Life through a lens

Luke Davis explains how to create an eye-catching portfolio from everyday life

If you were to tell me five years ago that photography would become my life, I’d probably just have laughed. Back then I was balancing touring as a metal musician, waiting tables and studying. That all changed when I took the plunge on a second-hand Canon EOS 600D. It was a magical moment for me, like that scene in Harry Potter where Harry picks up his first wand! I’ve been through various cameras since then, but my passion for image making has only grown. To this day, nothing compares to shooting purely for yourself. More often than not, you’ll find me exploring my home county of Dorset with my better half; Panasonic G9 in one hand, snacks in the other.

My goal with photography is to leave you with a feeling, not just a good impression.

With the advent of social media, I think it’s easy to fall into the traps of chasing trends, pleasing algorithms and going for quantity over quality.

To me, a well-crafted, impactful image wins out every time. Once you have found your own groove, you’ll be surprised how quickly you can create a portfolio with your own stamp, style and consistency.