Photographer keeps his focus as he develops firm

PERTH: Inheriting an old film camera set Gavin Ritchie on course for success

Q. How and why did you start in business?

My interest in photography first began in 2004 when I inherited an old film camera from my dad.

I started my business straight out of college with a three-month commission over the summer holidays.

From there I started to sell my photographs as prints, cards and calendars at markets.

Q. How did you get to where you are today?

It’s taken a lot of effort to figure out what works and to tweak them appropriately. That’s something I still need to do and will likely always be required. A lot of my success is the result of persistence.

Q. Who has helped you along the way?

My family have been wholeheartedly supportive from the beginning.

They began by driving me around to all my events, helped me run my stalls and are some of my most loyal customers.

Q. What was your biggest mistake?

Apart from dropping a lens in the falls at Killin and diving in after it – not a wise decision – it would simply be not reaching out for help and advice earlier.

Q. What is your greatest achievement to date?

I see my greatest achievement as starting up a series of photography workshops, which has so far seen me joined by photographers of all levels from across the country to gain an insight into my own approach to photography.

I also think it’s hilarious that, at school, I would have been the last person you would expect to run their own business, especially in an artistic and creative field.

Q. What do you hope to achieve in the future?

I hope to be able to one day be able to give up my day job and spend my whole week out shooting the beautiful landscape of Perthshire, and guiding visitors around it with our cameras.

Q. Do you want to recruit in the future?

I’ve so far always seen my business and journey as a solitary venture, but I’m a real believer in growing local economies so if I were to recruit I would certainly see that as my greatest achievement.

Q. What is the hardest thing about running your own business?

I love what I do but balancing my day job, business and home life often means I work seven days a week for months on end – something I’m sure most self-employed people can sympathise with. However, I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t enjoy it.

Q. Any advice to wannabe entrepreneurs?

Don’t be like me by being so hesitant to ask for help or advice about your business. It took me years before seeking advice from community-enterprise support organisation GrowBiz, and in the year that I’ve been involved with them I have launched loads of photography workshops – something I never thought I would have the confidence to do!

Q. How do you relax?

I’m glad to be able to say that I do still find being out in the landscape with my camera one of the most relaxing things. When I’m looking to switch off and take my mind away from work, I’ve found cooking new things to be the best solution.

Picture: Gavin Ritchie. Gavin Ritchie says being out in the landscape with his camera is still one of the most relaxing things for him to do.