Dean Stockings
DeansetuphisownhomedarkroomandcompletedanA-
level in photography – and that’s pretty much all the
traininghe’shad.
“Itriedhardtogetanassistingrolebutitwasimpossible,”
herecalls.“Ithinkitturnedouttobeforthebestbecause
it meant I was forced to develop my own style. I just
muddled through and learnt from experimentation and
mistakes.”
He adds: “Then I started taking on jobs that I probably
shouldn’thaveaccepted.
I found myself saying to customers “Oh sure, I can do
that”.
Then, having secured the commission, I used to panic,
wonderinghowonearthIwouldactuallyfulfilthebrief.”
But Dean’s courage and determination to succeed was
testedtoitslimitwhenhetookawheelchair-boundfriend
toarockconcert.
He tells Litebook: “My friend’s disability meant he had
accesstotheareaveryclosetothestagesoItookalong
myportfolioandadecentmediumformatcamera.
I thought I’d just push my luck so I approached the
securityguysandtoldthemIhadarrangedtomeetToyah
Willcoxtoshowherasetofcontacts.Ofcourseitwasn’t
truebuttheyjustwavedmethrough.
WhenIgotbackstageIpersuadedhertotakealookat
mywork.
She said she loved it and gave me her phone number.
Naturally,Iassumeditwasafalsenumber...butitwasn’t!
Toyahneededaphoto-montageforhernextalbumand
askedifIcoulddoit.
ItoldherIcould–butintruthIhadneverdoneamontage
before.
AndwhentheworkconsistentlyfailedtocometogetherI
wasonthevergeofcallinghertotellherIhadlied.Then
onthelastdayitallstartedtolookgoodandIsenthera
copy.
©DeanStockings
www.deanstockings.co.uk
Hair&Make-up:SeanChapman
www.bowens.co.uk 09
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