Taken Photography
by Andy Campbell
After a lifetime career in food retail management with Safeway, Sainsbury’s, and Somerfield I was made redundant in 2010 when the Coop bought Somerfield.
Having studied photography after I left school, I turned to that to see if there was any business opportunity and that's where I came across 'Event Photography'. Rather than go down the franchise route I decided to go it alone and Taken Photography came to be late 2010.
Initially I concentrated on equestrian events but gradually moved away from that area when I bought a photo booth and moved into the wedding reception, birthday parties and so on with the booth.
I was one of the first booth operators in Scotland and enjoyed two or three boom years on the booth novelty before the market became saturated with booths.
I'd never stopped photography whilst running the booth but selling up the booth allowed me to concentrate on photography fully.
I'm a member of the Event Photographer Society with access to network with vast knowledge and experience as well as a pier group that can help me out and allow me to take on bigger jobs.
The biggest event I've covered was the Karate World Championships in Edinburgh back in 2011.
I operate a slightly different business model for most events, it’s a calculated gamble based on numbers attending, how many people I need to work with me etc, but usually I do not charge to attend an event! I rely on the ability to print and sell photos on the day of the event.
Outdoor events are also easily covered using my trailer from which I can provide the same service as an indoor event.
There's something satisfying about taking a photo and being able to show someone that photo on a screen or tablet within seconds and them wanting to buy and then leaving with a print in under a minute.
Every event has a full online sales option via my website post event as well.
I take on a lot of charity events now as well ranging from abseils, zip slides, cycle rides and even three days working at th
Having studied photography after I left school, I turned to that to see if there was any business opportunity and that's where I came across 'Event Photography'. Rather than go down the franchise route I decided to go it alone and Taken Photography came to be late 2010.
Initially I concentrated on equestrian events but gradually moved away from that area when I bought a photo booth and moved into the wedding reception, birthday parties and so on with the booth.
I was one of the first booth operators in Scotland and enjoyed two or three boom years on the booth novelty before the market became saturated with booths.
I'd never stopped photography whilst running the booth but selling up the booth allowed me to concentrate on photography fully.
I'm a member of the Event Photographer Society with access to network with vast knowledge and experience as well as a pier group that can help me out and allow me to take on bigger jobs.
The biggest event I've covered was the Karate World Championships in Edinburgh back in 2011.
I operate a slightly different business model for most events, it’s a calculated gamble based on numbers attending, how many people I need to work with me etc, but usually I do not charge to attend an event! I rely on the ability to print and sell photos on the day of the event.
Outdoor events are also easily covered using my trailer from which I can provide the same service as an indoor event.
There's something satisfying about taking a photo and being able to show someone that photo on a screen or tablet within seconds and them wanting to buy and then leaving with a print in under a minute.
Every event has a full online sales option via my website post event as well.
I take on a lot of charity events now as well ranging from abseils, zip slides, cycle rides and even three days working at th
