I’m a dedicated baby, children’s and family photographer based in Gosforth in the glorious city of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. Since January 2017 I’ve also dabbled in product photography for local makers, small businesses and creative folk (please see product photography page for more info). My photography journey started as a teenager, spending many a happy hour of my art foundation course shooting film on my old Pentax SLR and printing up images in a darkroom.
After a photography degree here in Newcastle I moved to London and worked on various magazine picture desks. This included eight years at heat magazine where I started off researching pictures for the fashion pages and ended up as Deputy Picture Editor in charge of photo-shoots. This involved commissioning photographers and organising and directing the shoots themselves. I produced over 150 shoots during my time there, sometimes several a week! I learnt absolutely loads about working with and photographing people through this incredible hands-on role, and had lots of amazing moments there meeting some pretty exciting celebrities. I was very lucky to work with some truly exceptional photographers not to mention stylists and hair & make up artists gaining lots of varied experience along the way.
When my second little boy was born my family returned Up North and during maternity leave I found myself back behind the camera (this time a digital SLR) doing what I love most – taking pictures, usually of my lovely little boys. Friends who liked my style and relaxed approach asked me to take pictures of their children – one thing led to another and I launched Clare Bowes Photo in 2015.
I feel incredibly lucky to do this for a living and I hope that shines through in my pictures. Whether it’s cooing over newborns, games of hide & seek with toddlers or climbing trees with older kids – I love it all. But the best part is that I get to create beautiful images for parents to cherish as their children grow up. As a mother I fully appreciate how quickly our children change and grow and for me personally, it’s incredibly important to record this – the images I’ve taken of my boys over the last few years are absolutely invaluable to me and something I will really treasure in the future.
When I’m not shooting, editing or processing photographs (or running around after the monkeys) I’m normally immersed in some sort of craft project – usually personalised mobile commissions, bunting or cards for my folksy.com shop.
Originally from the Lake District I’m also a huge fan of the Great Outdoors and spare weekends are often spent with my family exploring beautiful Northumberland, I love the landscape: those wild beaches and dramatic castles and am always on the look out for interesting new locations to shoot in!
Thanks for taking a look at my site – if you have any questions at all just give me a call,
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