In The Beginning

A photographer! How did that happen?
Over the last two years I have had countless emails and messages asking me how did I become a photographer? Where did I study? How did I learn?

Sometimes I sit and look back for that defining moment. Was it something I missed? When did I begin? When did I step over the threshold from just Mum to Photographer?
I suppose there is no easy answer … other than I picked up his camera and simply decided …

At night as I lay in bed reading under the glow of the light, I would hear him working; the tapping and the rhythmical sanding became my lullaby as he worked in the garage below. He had had a dream, a single thought that twisted and turned over and over, until he decided to make it into a reality. Paper piles appeared, smoothed, crumpled and smoothed again, until his plan was done. Learning from his mistakes, perfecting as he went … until finally he built his boat.

He would always do that – be struck with the germ of an idea, a seed of inspiration – and then that was it, a course would be set, his mind firm and resolute fuelled by determination, relentless and unstoppable, unafraid of failure until he was done.

A lifetime of memories were made in the time after he made her. We would rise early. My hand in his we would walk out with the tide, only waders and gulls for company, a trail of holes in our wake as we dug in the mud for worms. Then, placing the wriggling tub in the bag with our lunch without even a glance (Mum and my little brother refusing to brave the waves and remaining on the beach), just the two of us would set sail on adventures new. Always tightly hugging the shore and throwing the tiny anchor over the side whenever the mood struck, we would fish for hours; glimpsing puffins, seals and a rainbow of mackerel if we were lucky. 

His camera was always by his side recording our sightings. These were magical times, the times that colour my life. Memories more precious than jewels.

All that are left now are whispers. Memories fade and change with time and age but he knew, as his shutter clicked, that those seconds of our lives were preserved forever with love and care.

And so now my treasure sits in the top drawer of my bedside table. An envelope older than me, hundreds of photographs, faded and curling at the edges. Made sepia the natural way, with pure time. They sit just like they sat in his drawer, these little pieces of time reminders of moments long gone. They show me who I am and where I came from, those tiny squares transporting me back in an instant to another time when I had sand between my fingers, salt on my tongue and his hands on the tiller gently steering our course.

I wonder if my father knew what he was doing when he left me his cameras and that old envelope…. that he would inspire me to pick up his camera and carry on where he left off, recording life now for my children ……I like to think so….

 

Photography was the constant thread he chose to weave so tightly throughout my life and his…. it connects us still.
 
And so, if one day some of my photos end up all curly and sepia in an envelope in your drawer, treasures for your future …well … that would be just lovely!

I never intended to be a photographer, but fate – and my father – quietly intervened. I am a wedding photographer based in the gorgeous village of Frodsham in Cheshire …. and I shoot weddings in Cheshire and the rest of the world.

I am Andrea x

YOU SAID

13 Comments

  1. Kath knowles

    Wow… X

    Reply
  2. Jenny Pitt

    That is just beautiful got a tear in my eye! X

    Reply
  3. Tracey

    Beautiful new look Andrea. The photos you took of me, and my design work have really helped me to promote my work and everyone asks who took them! Creating a new blog is a real act of team work, so well done to all involved. I love it! T xx

    Reply
  4. Lucy Woodrow

    Andrea, your words and images are just beautiful. You should be so very proud of yourself with who you are and what you have achieved. There is so much heart and soul goes in to your work.. you don’t just take photos of someone’s wedding you give it your everything and invest yourself wholly into capturing the spirit of the day xx

    Reply
  5. martin

    very nice andrea.x

    Reply
  6. Sue Daly

    Wow. Fab words as always…..I love this new blog! It’s so you xx

    Reply
  7. Tracy Cornes

    Beautiful…And such a unique looking blog, congratulations <3

    Reply
  8. Amy Dyer

    Ahh… Here’s to the 26th April <3

    Lovely new website blog type thing. I'm chuffed to bits for you, it's fabulous xx

    Reply
  9. Kerry

    Your new branding is fantastic Andrea. I have huge admiration for everything you have achieved. Your Dad would be so proud to have inspired you. See you soon x

    Reply
  10. Reg Lacey

    Wow… just wow. There surely can not be any more words of which can be spoken about your page. The story of how you became a professional photographer was so touching and beautiful, the slide show of what you will get is absolutely stunning as for your photographs they are just simply wonderful. You truly capture their love and passion in your photographs and give people not only a memory to hold onto but a story full of colours, depth and beauty 🙂

    Keep up the great work and I look forward to seeing more 🙂

    Reply
  11. Lisa A

    Very very beautiful and moving, you should write a book. Such a lovely way with words. I have photos that you have taken of my daughters and I swear they will end up curly in a draw in our family for many years to come.

    ..x..

    Reply
    • admin

      oh Lisa…I remember your daughters well….beautiful beautiful girls and I am thrilled that you treasure my images of them…..thats what its all about for me xxx thanks for letting me know that x

      Reply
  12. Martin Dabek

    Very touching read. Love your website Andrea!

    Reply

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