A Little about Ivan

People often ask me how long I've been a photographer?  

I guess I am one of the few photographers who have worked in professional photography my entire career.   This surprises most, probably because the majority of photographers start out as hobbyists and decide to turn their hobby into a profession, some more successfully than others!

On leaving school in the mid eighties, as a fresh faced 16 year old, I gained a place at Kingsway Princeton College in Central London where I studied photography and photographic processing.  From Kingsway I worked for the next few years in a few Pro labs, studios and agencies as a junior before moving to a Wedding photographer's in Epping.  It was here where my journey in social photography began.  

While I was working in Epping, I recall it being lunch time on a dark and dreary, Monday in early February.  I saw an advert in a professional photographic journal looking for a photographer to work on a cruise liner in the Caribbean.  The next six years, as they say were history!  Starting as a No.3 photographer, like a duck to water I rose the ranks to become a Chief Photographer for majestic Cunard Line.

After getting as far as I could as a cruise ship photographer, I decided a change of direction was needed.  Having run busy photographic departments on some of the worlds grandest cruise liners, I wanted to work for myself and start my own business in wedding and portrait photography.  

In 1996 Town and Country Photographic was born which continues to this day,  although it must be said most people know me simply as Ivan!

To this day my passion for the art of photography has never diminished.  I am active in several profesional photographic groups and a committee member of The London Portrait Group.  My work regularly wins professional photographic awards and has recently gained critical acclaim in The Leica Fotographi International Masters Gallery.

What else?  I love all animals and have a gorgeous tabby cat called Ziggy.  Music has to be David Bowie, Eric Clapton, Dire Straights and Motzart. My favourite places would be Italy and France in particular the Amalfi Coast and Venice!
The things I couldn't be without would be my dad's old cameras and my little Leicas, for the curious I use a gorgeous, silver M9-P and a rather special limited edition  "Edition Safari" M10-P.