I didn't get where I am today: Allan Wright

Allan Wright

What?

Professional landscape photographer and gallery/caf owner

What does your organisation do?

It is an art gallery and caf in Galloway - catering for tourists on the culture trail, and for locals in need of coffee and cake. In the gallery I exhibit and sell photographs of Scottish landscapes which I've taken throughout my 28-year career as a professional photographer. I also run landscape photography workshops, an online image resource, and I do a range of commercial work for publication.

What does your average working day involve?

Most of my time is taken up with photography - travelling around Scotland by road and on foot, waiting for interesting weather conditions or for something a bit out of the ordinary to happen. At home I spend a lot of time at the computer on Photoshop, and in the gallery next door serving coffees and chatting to visitors.

I'm lucky to have an amazing partner, Lorna Willock, who puts a great deal of time and effort into the caf and looking after our 12-year-old daughter Amber when I'm away. I couldn't run the business without her.

First senior job?

Working on a water-well drilling rig near Sirte in Libya. It was a baptism of fire after spending four years living and studying in St Andrews.

Do you work for love or money?

Definitely love. I gave up a well-paid job as an oil engineer to become a photographer, but I wouldn't change it for the world.

Any major turning points along the way?

Going bankrupt 18 years ago was a big reality check. From that point I knew I had to sharpen up my business style, and quickly, if I was going to succeed.

What has been your biggest hurdle?

Not letting success get to my head.

Was your first job for pocket money or was it the first rung on the ladder?

My first photography job for was for pocket money. The mother of a local public schoolboy asked me to take a portrait of her son. I was not particularly interested in portrait photography as such, but I knew I needed every penny I could get - and actually it went really well.

What's the worst job you've had?

As a student I spent a summer driving an ice cream van round the schemes of Paisley.Apart from the 16-hour day, cheeky children and the diet of crisps, lemonade and ice cream, there was also the occasional death threat and tyre flattening gesture from the local ice cream Mafia.

What's the weirdest job you've had?

Taking photographs of a vet performing internal scans on a mother cow inside a filthy cowshed in midwinter.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

An airline pilot, a professional footballer, a jet-setting sales director… all the usual things.

Any regrets?

I wish I'd invested in top-quality photography equipment a lot earlier on in my career - some of my earliest photos don't stand up to today's rigorous quality control standards, which is annoying to say the least.

What do you like least about your job?

The fact that half the population thinks they can do it. Added to which, a lot of very average photographers probably make much more money than I do.

What would you change about your job?

Less administration and more photography - it is one of the only pitfalls of being self-employed.

How do you get to work, how long does it take?

About 15 seconds.

Packed lunch, canteen or expense account?

At home I'll have a quick rustle round the fridge. When I'm out taking pictures it's usually tins of sardines and packs of oatcakes, I have a minimalist approach to eating when in the field.

Long hours or work/life balance?

I used to work long hours late into the night, editing photographs on my computer, but over the past 3-4 years, I think I've acquired a much better work-life balance.

Confrontation or anything for a quiet life?

Confrontation - it's much more exciting, and as a native Glaswegian I find it hard to keep my opinions to myself.

Have you ever had to sack anyone?

Yes, I had a salesman working for me once who very skilfully cut himself a good deal. It took me a long time to work out what he was doing, but in the end he got the message loud and clear.

If you met your younger self, would you give him a job?

Yes, but I would be tough on him.

Essential tools for the job?

A good eye is fundamental. Patience and good equipment are secondary.

What do you wear to work?

Fleecy tops and jeans mostly. For smarter days, newish fleecy tops and jeans.

What's in your web browser's favourites folder?

The Met Office weather, BBC News, Alamy, Facebook.

You've won the lottery: what do you do?

Get rid of the money quickly before you lose your own identity.

Your dream job?

I'm doing it.

What do like to do with your spare time?

On sunny days I like to take a motorcycle ride through the back roads of Galloway and visit friends. I love the outdoors - I'm happiest when I'm out walking the dogs or creating something in the garden.

How do you let off steam after a hard day?

Dinner with my family, and a long hot bath.