Ian Watts - Training Professional & Professional Photographer
Those that can, do…
…Those that can teach, teach!
I see myself as a Photography Coach first and my ambition is to help my clients to be the best photographers they can be - whether they come to me as complete beginners or working pros. I’m enthusiastic and fascinated by advances in technology and the possibilities of today’s cameras, whilst retaining a solid understanding of the basic principles of photography practiced since getting my first SLR over 40 years ago. I enjoy sharing my enthusiasm and photographic expertise using my training career experience and insider knowledge of the English Lake District.
“Ian Watts at Lakeland Photo provided a brilliant day and can take you from having no idea how to take photos to taking ones where you’ll surprise yourself.”
My career started with gaining an honours degree in engineering followed by many years in Sales & Marketing roles: my first ‘graduate’ job was actually in a Camera Shop run by an accomplished Professional Photographer in Aylesbury! After a number of Sales and Management positions in the auto industry I progressed to designing and delivering skills and product knowledge training courses for the likes of Jaguar Land Rover, Lexus Europe, IBM, Mercedes-Benz and Ford. For 30 years I have specialised in making complex features and techniques easily understandable for non-technical people - including helping budding photographers to understand the latest digital cameras!
“The Lakeland Photo course was definitely worth it. Even in the first ten minutes, I think Gary and I had learned camera stuff we didn’t know!”
I have over 40 years experience of interchangeable lens camera systems and became a full-time Professional Photographer following a lifestyle change in 2010. This was followed by a move to Cumbria in 2017 and I love it here. On my Professional Photography assignments I still enjoy the challenge of capturing the action on just about any sports event - the faster the better – and you’ll see plenty of my work elsewhere on the website - from dog agility events, equine show jumping and my other passion, motor sports, . However, the Lake District has also provided me with some amazing Landscape Photography opportunities as well as an abundance of Wildlife and lovely Dark Skies for a developing interest in Astro Photography.
“Thanks again for last night’s badgers wildlife photo session.
I learned so much, especially about low light photography.”
In my spare time, my main passions are spending time with my home-bred Belgian Shepherd Dogs, sailing my very scruffy very old boat on Coniston Water, and watching (and photographing) wildlife, motorsport and the night sky. You may also notice that I have a bit of an obsession with the Osprey!
I thoroughly enjoy photography as a hobby as well as my job and I am fascinated by the possibilities presented by the latest digital equipment.
I also enjoy going back to basics and still shoot film on the same all manual Nikon 35mm cameras that I took around the world in 1987. I regularly run “traditional” camera courses (retro photography with analogue SLRs and real film) to share that passion. However, my heart is really in helping others to improve their own skills, gain their camera confidence and take great pictures.
If you’d like to learn alongside a professional photographer who is also a training professional, please get in touch.