bold entry If you want to punch above your weight, take a tip from Paul Owen’s workout
routine – personal training from the best in the business. He’s launching himself as a newly qualified Licentiate with a stunning studio portfolio.
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f ever there was an argument for using business skills as a start the photographic mar- ketplace, relative newcomer Paul Owen LMPA is exemplary. His recent Licentiate panel made an instant impression, but it’s his confidence in his long-term prospects that really stands out. At a time when many photog- raphers are worrying about the viability of the industry, during a challenging economic period, he's confident a significant time and financial investment in training will not be wasted. Paul’s background is in the automotive and financial sec- tors – working with Kwik-Fit and franchised maintenance operations, enjoying the benefits of workplace training whilst at Shell during the introduction of strict workplace and materi- als safety regulations such as COSHH. Such a background provides an ideal grounding for a modern studio, with risk as- sessment and health and safety concerns almost as important as knowing your way around a camera. However, it would be several years before Paul took to photography, with a period set- ting up, running and in one case selling a profitable business, putting skills together around the legalities and structure of corporate entities.
Identifying a gap in the mar- ket for web presence at the turn of the century, Paul founded a company aimed at providing online presences at affordable prices at a time when most web developers and ISPs erred on the side of “excessive” charges for development, and clients had little idea of what was needed or involved. Just30 provided a customer-focused model which remains successful, and also provided the vital step towards Paul’s current career.
Clients would initially require MASTER PHOTOGRAPHY 20
images in the traditional man- ner – film and processing. The expense of providing that lead Paul to purchase a Sony Mavica, despite little previous experi- ence as a photographer, and this ignited a passion that is undeniable when you meet him. As a successful businessman, Paul is far from the mould of “looking for photography as an alternative career”, and yet he sets an example anyone looking to take photography on profes- sionally. Following the theft of the Mavica and replacement with Fuji’s groundbreaking S1 Pro DSLR, he set out to acquire the knowledge to really benefit from the new technology – and passed A1 and A2 A-levels in one year, still working with film at that time. He believes that working with film was signifi- cant, providing a good ground- ing in the photographic process. Paul’s interest in photog- raphy has seen him make an incredible investment, but not in needless kit. Rather, he has spent the amount many enthusiasts would prefer to see in the form of bags full of white lenses and strobes, on training. Seminars and one-to-one alike, even the short period we had for the interview it’s clear Paul is constantly on the lookout for new experiences and knowledge, keen to implement it and learn – and yet, wholly aware of his own limitations. There’s no fear of a critical eye, as he draws attention to the flaws in his im- ages before you can even study them, and he retains a refresh- ingly frank attitude towards his balance of skills; one of the reasons surrounding himself with other photographers has been so appealing is the desire to understand all elements of the visual language, rather than the technical skills alone. Membership of the MPA
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