The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Life through a lens is picture perfect for sports fan Rebecca
Dalgety Bay-based Rebecca Lee won the Lens Culture International Portrait Award in 2015 and her work found a global profile when she took Sir Chris Hoy’s wedding pictures
What does your business do?
I am a freelance photographer who is most well known for my sports photography but I also work in commercial, PR, press, portraits and weddings. Each area can complement the other and through my sports photography Sir Chris Hoy asked me to be his wedding photographer a few years ago.
Why did you start in business?
I have always had a passion for sports photography and worked for a sports and press agency for eight years.
I then decided to take a leap of faith and become a freelance photographer. To get my business off the ground I contacted Business Gateway Fife and The Prince’s Trust to help me get started. I did a lot of start-up courses with Business Gateway and still try to do one or two each year as I love to keep learning. The Prince’s Trust itself still support me to this day.
Any questions or advice I need my adviser is always there to help.
How did you get to where you are?
I was good at art but when I got to college I realised I wasn’t good enough. However, part of my course was photography and I shone in that area and was the first student to get a merit in photography at Fife College many years ago. My love for sports photography comes from my swimming background. I love the action and animation you get for all the different sports but also how a photo can open the public’s eye to different sports such as Paralympic sport. Building the reputation I have has taken a lot hard work and late nights but I love the variety of work I get each year.
Who has helped you along the way? Too many people to name.
Your greatest achievement to date?
It has to be photographing London 2012. After only a year and a half in business I was photographing the biggest sporting event. To be the only multi-sports photographer from Scotland documenting the Paralympics made it even more amazing.
I also have four Commonwealth Games under my belt. Sports photography is a male-dominated profession so it gives me a massive buzz to be the only female photographer.
Hopes for the future?
To keep on loving what I do. Do you want to recruit in future?
If my businesses went in a different direction, there is always the option. At present I hire two members of staff for different areas of my business.
What is the hardest thing about running your own business? Juggling everything there is to do with a photography businesses and the time that takes.
Advice to wannabe entrepreneurs? You need time and passion then double it, then you will hopefully succeed. Also take all the advice you can get from other businesses and attend as many of the Business Gateway courses as you can to get your business off the ground.