Kevin Reid is a professional photographer from Fife, Scotland, who specializes in a variety of different photography subjects including wedding, portrait, corporate and event photography. In this interview, he talks about his passion for photography and the impact it has had in today’s world.
Photography has been your passion for a long time. What are your early memories?
Do you remember when you were a child? When you did stuff for fun? You simply follow your curiosity— you didn’t learn because you wanted to be “smarter”— you just did it for the pure joy of it. I’m still like that, and photography is my passion!
Do you remember when you first picked up a camera? Do you remember before you learned all the technical settings, “rules” on composition, and other barriers to your learning? You simply photographed what you were interested in, and things that you loved or things you wanted to remember!
I feel the first step in finding your passion in photography is to recollect your past. Vividly remember when you first picked up a camera. Where were you? What camera did you use? How old were you? What did you enjoy photographing?
How did it all start in photography?
For me, I was interested in photographing and documenting places I’d visited. I had just joined the Royal Navy, at 18 years old and was looking forward to sailing the seven seas! I bought a film SLR camera which meant you really had to understand the controls as there’s no preview image!
As time has gone on, I left the Navy, started a family and settled down, however, photography has become less about this simple joy and documentation of my life, I love capturing images of other people’s special moments, and capturing images of different people means no two photoshoots are ever the same. Digital cameras came along and it is so much more fun to show people instantly the images you are capturing rather than waiting to see 36 exposures from a film that take a few days to process.
Even now, honestly, I am quite content with where I am with my photography. Yet I am still willing to try out new photography styles and equipment. I still have the dream that one day I will be famous!
What’s your favourite camera?
I’ve gone down the Canon route and at the moment have a few of their DSLR models; one is better at sports photography, whilst another is better at the landscape and portrait photography – the best part is that the lenses are interchangeable.
As a professional photographer, do you see a big difference between the Canon and Nikon cameras?
Canon and Nikon are possibly most well known as the big players in the photography business; I’m using equipment at the top end of their price bracket and as such they are both fantastic brands. I have stayed with Canon as over the years, I’ve upgraded the bodies and the lenses still work. If I switched brands, it would cost me far too much. I have had experience of the Nikon and am impressed with its image capturing, but for me I’ll stick with the Canon.
You cover a wide area of photography at Relative Portraits. What is the concept behind your website?
Primarily my website is a place for clients to view their images in password protected galleries, where they can order prints and products. Alongside this, I also have the section for selling my landscape images that I take when I’m out and about. We sell images in panoramic format or standard image sizes. With such a wide variety of photography subjects, I also have a showcase to allow visitors to my page to see what styles of photography I do!
Obviously with covering a wide range of subjects I needed to have a news section announcing new products, courses, or incentives, so utilising a blog section helps keep followers informed along with a newsletter. All my images can be shared on social media such as Pintrest, Facebook etc. and I enjoy seeing my images shared and the interaction they produce!
Many expats who used to live in Scotland have purchased my landscape prints as it reminds them of home!
What area of Scotland do you operate in and what are the costs involved?
I currently live in Wormit, in North East Fife a few miles from Dundee; most of my work is centered within 90 miles of here which covers most of the East of Scotland, as far up as Aberdeen and down to Edinburgh. We also cover westwards towards Glasgow and further afield as required. We are very competitive on costs for our services and we have corporate rates, wedding rates, and family rates for the services we provide.
See also: What makes a good photograph?
