Working as a photographer became my dream shortly after I took my first photographs with my father's ancient Zeiss, with its concertina lens, heavy steel body and manual settings. I was about ten years old at the time.

It would take many years, numerous cameras - not all of them mine - lots of self-study, courses, workshops, pestering those-in-the-know, and a meandering career path before I finally committed to full-time photography.

Since then, I have been fortunate to connect with many wonderful women, and sometimes men, who have come to my studio for their portraits - people of all ages, most of them nervous and convinced that they are definitely not photogenic, and probably not very attractive.

Together we create images that reflect their beauty, their personality and their style.

My studio becomes a noisier playground when children and teenagers clatter in. Their energy, their laughter, their non-stop movement infuse my space and my self with joy and excitement, while the young models wanting to update their portfolios inspire me with their creativity and ambition.

I spend time out of the studio too, shooting portraits on location, whether for corporate or individuals, babies or pregnant women and, of course, weddings.

At other times, I hoist up my camera bag, shut the doors, and head out on a trip. Whether it's a road trip to somewhere in South Africa, or a long-haul flight to places I've never seen before: the mission is the same: to experience the world in all its shades of light and dark, and to show you what I saw.

Visit me at my travel blog at http://dhewitson.wordpress.com or my photo blog at http://todayshoot.wordpress.com

Some of my wedding pics are at http://dhweddings.wordpress.com

My stock images can be viewed and ordered from http://onlineimages.ifp3.com

My studio is at Cnr Albert and Argyle Roads, Woodstock, Cape Town