Have you ever wished you could record everything your eyes see? That’s how I’ve always felt, imagining a world where my eyes could capture every moment—much like the technology we see today with Apple's new Apple Vision Pro. If I could record everything I saw, the amount of data storage required would be unimaginable.
That all changed when at the age of 12 when I got the chance to use a VHS camera during a week-long school work experience, where I recorded my classmates working on their projects. Holding and using a video camera felt completely natural to me, allowing me to capture what I saw through the black and white viewfinder. Although I didn’t know about the rule of thirds at the time, I instinctively applied this technique, drawing from what I had observed on TV and in films to frame my shots.
I also had the opportunity to film my grandad's 60th birthday with a VHS camera he had rented. It was at this point that inspired me about recording moving images through a black and white viewfinder. This experience sparked more than just an interest in making videos; it gave me a deeper understanding of composition and creativity, allowing me to craft moving images that seamlessly transitioned from one scene to the next. Growing up in the 1980s, I was inspired by TV shows like Airwolf, The A-Team, and The Dukes of Hazzard, which fuelled my imagination and creativity in video production.
Growing up in a small town in Cornwall during the 80s and 90s, I often wish I could rewind time or flick through an archive of photographs, though most are now scattered in a box in the attic.
At 17, after leaving school, I started working part-time, primarily in retail, while saving up to buy my first video camera. My dedication paid off when I eventually purchased a Hi8 camcorder, which I used to create videos across various genres, from documenting everyday life to capturing scenes of interest in my local town. Although these tapes remain unencoded today, they hold a treasure trove of memories that I hope to share one day. Digitising them has become a priority to preserve history for the future. I’m also keen to scan and digitise my old Hi8 tapes—a time-consuming process, but as a passionate photographer and videographer, I understand the importance of safeguarding memories from damage or loss
During the early 2000's, I also had a Kodak 110 Advanced film camera. With just 24 exposures per film, it was always exciting to wait and see the photographs after a few hours being developed from the local print shop. Today, those films lay in a box with their prints waiting to be scanned again with a higher resolution scanner.
In November of 2000, I ventured to the United States. Taking my 110 camera with me, along with a Sony Hi8 camera to St. Louis, Missouri, I filmed my first short travel video. After editing the footage and adding Neil Diamond’s "Coming to America" as the soundtrack, I realised that video production was my true passion. However, I found that Cornwall wasn’t the ideal place to pursue this passion due to being in a remote and quiet area. Therefore, making videos was just a hobby, much like today's YouTubers.
I continued to visit the USA again in March 2001, again in 2002 and then for 3 months at the beginning of 2004. The last 3 trips, I was able to purchase a small Kodak digital camera, which was also able to record low resolution videos. I would not visit the United States again until 2013, 2014 and in 2024.
In 2005, my best friend Nick and I travelled to Chiang Mai, Thailand for two weeks. Once again, I created a short travel video with my Hi8 video camera, this time featuring authentic Thai music from the region, further solidifying my love for capturing and sharing the world through my lens.
In November 2005, I made the decision to return to Thailand, and by early 2006, I began working as an English teacher at a business college north of Bangkok. During this time, I made new friends and started to gain a deeper understanding of myself, recognising my strong interests in creativity, business, and capturing the world around me using my mobile phone.
After almost 15 months of working as an English teacher, my contract ended, and it was time to search for another teaching position to remain in Thailand. In May 2007, I started a new job at a private primary school in Bangkok, where I worked until 2022—nearly 15 years. It was a long journey filled with enjoyment, excitement, learning, development, and the exploration of new opportunities along the way. I earned a degree in 2019 from Falmouth University with a B.A. Honours in photography, and this is where my future began to change. More on that later.
But first, let's go back to 2008. While working at the primary school, I started brainstorming with a colleague named Ashley about my passion for photography. It was during this time that PhotoExpozure was born. The name played on the word "exposure," reflecting my focus on photography, especially photographing models in Thailand at the time. By changing the 's' in exposure to a 'z', it gave the brand a unique twist that was easy to register online and helped it stand out as it grew. Over the years, the logo has undergone several variations, but today, it features a distinctive 'Z' in teal—my favourite colour.
Building connections and networking with models was essential for expanding my portfolio. I joined Facebook, connected with models, attended events in Bangkok, and participated in photography workshops. I also established a relationship with an agency in Bangkok that provided models for shoots. This experience proved to be incredibly rewarding, allowing me to work with international models and actors and to build both a strong rapport and a diverse portfolio.
