Nick Clayton
Landscape, Outdoor And Studio
Photographer
My Story So far...
So where to begin.
My interest in photography began several years ago when my wife and I became parents to our two amazing daughters. I wanted to try and capture the special moments that kids can create. I quickly became obsessed and passionate with the craft and as I tend do - probably due to my obsessive personality and thirst for knowledge - I had to learn everything! It soon transpired that taking pictures of the girls just wasn’t enough for me. Thus I started to teach myself about as many aspects of photography as I could. Whether it was studio portraits or the magnificent world of macro images.
Now, this new creative endeavour, is far from my everyday life as a mechanic and greenkeeper on a golf course, which is a job I really enjoy with a variety of things to keep me entertained from fixing engines, woodworking, chopping down trees, playing with tractors and everything in between. Therefore with my new-found hobby, my great job and happy family life, you would expect me to be quite content. You would be correct in assuming that, but I have always felt incomplete and not at ease with the day-to-day running of modern life. “Something” was missing and that “something” was adventure -something to feed my wanderlust.
As a younger man (not that I’m THAT old), this need was met in my many adventures - from sailing to mountaineering, canoeing to climbing and hiking to hunting - but as a family man in my 30’s, it was not fulfilled. I needed to get back to the things in life that could fulfil me. So, I set about feeding my hunger for adventure and reclaiming the things in life that I had lost. Now with a camera in my hand and a no-quit attitude - it is the perfect excuse. To throw on a pack, pitch my tent or set the sails for new lands and new adventures. To try and capture and document the amazing world that I have seen and have yet to see. For this I am truly excited and through sweat, blood and gritted teeth, I will go to any length to produce the best images I can. As a result, I decided to set up as freelance photographer to help me fund my adventures and to share my images with the world. I truly hope my images will bring you as much happiness and inspiration as they give me in the pursuit of them.
Looking into the future
What do my future plans look like at the moment?
Well its safe to say I plan to be out shooting as much as possible. But as you can imagine with 2 and 4 year old girls bossing me about, working a full time job (got to pay the bills), and trying to set up a photography business, my time is very streched, but I do plan on making the most of my free time - Working on getting new images for my portfolio and tring to produce prints that will be available to buy - Currently i am also in the prosses of building a small home studio. So I can really get to grips with the portait side of my photography by setting up a website for the studio. I plan to start doing some headshots, portaits and more commercial work on top of my outdoor photography and working with clients and expanding my craft.
I am also looking into providing workshops and lectures to budding photograhers on lighting and camera skills.
My Youtube channel is also something I plan to work on. Hopefully providing A behind the scenes on my images and adventures, as well regular updates/thoughts on me and my life through a vlog/blog. I will also try to make videos providing free learning to those that want to hear my take on things. I am working to improve my video skills and get over the prospect of being in front of the camera!
Please follow me on Facebook , Instagram , Youtube and check-in on the website for future updates and images.
Cheers and much love to you all,
Nick
