Abigail has been working in the photographic industry for over fifteen years, travelling the world with her photography and working across a huge range of genres.

More recently she has started to shoot social photography, and has opened Abigail’s Studio, specialising in contemporary weddings and family portraiture.

Based in Buckinghamshire, UK, the studio is proving extremely popular.

I caught up with Abigail to discuss her fascinating career.

photo by Abigail Murphy

What made you decide to become a photographer? How did you start out in the industry?

I picked up a camera as a child and fell in love with the moment when the shutter comes down and you can’t see the picture. What always amazed me was developing this missing moment in the darkroom. I started assisting reportage photographer Jez Coulson when I was still at college. He was based in his London studio and we covered news and celebrity events. The most memorable shoot was undoubtedly being asked to take private portraits of Diana, Princess of Wales.

What kit do you shoot with? How important is your choice of kit for the work you do?

I shoot pro Nikon with a range of lenses divided into primes and zooms. The choice of lens is always imperative to any shoot, as you will get very different effects depending on the lens.

photo by Abigail Murphy

You’ve shot a lot of commercial work over the years. What made you change focus to weddings and family portraiture?

I was very lucky during my twenties and early thirties to work all over the globe with my photography. I shot luxury apartments in Europe, holiday destinations in the Americas through to Andy Murray on Centre Court at Wimbledon. Having married in 2015 and with the birth of my son last year, I wanted to focus my attention closer to home and appreciate the real wonder of weddings and families. I have thoroughly enjoyed transferring my skill set and creating and capturing these magical moments. Redefining the norm, both in the studio and on location, has really helped me to push the boundaries of conventional social photography whilst photographing what are the most momentous occasions in our lives.

photo by Abigail Murphy

How important is lighting to your work?

Photography means drawing with light. When I work I use light to create my image rather than just snapping what’s in front of me. I love the colour processor in my Nikons, and the way they capture the light – illuminating both what is seen and unseen by the human eye. It has had a huge impact on my work.

How would you define your style?

Unobtrusive! I like to match my style to the type of shoot I’m on, be it reportage, romantic, contemporary or traditional. This allows me to get the best from my subjects and create the perfect image.

photo by Abigail Murphy

What’s been your favourite thing / person to shoot?

People always ask this and I always reply palm trees – preferably on beaches!

photo by Abigail Murphy

And what would you like to shoot in the future?

Destination weddings – I love to combine my passion for travel and the thrill of weddings. It’s a great combination of reportage mixed with a touch of fashion and a large dose of portrait photography. It tests me skill set and constantly pushed me to capture that ‘decisive moment’.

photo by Abigail Murphy

Finally, do you have any advice for aspiring photographers?

Don’t do anything for free. It’s very hard to start charging afterwards. People will always want you to work for ‘exposure’ or to ‘increase your portfolio’. Your time and kit has a value and needs to be appreciated as such.

Many thanks to Abigail for chatting with us. If you’d like to view some of her lovely work, please visit her website.