"As well as working for a freelance photographer, I signed up to a database for photography assistants, Photoassist, and promptly forgot about until I was approached by company called Parasport Images for a particular job. They really liked my work and took me on permanently."

"In the past three weeks I have been on a motor boat photographing an Olympic rower, I've photographed Elton John in concert for BT and I've also been shooting athletes in the studio as part of artwork for London taxis leading up to the Olympics. It almost makes up for the long editing sessions!

"I think being successful in the photographic industry is 30% about the type of photography and about 70% people skills. I've worked for some really successful photographers all of whose work is totally different, but all of whom have something in common. It is difficult to identify exactly what it is but it is something in the way they interact with their subjects and create an air of excitement.

"Learning from experience is crucial; one job leads to another and if you do your job well this leads to further recommendations."