thisislocaltalent
Taking a shot at a career in photography
Thomas Bliss, 24, of south-West Dunstable is the photographer behind Bliss Imaging, specialising in an array of genres such as portrait work and PR shots.
A lover of photography from the age of 5, Thomas says it was his father who inspired him: "My dad used to take his camera everywhere and I was always snapping away with disposable cameras."
Thomas loved to practice taking shots of animals and flowers using his first camera, the Praktica MTL5. His desire to better his photography skills led him to study the craft and he was awarded a National Diploma and a BA(hons) in the subject at Dunstable College. Since then, he has gained experience in product photography, advertising and event coverage.
"By the end of my college studies I really wanted to make a go of it on my own. My family and friends gave me lots of support but I was fairly well equipped to start when I left."
However, Thomas is very aware of the rapid changes in technology and the need to keep abreast of it all. "You have to keep up to date. If you stop for a while you miss so much." To this end, he recommends becoming a member of the AOP (Association of Photographers) and reading journals regularly, such as the BJP (British Journal of Photography).
Alongside his website, Thomas promotes his services by networking on the Internet and by word of mouth. "Gaining work through recommendations is the most efficient method of getting reliable work."
An able web designer, Thomas designed his own website and is keen to expand his services to web design and hosting. "My photography business has been a part-time affair for some time but I'm moving into a full-time regime now."
Thomas hasn't let the 'credit crunch' affect him. "At the moment there seems to be a lot of cut backs in photography budgets. But I'm still here!" His latest project, Battle of The Bands, a local music competition, saw him designing their website and acting as official photographer. "I will be at all of the gigs and arranging PR packages for some of the bands."
You can see more of Thomas' photography at blissimaging.co.uk.
If you would like to learn more about Dunstable College's courses, take a look at their on-line prospectus at www.dunstable.ac.uk.