While I still have a deep love for travel and landscape photography, nothing quite matches the thrill of photographing people. When I know I've captured the perfect shot, I can’t help but jump up and down with excitement. Some might see me as an eccentric photographer, but it's the passion for creating something unique that drives me. I’m drawn to the weird, the wonderful, and the unusual when photographing models. Their emotions, poses, and ability to bring out the best in themselves, coupled with the confidence that I am open-minded about capturing something special, make the experience truly exhilarating—for both them and me.
From 2013 onwards, models continued to approach me, and I was doing everything for free—from photographing them to editing and delivering the images via Dropbox. Eventually, a friend in the USA suggested I should start charging for my work. However, as soon as I did, the flow of models dried up. Many models visiting Thailand are looking to find work, not to pay a photographer. They expect to be paid for their services, even though some were not as professional as they claimed to be. It was a challenging situation, but I remained determined to pursue my passion and kept pushing forward.
Then, a small break came when male models began approaching me after I photographed some muscular fitness enthusiasts. This break started opening new doors, revealing that some of these men were actually actors, not just fitness models. One connection led to another, eventually introducing me to someone higher up in the ranks—a martial artist who had been in Thailand for several years and had appeared in films with Jackie Chan. This was the moment I realised that my photography wasn’t just for female models, but also for actors, actresses, and martial artists.
Ron Smoorenburg, who starred in Jackie Chan’s 1998 movie Who Am I?, came to me for a photoshoot, showcasing his infamous high kick and splits! Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of photographing Ron multiple times, along with other actors and martial artists. This experience connected me with something I truly enjoy as a photographer.
It was time to upgrade my camera equipment, so I invested in a Canon 5D Mark IV. I attended a photography show at Bitec in Bangkok and decided to make the leap to a full-frame camera. Up until then, all my photoshoots had been done with an APS-C sensor using a Canon 50D and 350D. While the gear you have is less important than the passion for what you do, the new camera would allow me to capture faster action, especially when photographing martial artists with their high kicks. As Ron would say, 'Life is action'.
In 2019, I decided to embark on a new journey—education. After 12 years of experience in various genres of photography, it was time to solidify my passion by earning an Honours Degree. I enrolled in a Bachelor’s degree programme at Falmouth University in the UK, specifically to complete the final year, known as a top-up degree. Thanks to my extensive experience and knowledge in photography, I was able to apply through an APEC approach, allowing me to skip the first two years. Although it wasn’t an easy task, it was crucial for me to delve deeper into the world of photography and build a solid career foundation.
As the course began, so did something even bigger. Still living in Thailand and studying online, I was eager to visit England and meet my fellow students. However, the Covid-19 pandemic had other plans. The last time I visited the UK was in September 2019 for my grandad’s funeral, and with a contagious virus spreading rapidly, photography had to be put on hold. Photoshoots were no longer possible due to the risk of infection—it was a tough period.
After a year of study, I completed my degree and proudly earned a Second-Class Honours (2:1). I was thrilled, as no one in my immediate family had ever achieved such a high qualification. However, my graduation ceremony was postponed due to the pandemic, and it wasn’t until May 2022 that I was able to return to the UK and attend the ceremony in July—two years after completing the course.
Unfortunately, the UK was not in the best shape at the time, with rising inflation and the cost of living. I stayed in the UK until February 2023, working part-time and taking local courses. Realising that the UK wasn’t the best place to be, I decided to return to Thailand and continue pursuing photography.
With no immediate work opportunities, I was eager to start a new chapter by exploring videography and offering my services online to clients seeking high-quality videos of Thailand. A marketing agency in the UK commissioned me to complete several projects, creating videos for Unilever and L’Oreal. This experience expanded my skill set, enabling me to offer more than just photography.
Today, companies and brands can reach out to me for comprehensive branding projects. With my connections to actors, actresses, martial artists, and models, I can offer something truly unique, going beyond the landscapes of Thailand or the architecture of Bangkok. Whether a company or brand needs something distinct or a model to bring their vision to life, I can provide professional photography and videography services that deliver exceptional results.
If you’re a company, brand, or marketing agency looking to bring your vision to life on social media, a website, or other mediums, please use the contact page to inquire with a brief outline of your project.
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