By Rachael Grealish

Turning a hobby into a fruitful business is hard, but for one photographer, with the support of friends and family, he’s become a success. 

Brian Bowman, from Whitehaven, the man behind Nightfall Photography, has shared, with The Herdwick News, his journey from a photography enthusiast to a professional, capturing moments of joy and love through his lens.

The 39-year-old’s interest in photography dates back to his early memories. “I’ve had a keen interest in photography for as long as I can remember,” he recalled. 

However, it wasn’t until three years ago that he decided to take his passion seriously.

He said: “I took the plunge, bought myself a camera, and quickly learned that the complexities involved were greater than I imagined.”

Skill development in photography, like any other art, requires dedication and, for Brian, it has been a journey of continuous learning. 

“Practice, practice, lots of reading, trial, and error, and more practice. I’m still practising now. 

“There’s a lot to learn and I still consider myself a relative newcomer to the world of photography,” he said.

Brian credits his family for their unwavering support, saying he was “lucky and blessed with a wife and children whose patience levels are enormous”. 

“I’m forever roping them into ideas I have for shoots,” he added.

The decision to transform his hobby into a business came with encouragement from friends.

He said: “After I bought my camera and started uploading my photos to social media, a few friends began encouraging me to put myself out there and offer my services to the world.”

With considerable thought and persuasion, he took the bold step. 

“After a considerable amount of back and forth, I created an advert and posted it to the world of Facebook,” he explained.

Managing a photography business alongside full-time work and family responsibilities is no small feat. 

Brian shared his strategy for maintaining balance: “I tend to carry out any photography work at the weekends. I work full time and I’m a husband and father.” 

He often involves his daughters in his work, which makes it a family affair: “My daughters often join me whilst I’m carrying out a shoot. They love the idea of helping and it’s lovely to see them want to get involved. My wife is extremely understanding and encourages me a great deal.”

Despite his passion, he ensures it doesn’t overtake his personal life. 

He said: “I’m careful though that I don’t let it consume all my free time.”

Brian’s photography career has seen a variety of notable moments including capturing photos of Judge Jules at a local bar, Club 135 (now the Stock Exchange).

He also provided his services to the recently opened Howling Wolf Artisan Bakery & Cafe, which led to several of his photos being used in a local news article.

Brian was recently hired to take photos of several properties in Carlisle for use in an Airbnb listing. 

Beyond these professional achievements, Brian finds the most satisfaction in his clients’ happiness. 

“I get the greatest sense of accomplishment and joy from knowing that people are happy with the work I’ve provided. I have a number of 5-star reviews and the beautiful comments I’ve received make it all worthwhile,” he said.

Looking ahead, Brian is contemplating the expansion of Nightfall Photography. 

He said: “I toy with the notion of expanding my services on a daily basis. In the last few weeks alone, I’ve had numerous messages regarding the possibility of my services being utilised at weddings.” 

While nothing is set in stone yet, he is open to new opportunities as he said: “I certainly wouldn’t rule out the prospect of Nightfall Photography attending a wedding in the not-so-distant future.”

Despite his varied interests, portrait photography remains his passion. 

“Portrait work is my great love at the moment. There’s nothing quite like capturing expressions of sheer joy or love on camera,” he explained.

Brian Bowman’s journey is a testament to the power of passion, practice, and support from loved ones and through Nightfall Photography, he continues to turn moments into memories, one snap at a time.