SeeOneSoul Photography

Ok then, here comes another post

Subject of the Day: Becoming a Ship’s Photographer – my Personal Motivation and Experience

I’ve been asked a number of times in the last while how it is that I came to be a photographer aboard cruise ships, what made me decide to take such a leap and what were the steps I took etc. Interestingly, not many people are asking me how I’m finding it, because most folk assume it’s a dream job and it’s highly glamorous … lol Ok, so I thought I’d write a little bit about it and see how we go from there. Let me just say here, I’d love for you to leave me notes or questions or comments – I’d love to get into a bit of a conversation here

So let me start with a little mini-history:

Some of you may know that I worked as an insurance administrator, consultant and broker for many years. I sort of fell into that career in South Africa and then worked very hard at climbing the ladder, so to speak. Several years back I then chose to move to London and I ended up working in the Financial Square Mile. I was still working in insurance, but instead of my clients being individuals, SME’s and farmers, my clients were now from the the travel industry! I loved that! Besides my wonderful colleagues I would say that the best part of my job were my amazing tour operators! I loved them!

But on the overall I did not love my job … I wasn’t feeling any passion for it … I felt like a grey little worker ant marching down the sidewalks of London to get to the office, numb and anonymous … (I could go into a fairly passionate description of how I was feeling, but that might not be positively productive so I’ll leave it there)

So I figured there must be more to life than “this”. I invested a great deal of time and energy into soul searching … what did I really want, not just out of my job, but out of life!

I wanted sunshine, brightness, colour, creativity, travel, a sense of freedom, a sense of community, an environment that has a higher vibration and positivity to it … and so on …

In the meantime I’d been pouring a lot of time, energy and effort into my photography as well. It was a serious hobby which allowed me a creative outlet. It allowed me to connect with other creative people. It really become a balancing factor for my otherwise now somewhat imbalanced life. I worked hard at improving my skill and confidence, because, it should be mentioned here – I am a self-taught photographer. it got to the point where I even managed to land a few jobs to shoot over weekends or evenings and I was also beginning to sell some of my work online. This was fantastic!!

Hmmm … that little history wasn’t as brief as I’d intended, but I feel the background is quite important

One day I was sitting at my desk in the office, grabbing a quick bite to eat and leafing through the latest photography magazine before getting back to work. I flicked through the ads and saw a little ad about becoming a ships photographer. It read something along the lines of “if you like people and photography and travel, this might be for you”. Something like that.

I figured I had nothing to lose.

I sent an e-mail saying that I am passionate about all three of these aspects so I would love to hear more about the job. I wasn’t sure whether my work was of a standard that would meet their requirements, so I sent them a link to my website. The website has evolved dramatically since then, but please do come over and visit And remember I always welcome notes in the guestbook too

Anyway, then it was a whirlwind of communication!! Interviews, paperwork, packing up my stuff, getting visas and things, resigning at work and handing over, giving notice on my flat and getting rid of my stuff and putting other stuff in storage … ! It was a mad, mad time

Exactly two months from initially answering the ad I stepped on to my first ship!

The lovely Arcadia … Since then I have worked on two further ships and seen some amazing places in the world!!

This is at the North Cape, Norway … the northernmost point of Europe I’m delighted that I’ve had the opportunity of going there a few times now already and I do hope that I go back again as well … it’s just breathtaking out there! Albeit that the weather is quite changeable lol

I’ve had the privilege of visiting various places in Norway (by the way – the images serve as links, so taking you through to galleries on my website) … And I simply can’t get enough of Norway! I love it there! But I think details of what I’ve seen in Norway should probably go into a separate post …

I’ve been to Ephasus (unfortunately I’ve not yet had chance to upload a full gallery of any of my visits to Turkey)

And Gudalest!

In 15 months I’ve been to the States, Canada, Caribbean, Eastern and Western Med, Baltics, Black Sea, Norway … it’s just been absolutely incredible!!

I’ve had the opportunity to work in some amazing teams with awesome photographers

And I’ve also had the chance to meet a few celebrities

It so has it that the day I photographed Marco’s book signing was also the day of a friend of mine’s birthday, a guy who loves to cook! So Marco very kindly wrote a personalised message into the cookbook for me, so it ended up making an extra special birthday present

Oh, and by the way – seeing this many photos of me in one place is highly unusual!! Just thought I should mention that! I’m usually behind the lens, you know

Anyway … it’s been an incredible experience! I am about to head off to my next contract … my fourth ship … I’ll be spending time in the Caribbean again, then travelling Norway, the Med and the Baltics.

But there’s a growing question for me which is becoming somewhat pressing. When and how do I get myself off the ships again and back into a land-based environment.

But I think I should save that kind of stuff for another post, just like I think I’ll talk more about ship life in another post I know onboard the ship we often get asked by passengers about the in’s and out’s of the job because they’re thinking of their kids who are about to finish college or whatever … So if you have any questions, would like to know something in specific, please ask and I’ll go into that with pleasure

For now, I’ll head off to have dinner with a friend whom I’ve known since Uni … we don’t see too much of each other these days, so it’ll be good to catch up

’till soon

Namaste

~ Tina

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SeeOneSoul Photography

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Career Move or Gap-Year – Becoming a Ship’s Photographer

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