Martina Ignatova – Brand and Event Photographer

I am a professionally qualified, award-winning event and brand photographer based in Nottingham. With EMR right on my doorstep, I have easy access to places such as Derby, Mansfield, Matlock and London, so I am happy to travel to any of these locations for shoots.

Before becoming a photographer, I worked in the legal sector as an immigration solicitor for several years. This changed in early 2025 when the industry was affected by the economic crisis and I was made redundant. Rather than looking for another job in the same field, I decided that climbing the corporate ladder was no longer something I wanted for myself. I had reached a point where I wanted to work for myself and do something that felt more creative and more aligned with who I was.

By then, I had already completed a photography course at The Photography Institute and had been awarded the Professional Photography Certificate. So, in a way, the timing felt right. My desire to work independently and my growing interest in photography came together, and I decided to take the leap and launch my own photography business as a freelance photographer.

I specialise in brand and event photography, but I am also looking to expand my work into property and interior photography, particularly for countryside and heritage homes and hotels. I am drawn to spaces with character, history and a strong sense of place, and I would love to explore this side of photography further.

What is perhaps most interesting about this journey is that I never really knew I had a creative side. For most of my life, I pictured myself as a city businesswoman, with a briefcase in one hand and a laptop in the other. Having lived and studied in London for many years probably played a big part in that. I moved to Nottingham with my husband about two and a half years ago and quickly fell in love with the slower pace of life here. I think having more time and space allowed me to discover what I actually wanted from life and, along the way, I found myself developing interests that I had never really explored before.

Photography was one of them, and more recently, painting has become another. I started painting with acrylics simply as a hobby, but it has gradually grown into something I can see myself pursuing long term. I am still at the stage of discovering my own style, but I find myself increasingly drawn towards modernism and abstract art. I really enjoy the process of experimenting and not necessarily knowing where a piece will end up.

I also sell some of my photography and artwork through Etsy, which has been another way for me to share my creative work with people.

Here is the link to my Etsy page:

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/PhotoandArtShopGB?etsrc=sdt

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