Sharron Wallace was born and raised in Tower Hamlets joining the local schools Devons Rd and St Paul’s Way. After leaving Barking College of Technology Sharron took her next career step and decided to join the work force. Spending 4 years in Pro Photo labs she knew this was not enough and that it was time to rekindle her dream of becoming a photographer. Sharron contacted The Jamaican Gleaner, West Indian News and the Voice Newspaper intended to step out into a career as a freelance photographer. However her plans for a freelance career were short lived when she was offered a full time post as Picture Editor Photographer for the Voice Newspaper. After 11 years at the Voice newspaper, Sharron moved on to establish her freelance career. Her rich career as a photographer has included photographing Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles, Lady Diana, Gordon Brown, Tony Blair, Sir John Major, Margaret Thatcher, Reverend Jesse Jackson, Reverend Al Sharpton numerous MP and Ministers including Jack Straw, David Blunkett, Jackie Smith and Peter Mandleson. Her international portfolio includes photographs of Maya Angelou, Michael Jackson. 8 years ago Sharron expanded her photographic business and purchased a photographic franchise in the heart of South London employing 5 people. A second franchise purchased a few years later is currently managed by a family member giving her time to focus on her passion as a photographer.
She is now commissioned by a range of public and private sector organisations and government departments including Imperial College, Chase Farm Hospital, The Beazley Insurance Group, Silver Star Charity, Arhag Housing Trust, The Federation for Small Businesses, The Windsor Fellowship and The Next Step Foundation. Her work has been published in the Guardian, The Times Education, The Times, The Voice, Time out to name a few.
Sharron specialises in portraits and event photography and is regularly commissioned for annual reports, conferences and staff and team profile shots. Sharron works in partnership with Ruby design a web and graphic design company bringing you’re photographic and design needs to your doorstep.
1) What is your current position?
I currently run a new franchise business Mail Boxes Etc. Bromley, which is in its start up stages. It is very challenging but this is something I am used to in business. For 11 years I ran a successful Snappy Snap franchise in South West London. I loved the pace and diversity of running a shop in the heart of the community and offering a range of services. I got to know many of my customers some of whom are still friends today. It really felt more than a business. I was able to house a photographic studio at the back of the shop, which meant I could continue to run my professional business as a Press and portrait photographer. I worked as a Press photographer for over twenty years. I still run my photographic business covering events and press assignments with a small amount of private work for individuals.
2) What are your proudest achievements?
My proudest achievement to date is running three businesses successfully at the same time, Snappy Snaps, Sharron Wallace Photography & Molly Maid cleaning service.
3) What inspires you?
I really do enjoy photographing people and I love the challenge of capturing a good shot. One never knows what image or scene you will capture at the click of a shutter. Everything can change in a second and you have to be constantly on alert and ready to respond in an instant. Photography is about relationship. It is satisfying when you send someone a photograph and they come back and say how much they like it. It’s like reading a good book, you don’t want to finish or finding an outfit you both feel and look good in. Photos are personal and in a way taking a great shot of someone is like giving them back a piece of themselves.
4) What has been the biggest obstacle in your career?
Meeting my business objectives and selling customers what they want. I like the buzz of doing business but sometimes getting customers to buy your services takes a lot of hard work. The Internet is the obvious competitor and takes away a huge share of the customer market without having the overheads that small businesses like mine have. I like the personal nature of connecting with customers, which often leads to new sales, or future use of the business, but securing this in the current market place is challenging.
5) Who has been the biggest influence on your career to date?
My Mum. We had wonderful relationship and were really close. I inherited a lot of my Mum’s many wonderful qualities. She was a fantastic cook and a great gardener. She could turn a plot that looked like nothing would grow there into a plot full of blooming flowers. My close friends and family love my cooking and I have tended and grown a lovely garden here where I live in South London. You really don’t realize how much rubs off on you.
6) What is the best aspect about your current role?
Having to be creative and think about ways to make money in my new business. Franchise in Bromley allows me to offer the best international shipping deals anywhere in the world with couriers such as FedEx, UPS & DHL. Mail Boxes ETC Bromley also have graphic design on-site and printing service that is fast and easy to use.
7) And the worst?
Not making enough sales when you know you have a good product to sell. Location is a determining factor.
8) What are your long-term goals?
My long-term goal is to open a second franchise and operate them both. I would like to retire early in another 12-13 years but still work and travel the world. I have a wide range of interests like walking, camping. I’d love to retire in my mid sixties, perhaps have a home abroad where I could live several months of the year and have friends and family come visit me.
9) If you were Prime Minister, what one aspect would you change?
If I were the Prime Minister I’d have a long-term plan for a manufactory industry in the UK. I’d abolish business rates for small business with a turnover of £500,000 or less. I’d pass legislation whereby large retail global companies must pay the living wage.
10) If you were marooned on a desert island, which historical figure would you like to spend your time with and why?
I’d really love to spend my time on a desert Island with my Mum Valerie for all the reasons I mentioned earlier. She sadly passed away in 2001 from cancer. It would be wonderful to see her again and smile.
