dynamic commercial photography and design studio

Hey there!

So you've got this far and want to know a little more well this is ‘Dan’s Story’!

Without further ado, here’s goes….

First the short version: born in Sussex, raised in Herefordshire, educated in Manchester and worked in London! Born with a paintbrush in my hand and now creating pictures for my clients worth a thousand words.

And now for something a little longer…

From a little boy I loved the creative arts so it was a natural choice to study them at degree - I was the guitar-strumming-rock-and-roller-artist, bucking against rules, with wild ideas and not to be pigeon holed! And, true to form I was that artist dropout!

Ahh, heady university days, but I was no traditional dropout.

I had the mindset of choosing and being responsible for my own destiny, kindly donated from my parents whilst growing up in their rural country house hotel.

But still, back from university and with typical student’s post dropout depression, I:

• Had a big wake up call after a run in with the police after several bad career decisions…
• Bought failing comic book shop to stay out of incarceration and a few short years later cashed in on my first true measurable business success…
• Attempted an internet start-up business at the end of the tech boom bubble…
• Worked for a fast growing business marketing company, piling in hours, devouring information and burning through my pay cheques…!

Then on one fateful summer’s day in 2001, I felt the worst: I was made redundant, gazumped on a flat and discovered my dear mother had cancer.

Sometimes you know when life transforming events happen - bad things happen in threes.

Once the dust had settled I had my moment of epiphany: there is no wealth without health. Life is meant to be enjoyed and we should be what we want to be – for me it was a professional artist, this time painting with light and a camera.

Back at art college, my business head clicked into 5th gear and opportunities came forth! So I taught myself all I needed to know to run a successful studio to give my new clients what they wanted.

And in 2004 I received three pats on the back:

• My mother was told the all clear after two years of cancer treatment and tests (woohoo!)
• I was chosen to produce cover images for the London Salsa Celebrity Fashion Show with the world cup winning England rugby team.
• I won the 1st place International Meetings Industry Marketing Awards for best company DVD photography and design.

And to follow this in 2005:

• I had my first book out – a gold hard cover book full of my photography for Westons Cider (the UK’s largest cider producer) celebrating their 125th anniversary.
• And a TV appearance being filmed in London as a pro photographer in action for the reality show ‘Make Me A Supermodel’ was the icing on the cake.

But it was not all a bed or roses. In London working I collapsed as burn out knocked me out for six, literally for 2006.

And now after a recovery year in 2007 with my new business incarnation of Studio 33Red, with mountains of experience and a multitude of skill sets I realised, although I’m a photographer I don’t sell photos.

• You get new tools to help boost business revenue.
• You get a long term creative partner.
• You get immeasurable marketing knowledge and value.
• You get a picture worth a thousand words.
• You get what I guess what we all want - that thing that is so indefinable - a friend with a real story.

Life is worth living when you follow your dreams. From a deep seated interest, one hero to another, would you share your story with me?

Daniel Moncur-Sime