Winners Recap: Corinne Cumming
Since winning both the Music category and Highly Commended Overall in the 2017 Event Photography Awards, the 23-year old London-raised freelance photographer has realised her dream of opening her own photo studio.
It's early morning, and there's a sharpness in the Autumn breeze, spiking the senses as we wait outside Hot Dog Studios, an industrial estate in the heart of Hackney. Following the sound of scampering dog feet, we’re greeted by Corinne Cumming accompanied by her pet Dachshund Cecil, who is at the heart of Corinne's studio concept.
Since winning both the Music category and Runner Up Overall in the 2017 Event Photography Awards, the 23-year old London-raised freelance photographer has realised her dream of opening her own photo studio.
Watch Corinne's full interview above.
We wipe our feet against a doormat shaped like sausage dogs and are welcomed into her spacious, one level studio with smart wooden flooring. It's all very 'Hackney' - and it's a good thing! For decades, Hackney has been a melting pot of cultures amongst neighbourhoods at the center of London's art scene, a fitting environment for a photo studio. As she serves us coffee in mugs that read "Hello Sausage", it’s evident that she understands how to brand a business.
It's been a busy and productive year for Cumming, who admits she had never applied to a competition before the Event Photography Awards.
"I didn't really have the confidence that I'd get very far", she says. It's impressive to witness her growth as a photographer and surge of her confidence since winning the Music Photography Category, a passion since she was sixteen.
"I love, love music photography!" she says, her cheeks glowing with excitement.
Corinne first got started in event photography when her parents bought her first Nikon Bridge camera. Shooting seedy metal gigs and low-key publications, she got her experience on the job, teaching herself Lightroom amongst other tricks of the trade along the way.
Her advice to budding event photographers:
"You should go to the crappiest shows you can find, at the crappiest local music venues you have." Corinne used to contact venues around the city, often offering her services for free to gain experience. "That's how I managed to make it into a career."
She has since worked with bands the likes of Enter Shikari and shot behind the scenes with A-list actors such as Benedict Cumberbatch, and she's only getting started.
Corinne is excited to enter the 2018 Event Photography Awards with shots of Craig David, Benedict Cumberbatch and the late Chester Bennington.
Interested in entering the 2018 Event Photography Awards? Entries are open until 25 February 2018! Submit your best photos here.
