Yateley produces budding young photographer
By Tim TonkinJune 09, 2010
FOR many young people the question of what they want to do when they grow up is often a difficult one.
But for Yateley youngster Kerry Mays, her mind is already made up as to what she intends to do with her future.
Over the past few years, Kerry has dedicated her time and savings into developing her passion for photography.
She now hopes to realise her ambition of becoming a full-time professional music photographer, and is aiming to see her name and pictures in and among the best known music magazines.
The 17-year-old said: "I’ve always had a passion for photography but it’s only in the past two years that I have got really stuck into it, and got myself a proper camera.
"I mainly worked around the music scene and only recently have I started doing portrait and nature photography as well.
"Photography is my passion, and right now I can't see myself doing anything else in my future."
A lifelong Yateley resident, Kerry went to Frogmore Junior School and Yateley School, and since finishing her GCSEs has committed to spending her time developing her skills and photographic portfolio.
Kerry’s interest in photography was initially sparked a few years ago when she received her first digital camera and began taking her very first photos.
She said: "That’s when it all started really. I got given a Samsung digital camera and just started taking shots with it around my house and garden.
"I also started taking my camera to gigs and concerts and really enjoyed taking photos of the action on stage."
After receiving encouraging feedback from friends and musicians on her work, Kerry decided that if she wanted to nurture her abilities the next step was to upgrade to more professional equipment.
With cameras and photography kit not coming cheap however, Kerry resorted to taking on part-time employment to help fund her purchases, working as a waitress at the Warbrook House hotel in Eversley.
Over time, Kerry was able to get her hands on more sophisticated equipment including a Canon EOS 450D camera along with a range of lenses and lighting gear.
Kerry’s love of the rock music scene has been her main source of inspiration as a budding photographer, and her work at gigs recently paved the way for her first official assignment with Red Bull.
She said: "I’d heard about the Red Bull reporter bedroom jam assignments when I’d been voting for some of the bands I like.
"I decided to apply to do one of their assignments and sent in shots from my portfolio.
"A few weeks later I got a call from them saying they loved my work and wanted me to cover the Camden Crawl music event for them in London."
Although completely self-taught, Kerry said she had drawn a lot of inspiration for her style through the work of other music photographers whose photos adorn band websites and magazine covers.
She said: "I’m really inspired by the work of photographer Tom Barnes, the brother of one of the band members of Unit Six, a group I’ve photographed.
"I really look up to him and the way he approaches his work and it has really influenced me in what I do."
Above all however, Kerry credited her determination to succeed in photography to the support she had received from mother Lea and stepfather Mark, as well as from all her friends.
She said: "My family have really supported me and my nan, who recently passed away, was always very proud of my photography and this has really made me want to be the best I can."
Kerry has now set up her own website and online portfolio and is constantly on the look-out for upcoming events with which she can broaden her experience.
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