Website: www.lensi.co.uk
Instagram: @Lensi_Photography
Hometown: Walsall
Reside in: UK
Q&A:
What’s your photography genre: Multi Genre, everything from campaigns, commercial, sports, fashion, lifestyle, press, events and so on.
Career highlight #1: My first London Fashion Week in 2011 or 2013?
Career highlight #2: Sitting in a room with Usher just before I had to photograph him.
Career highlight #3: My first Commonwealth Games as an official photographer in 2022.
What’s your BLACKRAPID product of choice: The Double Strap (I shoot with two bodies).
How old were you when you took your first photo and what camera did you use: Whooooaaaa, somewhere in Junior school, I used to borrow my moms camera. It was a used 110 film, I have no idea what brand it was, Kodak would however be a good guess! I have photos of me leaving junior school with all my friends from this camera.
First realization that you wanted to be a professional photographer: 2009, I had always enjoyed photos, but did not see it as a career until i was made redundant. Then suddenly I was put in a position where I was searching for a job which I would still enjoy, and thought to myself, I wonder if I could make a go of this photography thing i enjoy. That was 13 years ago, I have ran my business since.
Who inspires you?: People around me. Photographically all the photographers I look up to and have been inspired by are people I know personally, I have been with them when they work, I know they continually produce great results and I like them as people. The few times I have looked up to “celebrity” photographers, meeting them in real life has not been a great experience.
Camera of choice used to capture most of your work: I have various cameras that I use for various things. I have just sold my Canon 7ds (two of them) I used to use these to cover riots and protests, with the idea that if they get damaged or stolen, it would not be a huge hit! I have just sold two 5d4s this is what probably a bulk of the work over the past 5 years in my portfolio was created on. These and the Canon 5d3’s were proper workhorses! I now shoot most of my stuff on Canon r5’s and r6’s. They are like going from a manual car, to an automatic car. I just hope they do not make me lazy!
What would be your dream photo-shoot: I would love to do a high profile campaign with my favourite sports brand Puma, or other campaigns with brands who work on issues and products that align with my personal values and interests. So this list could be quite long! I love some of the work that Dove does. I attended Cannes Lions Festival this year and some of the campaigns advertised and winning awards there were so inspiring. There was one around AI and refugees and one around black women being demonized for wearing their natural hair which really resonated with me.
What do you do when not taking photos?: Edit them, lol.
Favorite place on earth: I can’t say I have one single favourite place. Travel wise I have been to many places which I love, Jamaica, the land of my parents and grandparents has always felt like home when I visit. Thailand just felt free and the food is some of the most amazing and cheap food I have ever tasted. I have quick switch off holidays in Como, Italy, in small towns where the buses only run once per hour, shops close at 8pm and the wifi is scarce, but you wake up to the most beautiful view of Lake Como. I love Rwanda, the place where I sat with wild Gorillas in the jungle – what an experience and I love the glitz and glam of Dubai. I also however love being at home, on a nice sunny day relaxing on a beanbag in my garden.
One piece of advice for someone at the beginning stages of their photography career: Practice.
How do you “Live the Moment”: Not sure how to answer this. I am not sure I do, I make very planned moves, but I also do pursue opportunities when they come my way.
