I have what many consider to be an extremely diverse photographic career spanning more than 40 years.
I entered the business as an apprentice industrial photographer but quickly switched to photojournalism following an eye-opening period living and working in Iran for 18 months. On my return to England I embarked on what became an exciting and successful career in Fleet Street as both a freelance and staff photographer. The time spent working for national newspapers and magazines gave me the opportunity to travel extensively covering a diverse range of assignments in both the UK and around the world. I developed skills in studio and location lighting, which led to shooting showbiz, glamour and fashion, and encouraged me to leave Fleet Street and work once again as a freelance photographer.
From our studio complex in SW London, Jacqueline, in her capacity as a stylist and hair & make-up artist and I concentrated on creating beauty, glamour, fashion and lifestyle images for numerous magazines, books, posters and calendars and for worldwide syndication.
In 2003 we moved to southern Spain to experience a different lifestyle and explore other aspects of photography and creativity. I concentrated on producing lifestyle and travel related features for a variety of magazines, newspapers and design groups in the UK and Spain and joined forces with Solarpix, the established syndication agency based in Puerto Banus, whilst Jacqueline, a talented artist, created large works of art for interior designers and private clients on the Costa del Sol. Examples of her work can be seen in the Gallery section.
We have now returned to the UK to enable me to complete and promote my long-term photography project documenting life in a Bangladesh orphanage and prepare a series of seminars and masterclasses on my career as a photographer. I have recently completed a project documenting life at the clinical simulation units at Guy's & St Thomas' Hospitals, London. Many of these images are now displayed throughout King's College, London, where I am currently conducting photography related SSC courses to 2nd year medical students.
Ian Spratt