After four years spent developing his skills in the capital, Sunderland photographer David Foster has returned home to start his own commercial portrait studio and photography business in the city’s rejuvenated historic quarter.

After studying photography at Northumbria University, David moved to London in 2003 and went on to work with some of the biggest names in the business.

David Foster says: “I knew that eventually I wanted to run my own studio, so I tended to move around a lot when I worked in London, as I was keen to gain as much knowledge as possible.

“As people got to know me and my work, I was lucky enough to experience a variety of photography environments, from commercial and advertising, to fashion and portraiture.”
With these invaluable skills under his belt, David began looking toward the fulfilment of his long-term goal of running his own studio.

On his occasional visits home to see family and friends, David was encouraged to see glimpses of a changing Sunderland, and began to research the possibility of a modern photography studio being successful in the city.

David says: “Though I loved living and working in London, I missed home a lot. When I realised that the style of photography and skills that I had developed there could be applied to Sunderland, I began planning to run my own business.”

David approached the North East Business and Innovation Centre (BIC) in July 2006 and began preparing a business plan with adviser Alan Gillis. After over a year of research and development, his business, Square Photography opened in Sunderland’s burgeoning Sunniside quarter in November 2007.

David says: “The location is great - if feels good to be part of a growing arts community, and as my experience in London taught me that portraiture is one of the most profitable areas of photography that is the area I have decided to concentrate on with Square.

“I did not want to compromise my modern style, as I feel this meets with growing diversity in Sunderland and the wider region. However, I feel Square can cater to the photography needs of any customer, and we are more than capable of working with more traditional styles of portraiture.”

As well as support from the North East BIC, David received assistance from the Arts Council and Sunderland Youth enterprise trust (SYEP), in setting up Square Photography.

“The support in setting up the business has been brilliant, and I’d recommend that anyone who is thinking of doing the same contact the North East BIC for advice.”