Louscious Feature - Interview with Photographer Dawn Collins

I´m a bit out of words, but Dawn is one of the most impressive and kind humans ever.
While reading her answers to my questions, I have to admit I had tears in my eyes.
Cause I felt her in so many ways and I was so touched by her story,
that saying I have all the kind of respect for this woman is quite an understatement.
She´s a fighter and a hero in so many ways.
Dawn you are just an incredible woman.

So here´s the beautiful interview with the female photographer Dawn Collins.

Instagram: @dawn_collins_photography

Website: dawncollinsphotography.co.uk

Tell me a bit about yourself. Where are you from?

Hi, I'm Dawn Collins, I was born and raised in Surrey, England
and now based in Hampshire, just an hour south of London.

I'm a Mum of 3 and am currently helping support my 10-year-old daughter
who is fighting Leukaemia.

How long are you in the photography business?

I'm relatively new to the photography industry, only having been in it for the last 4 years.
My work has always been creative as I started my career in Interior Designer.

How did your career start?

My reason for getting into photography could be considered an emotional story! In all honesty, my decision to change careers came at a pretty dark time in my life.
To cut a long story short, after years of unexplained pain and problems, I was finally diagnosed with a rare condition called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS).
It's a collagen defect that causes 24/7 chronic pain. It also affects my internal organs, and I suffer from co-existing conditions.

The diagnosis of a lifelong disease that has no hope of improving put me i into that dark place! It made me pretty low, which led me to re-evaluate my life completely!
I came to the conclusion that I needed to step right outside my comfort zone and have a change of career.

I wanted to do something I had a passion for. This kick-started my life in photography, and I haven't looked back since. Getting into photography has been liberating and has considerably improved my mental health, making it easier for me to deal with my pain.

What inspires you?

Hmmm, so much inspires me; we are surrounded by beauty; we have to learn how to see it. I used to be a dancer, so I love musicals, music videos, and films. I love the outdoors as well, nature is a miracle, and we need to do more to look after our planet.

Right now my daughter's courage battling her cancer is inspiring me and many others.
We have an Instagram page for her @teivaschallenges telling her story,
trying to raise awareness and help others in similar situations.

The way my other daughter and my son have dealt with it is pretty incredible too.
And in these surreal times that our world is experiencing, you can't help but be inspired
and grateful for our medical profession and our key workers.

How would you describe your photography style?

I find this question really difficult to answer. I think as creatives, we are always learning and evolving!

I want to think that my style is viewed as clean, real, soft and sensual.

What are the pros and cons of being a female photographer? Is it easier or more complicated?

Excellent and important question. We are definitely few and far between, and it's still a very male-dominated industry. I think most models probably feel safer on a shoot with a female photographer. But I think men get taken more seriously.

Being female brings a different feel to my shots, as women, we see things in different ways, and we undoubtedly have different conversations with our models, which I feel can achieve more emotion in the images.

Unfortunately, I think there's still a long way to go for women to be equal in any industry, but things are definitely happening now to help get us there. Sadly, I believe that as with most things in the creative industries, it's often a case of who you know rather than how talented you are, and that's what makes it difficult!

What do you like most about being a photographer?

I'm quite an insecure and rather a shy person, so I have honestly taken the most significant leap outside my comfort zone that you can imagine.

Meeting new people, often on a one to one basis was something I found frightening, but I've made myself do it, you can't very well do a shoot with a model without being on a one to one!

And in all honesty, that is one of the best bits of the job, meeting new people and getting to know them on an intimate level. I love hearing their stories, beliefs, and all about their lives from different countries and backgrounds. I feel as though I've made a new friend for life after every shoot.

Pet Peeves

Oooo, I have a few of those!!

Not being recognized for my talent. Getting overlooked for work because my Instagram following isn't huge!!

And the number of people in the industry that want me to work for free!

Can you describe that "moment" (experience, emotion) when you knew that photography was something you just had to do?

I remember crying when I received my first camera for my 10th birthday,
but I never thought about it or was encouraged to pursue anything in the creative world of work.

As I mentioned before, I was in a dark space, not really sure how I was going to be able to live, coping with chronic pain for the rest of my life... that was when I decided that I needed to change things drastically.

Plus, I want my 3 children to think of me as a strong woman, and I want them to know that no matter what adversity is thrown your way, you can go after your dreams and achieve whatever it is you put your mind to!

Whatever I did had to be creative, and photography was something I was doing daily with my children and family. I took it for granted how easy I found it to take a good photograph! It was my husband (who is rubbish at taking pictures) who kept pointing out to me how good I was at it, so I guess it felt natural to pursue a career in it.

I'm not the sort of person to do things by halves, though. I was never going just to do general portraits or anything. If I was going to have a career in photography, I was going to aim big!! And that's what I hope I'm beginning to achieve.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Dreaming big, I would love to be a well-respected woman in the business
where top models and celebrities wish to be shot by me.

I would also like to see my work on a big billboard someday.
I'm not sure that will happen within the next 5 years but never say never!!

Life is short, and you never know what's around the corner, so always aim high!

3 People you're dying to work with

There are so many.

Besides the big celebrities, let's start with Nick Bateman, Michael Yerger, and Charlie Matthews.

What kind of gear do you use?

All my gear is Canon.

What is your favorite lens?

Probably my fixed 50mm

How important is social media for your career?

In some ways, I wish social media wasn't essential, but there's no getting away from it, it really is! And I have to admit I do love Instagram. I find it increasingly difficult to gain followers, despite doing all the things you're advised to do.

If it weren't for Instagram though, I wouldn't be where I am today in my photography career. I have met so many people through it, and many of them I'm grateful to for helping me get to where I am.

What kind of music are you listening to while editing?

I love all kinds of music. Especially anything upbeat that makes me feel like dancing.
Quite into urban Latin music at the moment.

Any tips for aspiring photographers?

You need a lot of determination, and you need to be prepared to work hard.

But my advice to everyone is, to be certain you work in something that makes you happy and you absolutely love doing.

How has photography influenced you as a person?
It's helped me learn more about who I truly am, and I think I'm even more aware of the beauty around me and people's emotions.

If anything, I would like to use my photography to influence others. I'd like to see more love, kindness, and understanding in the world, less shame in being who we are and sharing our bodies if we so wish.

I'd also like to raise awareness for various health conditions, important causes, and sustainable fashion.

You accidentally ate some radioactive vegetables.
They were good, and what's even cooler is that they endow you with the Super-Power of your choice!
What's it going to be?

I'm a big fan of Marvel, DC Comics, and the supernatural, so this is a really tough one!
To be able to heal people and read minds would be pretty cool. Sorry, that's 2!!