A Hucknall resident who swapped the supermarket checkouts to pursue a career in photography has absolutely no regrets about her decision a few years on.

Jemma White, who moved to Hucknall just two years ago, now runs her own business called Little Jem's Photography and loves her job.

Speaking exclusively to Hucknall Nub News she said: "I absolutely adore it; I wouldn't do anything else. I absolutely love it."

Her decision to pursue photography was sparked after a negative experience when paying for professional shots of her new-born daughter six years ago.

"I had my daughter, and we were drawn in by an offer that got sent via email from a photography company I'd never heard of before. We went and we had the photos, and it was then I thought this looks quite fun to do.

"They said come and get £100 worth of stuff for free so we went and it turns out that the cheapest thing they actually did was £300. And I just thought there and then that's not really fair because you're drawing people in that can't really afford it. They think they're getting lucky and then they come, and they see these beautiful photos of their baby and they can't afford them because you've misadvertised [sic].

"At the time I thought if theoretically speaking, I was to do this as a job, I wouldn't treat people that way, I wouldn't mislead them. People would know exactly what they're going to get and what they're going to pay before they come. So that's what kickstarted it off."

From there, Jemma purchased a camera and was largely self-taught honing her skills by practicing in any spare time she had. To take her skills to the next level she went on courses and worked with expert practitioners to give her the confidence that she was ready to start taking on clients.

She soon found herself capturing milestone moments such as first birthday 'cake smashes' and the first professionally taken photos of new-born babies as well as seasonal shoots at Christmas and Easter. All of this was in the spare bedroom of a home she shared with her partner in Clifton.

Then, in 2020, a move to Hucknall saw Jemma convert the attic of her house into a professional studio space, ready to welcome a host of clients. However, at this point the Coronavirus pandemic reached British shores and the nation was locked down by the Prime Minister.

In between looking after her two children, Jemma tried to stay active on her social media platforms and as restrictions started to ease, she offered outdoor shoots.

Now that all restrictions have been lifted and people are being encouraged to try to 'live with Covid' by the Government, Jemma is aiming to take on more clients.

"I do get a lot of people coming back, which is so lovely, and means a lot.

"I tend to be able to work my magic a fair bit with the babies that come into the studio a little unsettled, or the super energetic toddlers. Parents really appreciate it. I don't give up easily, and never leave parents with nothing!"

Jemma also has a clear pricing system and offers four packages which range in price, allowing the client to make an informed choice prior to confirming their booking. Because they can make the decision at home, they don't feel under pressure when choosing a package.

"I appreciate everyone who walks through the door. That's the message I try to get across, I care about you, I'm going to remember who you are, you're not just someone walking through the door and giving me your money."

For further details about Little Jem's Photography, visit her website here.