MATTHEW Perks is the photographer like so many of us; the semi-pro who takes on paid work but isn’t a full-time professional. The photographer with passion who doesn’t like following trends. And the real-life photographer who doesn’t have time to plan as many shoots as they’d like. When we spoke to Matthew, he was working at McLaren HQ (his day job) but still had his Canon EOS R6 on hand to shoot anything exciting.
Matthew’s journey into photography began over a decade ago when he received a camera as a gift. Again, the story of many passionate creators. But he’s skillfully navigated myriad genres, from landscapes and outdoor adventures to weddings and aerial photography. His Instagram showcases a curated collection of work, but discover why he focuses on enjoyable photography rather than trends, why he still prints images, and why reaching out to local photographers for inspiration, connection and advice including one of the best things you can do as a beginner…
So, you’re a professional photographer, but you’re not full-time, are you?
I’m the Team Leader of the machine workshop at McLaren. We make all the metallic components sitting inside the F1 and heritage cars. It could be anything from disc brakes, engine or floor systems… I’ve been here for around six months now. It’s been a nice experience alongside photography and everything else in life!
Interesting. Can you tell us about your career path so far…
My career has been predominantly in engineering since school. I left school working for a small
