Life is about making memories

My approach with photography is to enjoy the moment first, and then try to get the shot.

I often enjoy just sitting there, soaking up the light, colours, smells and textures of where I am.

I’m sure this means there are times when I’ve missed the best light or a quickly changing composition, but I have those sensory images of those moments.

Photography encourages me to slow down and enjoy the hidden beauty that often goes unnoticed in our busy lives.

I grew up taking photos on family holidays using my Kodak Star 110 Pocket Camera before upgrading to a Kodak Star 735 (very retro!). After each trip, I would wait with anticipation, for up to a week, whilst our local Boots The Chemist photography center, processed the film to see the shots I’d taken.

The photos were usually pretty awful, but I kept photo albums in my room and enjoyed looking back at the memories of those family holidays, or school trips.

I didn’t pursue photography as I grew up, but I always loved to travel, and have shared experiences with people.

I rekindled my love for photography in 2016. I was in New York on a work trip with my then-boss.  She owned a Canon camera and asked if I wanted to try it - and I immediately loved the weight of the camera in my hands and the moment it captured of us, unwinding after a day in the office in a roof-top bar, enjoying the warm early summer evening, overlooking the city.

(I later found out it was golden hour and one of the reasons the photos look so magical!)

Rhiannon Lawler admiring icbergs in Greeland

From there, I borrowed a Canon 5D MKII and started my journey of learning the fundamentals of photography.

Photography opened my eyes to locations I had never considered before, I was very much a lay-on-beach holiday and relax traveller, but suddenly mountains, rivers and moody weather had an appeal I’d never felt before.

Silhouette of Rhiannon Lawler at Fagradalsfjall Volcano Eruption Meradalir

Early on, I found myself joining photography trips in Lofoten, Norway & the Dolomites, Italy. Not only was I learning photography, but I was also learning how much I loved nature, all whilst laughing and making the most amazing memories with people who shared those moments with me.  

Rhiannon Lawler is a UK-based, part-time professional landscape and wildlife photographer.

She lives near the Chiltern Hills, in Buckinghamshire.