Denise Swanson ABIPP has always been interested in photography, but had little time to pursue it with a family and a demanding career as a software marketing director. However, after suffering a serious medical condition, Denise re-evaluated her life and her new SLR became an important part of her recuperation as she pursued her love of nature. Gradually, clients from her freelance design and advertising work began to licence her images for advertising campaigns and asked her to cover PR and events for them and soon her photography became an integral part of her business. 
Denise tried out every opportunity that presented itself - events, PR, documentary, sports and press photography. However, despite some of it being great fun, Denise knew it wasn't really what she wanted to do. The turning point came when Denise went to a BIPP informal assessment evening where Ray Lowe FBIPP offered to be her mentor. "Unbelievably within just six weeks, he had made me realize what I wanted to do and I achieved the Licentiateship and received a nomination for the Peter Grudgeon award. Since then, with support, guidance and encouragement from Eric Jenkins FBIPP and advice from Llewellyn Robins FBIPP, I achieved my Associateship in the scientific category with a panel of images which also achieved a nomination for the Peter Grudgeon award."
Denise has gone on to win a string of awards and her business is flourishing. Her design and marketing background is the perfect combination for building her business. Denise enjoys doing as much as she can by herself and so she has invested in a large format printer to produce all her own prints and canvasses as well as leaflets and posters for exhibitions. "From that, I have started printing work for other photographers and artists who like the personal service and the idea of working with another artist."
Denise's personal work is mainly influenced by her love of nature, but also by impressionist art, minimalism, experimental artists and her design background. As she has gained confidence and followed her heart, her images have evolved from perfectly sharp documentary records to more artistic images which convey more of what Denise feels than sees. Denise is currently studying towards an MA in Fine Art which is also influencing the way she thinks and the images she takes.
Denise believes that the most important thing is to do what you want to do: "Be true to yourself. Otherwise, it is just a job like any other. Get a part time job if necessary, or have some other form of income until you get established and have several strings to your bow so that if one dries up, you have another to keep you going. I would also advise anyone starting out to join the BIPP and get a good mentor - they are worth their weight in gold."
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