We always delight in learning the incredible stories behind the books our customers make- the how and the why. In this new series, we meet customers with a story to tell. We spoke with long-term Bob Books customer and photographer Tanya Aldcroft about how she developed her style, began making customised photo books, and the importance of capturing the giggly moments.
How did you get into photography and how would you describe your style?
I've always enjoyed taking photos (we're talking pre camera phones!), school trips and parties, you name it! Following my Grandfather's example (he was an archaeologist), I'd write on the back of all my printed photos the date, location and people in it and I'd keep them in chronological order in a box and put some in albums so it was always relatively easy to find the photos I wanted. Digital photography changed everything of course and now my Google account captures all that information for me, but I've never stopped printing photos and making albums. My passion really came to the fore when I went travelling for 7 months in 2011 and taking photographs every day really gave me the confidence to pursue photography more seriously so I took a Diploma in wedding photography with Barrett and Coe in 2012. Now my children are a bit older, I quit the day job to do this full-time. My style has evolved organically through my experiences, and I'd describe it as relaxed and natural. I always want to put my clients at ease and capture them in an environment they're comfortable and happy in, making the most of natural light to produce a beautiful image. I like a mix of posed shots as well as catching the spontaneous, loving and giggly moments.