physical strength.

I’m also 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 favourite times of the day is that quiet first hour, a book in one hand & a cup of coffee in the other. I rarely say no coffee, nothing fancy, a straight–up, strong, black filter coffee does me well.

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.”

If you want to read more about what I do when I am not taking photos have a look at my personal blog about my running escapades as Photo Girl Runs!