My early encounters behind the lens were simply to archive the special moments between my girlfriend and I. It was only when my mother in law put me to work as the family photographer, that I developed the suspicion that I may have an eye for photography. So spurred on by the compliments and success of my amateur days, I made the plunge and traded in my ‘mik n druk’ for my first digital camera, a Canon Powershot S2. Although many doubted this new found interest, it soon became evident that I was destined for photography. Inseparable from my camera, I enrolled for photography classes and submerged myself in a world of cropped faces, landscapes, stills and virtually any silhouette that found its way before my lens. My camera became another appendage and soon my improvement was just as dramatic as the leap from that first ‘mik n druk’ to my Canon 5D Mk II. My first opportunity to shoot a wedding came when my cousin found himself at the hands of a very unimaginative photographer. Empathizing with the newly weds, I stepped in and as I came to the rescue of their wedding album, it became clear that people were my specimen of choice, as I was drawn to the phenomenon of how capturing that one moment, from the perfect angle could evoke an array of emotions and tell its own unique story. As word got round that my pictures could match the quality and flair of the photographers many struggled to afford, I saw myself agreeing to more and more photography favours. Later, confident in my ability to provide a service and skill level to be proud of, I formed Noel Solomon Photography. I set off climbing a steep learning curve; armed with innovation, a willingness to try new things, adaptability and a great sensitivity and appreciation for the fact that each shoot comes with its own unique preferences and expectations. So today, after much hard work and dedication, I am glad to say I not only have a hobby I love; but a polished and memorable service to offer anyone who has a story they would like to tell. Not bad for a boy who started out just asking his girlfriend to say cheese.