We were lucky to catch up with Nigel Parry recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Nigel, thanks for joining us today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

I began ‘creative’ life as a graphic designer, and after a couple of years I didn’t care so much for the compromise that comes with it. I sought out those that could help me make a change for photography to become my full-time occupation from a hobby.

People like to help if they see commitment and enthusiasm. I got great help getting a small exhibition of my work at a great place. I was able to build my photographic career from this one small exhibition in 1988 at the Groucho Club in London.

Nigel, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am known for Portrait photography – generally of the famous and infamous (sometimes both) for magazines, movie companies and ad agencies.

When covid hit and stopped me doing that, I turned my cameras to landscape and food.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

there are a couple of pieces of advice that I’ve always followed

1) there are a million ways to solve a visual problem – why give the client one they DON’T want (i.e. don’t let pride get in the way)

2) a subject/sitter is allowing you to earn a living from their most personal possession – their face! therefore, always take care to never lose the sitter’s dignity

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Being a portrait shooter, covid completely killed my business overnight. 50 shoots or more per year to zero. So I harkened back to my youth and used my reputation for portraits to enter the fine art world and shoot landscapes. it worked.

Contact Info:

• Website: nigelparryphoto.com
• Instagram: @nigelparryphoto @nigelparryportrait