Photography has been as passion of mine for as long as I can remember. My first camera was this little Polaroid camera that dispensed tiny images of about 1 inch by 1 inch.

I took that camera everywhere with me and some of my favourite family photos are these tiny little film images. Then my sister bought me my first digital camera that I adored.

When I was in school and photography became an option to study, I leapt at the chance. I couldn’t believe it!

But unfortunately, that A level was not the best option for a passion. I started to learn about the technicality and I couldn’t achieve the higher grades because of the camera equipment I owned.

I had a £400 DSLR with a kit lens, and was competing with my peers who had thousands of pounds worth of equipment. Our tutors also never really taught us technique or editing. Everything we had to figure out ourselves basically.

This is where I lost my confidence in photography. I came to the conclusion that I was no good and it was pointless. That coupled with smartphones meant that there was no need to pursue photography. If I want to take photos, I can use my phone.

Nevertheless, there was this little flicker inside of me that meant I kept my camera around. I’m also thankful to my mum who encouraged me to keep my options open as such. There was no real reason to give up photography, I just didn’t have to chase the success of photography.

As the years went on, I started to use my camera more and more. I’d take it with me when I was visiting some place new, or going to some kind of exhibit.

I started doing my own little photoshoots for fun, whether it was with my animals, or self-portraits. I just started to play around.

Then I started to buy more equipment. I invested in other lenses and eventually bought a new camera body too so that I could delve into videography.

One of the biggest mental challenges I faced though was finding my style. Since school, I was so focused on the technicality, so I knew I could take a good photo in terms of composition and lighting, but it was lacking a personal touch. It wasn’t really from my viewpoint.

That’s what makes a good photo – capturing a moment or a feeling.

A lot of people now achieve this through editing styles and their photography aesthetic is clear because of the editing.

However, I’ve tried to find my style and my voice before the editing process begins.

Recently, I bought a disposable-style camera. There’s no screen, only the view finder and a fixed lens. I wanted this so that I go back to living in the moment. Forget about the settings, forget about the equipment and just take a picture.

When it comes to taking more professional photos, I try to focus on one piece of equipment at a time. If I’m going somewhere to take wildlife photos, I take my telephoto lens only. If I’m going on a city walkabout, I’d take my pancake lens. If I’m not sure, I go back to my kit lens for the flexibility.

The thing is with photography, there are so many different levels when it comes to equipment and it’s easy to get stressed about it. The good news is, you don’t need a great camera to take great photos. In fact, having the best kit doesn’t mean a lot. It’s best to start in a relaxed way when it comes to what camera equipment you’re using.

When it comes to finding your own voice and style in photography, it’s also important to find what interests you. It’s hard to find your style when the subject doesn’t interest you. If you’re not interested in landscapes, you can take some great photos but they might look generic. But if you love editorial-style photos, you can let your artistic flair break free with portraits.

Ultimately, finding your style in photography takes time. It’s a process and there’s also a good chance your style will change. The biggest lesson I’ve probably learned is that it only really matters if you love it. Not everyone will love your photos as it’s art! It’s subjective. But don’t let that deter you.

Photography is about play. It should be fun, experimental and joyful. Capture moments, feelings and let your creativity shine!