Bio:

Keith Longman, 45, from Basingstoke joined his local camera club seven years ago, and his dreams soon turned into reality when he became a professional photographer.

Keith has always had a passion for photography, taking pictures on an amateur basis alongside his career in the double glazing trade. After winning major competitions and getting his work published, he launched Keith Longman Photography.

For Keith, taking pictures was purely a hobby before he joined his local camera club in 2006.

“It was a case of everyone telling me my work was really good. I wanted to progress my photography and show my work to more people, so that inspired me to join the club,” he says.

Throughout his time in the double glazing trade, Keith had friends asking him for photography services.

“People would ask me to photograph weddings for friends, but I’d always make it clear that I wasn’t a professional. I’d only do it on the basis that the images you get are the images you get. So I did a few weddings and began buying lighting systems and other equipment.”

Why Join a Camera Club?

Camera clubs are a place for people to share their work and their knowledge.

There are many clubs across the country where people can pick up new skills and techniques. Competitions and workshops are designed to help amateurs progress with their photography.

“At Basingstoke Camera Club we run something called Photo Clinic, where you take along two A4 prints. Your images get critiqued on the positive side of how good it is and also how people feel it can be improved.  Projects like these certainly contributed towards the progression of my photography,” says Keith.

Camera clubs can also help you use your equipment more effectively.

“We also run ‘how to’ photography sessions and practical evenings where you can photograph certain things around the club. There’s always someone on hand to assist you. For people looking to progress in photography and really discover what their camera can do, the clubs are really useful.”

From Amateur to Professional

As mentioned in our piece Becoming a Professional – a Photographer’s Journey, entering competitions was a significant aspect of Keith’s journey into a career in professional photography.

“Throughout my time in the camera club, I would enter loads of competitions. Within my first year of joining I won both the digital and print club contests. I then started getting my work published in magazines like Advanced Photographer,” he says.

“The reason for taking this shot and others around traveller life is because I’m working towards a distinction with the Royal Photographic Society,” says Keith.

Keith recommends breaking into photography gradually, rather than jumping into the profession.

“I began as an evening and weekend photographer alongside my double glazing job, but it got to the point where I was just doing more and more work for various publications.

“Photography has always been my passion and I needed more time to focus on progressing further. Fortunately my wife supported me and encouraged me to become a full-time professional. I left double glazing and haven’t looked back since.”

Choose Your Equipment Wisely

Joining the club enabled Keith to improve his knowledge about cameras and learn more about the tools of his trade.

“There is so much more equipment available now for photographers. By joining a club, you can speak to people that have tried using different things and get their opinion.

“If I’m using a flash gun, there are many diffusers to choose from. I think I’ve gone through about 20 different ones. I’ve only just settled on one I feel works well for both portraits and weddings.

“I could have probably cut all that time and money if I’d joined the camera club earlier and asked people questions about what they find works best.”

Joining a club when you don’t know any members can be a daunting prospect, but if you’re going to learn new skills, it’s well worth taking the plunge.

“I very nearly didn’t join the camera club because the members were mainly older people. I thought no one would have the same interests as me and their conversations wouldn’t be on my level. But all you need is a couple of people to make you feel welcome,” says Keith.

“People Are What Give me the Satisfaction”

Knowing your images are going to give people happy memories for years to come is an amazing feeling, says Keith.

“The thing that gives me drive and encourages me to stick with photography is when I see the reaction on people’s faces. I’ve had images that have done well in competitions, but for me there’s nothing more satisfying than seeing people’s reactions. Whether that be tears of happiness or just sheer delight at an image – people are what give me the self satisfaction.”

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