60 Running her own business, how-
ever, meant learning a whole new set of skills beyond photography. “When you’re freelance you sud-
denly realise you’re doing everything yourself,” she says. “You’re not just the photographer anymore, you’re also the marketing department, the accountant and the PR person.” Today Claire balances two distinct
strands of work. Her commercial photography focuses on helping small businesses tell their story vis- ually. Tat might mean photograph- ing the owner of a café, document- ing a live music performance, or capturing the character of a shop or creative studio. “I always start by getting the safe
pictures,” she explains. “But then I love finding the little details that show what someone’s about.” Her wedding photography follows
a similar philosophy. Under the name Salty Rose Weddings, Claire photographs celebrations in a doc- umentary style that prioritises sto- rytelling over staged poses. “I might ask a couple to walk somewhere together, but I’m not into massively over-posed photographs,” she adds. “It’s just not my style.” Because of that, finding the right match with couples is important. “You need a photographer who
matches your personality,” she says. “If someone arrives with a mood board that doesn’t fit my style, I’ll be honest and say I might not be the right person for them.”
One thing Claire would love to
photograph more of in the future is multicultural weddings. “It would be amazing to document an Indian wedding, or a celebration that blends different traditions.” Working in South Devon also
brings its own challenges, particu- larly when it comes to the weather. “Oſten I just need sunshine, and it’s so hard to predict,” she laughs. Yet grey skies are not always a
disadvantage. “With weddings, an overcast day
is actually easier for group shots be- cause you don’t get harsh shadows,” she says. “And umbrellas and rain can look really dramatic in black and white.” Claire’s favourite light arrives
just before sunset when everything turns golden. “Tere’s always that moment when the couple are a bit tipsy and relaxed,” she laughs. “Tat’s when you ask them to come outside, because the light is incredible.” Claire has travelled widely, photo-
graphing communities in Ecuador, landscapes in New Zealand, and villages in Tailand and China. Yet her favourite place to shoot
is still home. “South Devon is just beautiful,” she says. “Te weather changes so quickly along the coast and the light is always different.” Even aſter years of living here, she
still discovers new viewpoints and hidden beaches. “I love that you can keep exploring.” Some of Claire’s favourite projects
have been the most personal ones. During the COVID lockdowns,
while homeschooling her children, she began photographing everyday family life as a creative outlet. “It kept me sane,” she laughs. One
image from that period - showing the picnic benches at Blackpool Sands taped off in bright orange net- ting - was shortlisted for Food Photo of the Year. Another shortlisted image features
her grandmother sitting at Strete Gate eating crisps as part of a cam- paign for a local crisp company. “It’s one of my favourite photos,”
Claire says. “She’s passed away now, and it was taken near the end of her life.” Photography has changed enor-
mously during her career. “With film you had to get everything perfect in camera,” she says. “Now you can refine so much aſterwards.” More recently, artificial intelli-
gence has begun to reshape parts of the industry. “It’s a bit worrying for commercial photography,” Claire admits. “Especially product pho- tography, because AI can generate images.” But she believes authenticity will
remain important. “People like things that are real,” she says. “Small businesses especially want images that genuinely represent who they are.”So what advice would Claire give aspiring photographers? “Spend time developing your own
style. Don’t compromise just to get work. Having said that, don’t expect to have the perfect career where you are photographing exactly what you want.” Aſter two decades working in
photography, Claire knows the job is not always glamorous. “Sometimes it’s monotonous,” she
admits. “Sometimes it’s brilliant.” But when the light hits the South
Hams coast just right, and the moment lines up perfectly through the lens, there’s nowhere else she’d rather be.
For more information visit
clairegillo.com and
saltyroseweddings.co.uk
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