Middlesbrough Man Wins International Photography Award

Tim Wallace, 42, from Middlesbrough has been named Advertising Photographer of the Year in the international photography awards held by Professional Photographer magazine. The winning photograph also features the Sage in Newcastle, and an Aston Martin V8 Vantage.

The awards are open only to professional photographers and all entries must be work which they have been commissioned to undertake. This latest success comes just 3 years after setting up his photography business, Ambient Life

Tim, a former Royal Marine, was unemployed due to redundancy when he decided to follow his dream and launch his own photography business. Having been interested in photography since he was just 8 years old, he amassed over 20 years of experience. Although keen to set up his own business, he realised he would need guidance to turn his idea into a reality. He sought help from InBiz, an organisation dedicated to the development and promotion of self-employment and micro enterprise, who set him up with a Business Adviser, Leigh Trimble.

Together with his Business Adviser, Tim developed a business plan, and with InBiz's help, he learned the basics of launching and running his own business, such as book-keeping, accounting and marketing his business.

Since launching in July 2007 Ambient Life has gone from strength to strength, and is an international success with clients including Aston Martin, Jaguar, Mercedes Benz UK, Land Rover Burgess New York and many others. Tim also holds ‘live shoot' seminars at headquarters of Jaguar and Land Rover at the manufacturers request.

Tim's work has received other awards, including 2008's Environmental Photographer of the Year, 2008's Landscape Photographer of the Year, and received the Associate Distinction Award for Professional and Applied photography by the Royal Photographic Society.

InBiz Business Adviser, Leigh Trimble, commented, "The success that Tim has had with Ambient Life has been nothing short of amazing. He has worked hard, and thoroughly deserves this award. InBiz specialises in helping those who are unemployed, and have the practical skills required, but need the business knowledge to get up and running. Seeing InBiz customers' businesses do so well is the best part of my job, and I am thrilled for Tim."

Tim Wallace said, "This is a fantastic honour and I can honestly say that given the high standard of work that was submitted to this category I was hoping that I would maybe get shortlisted but to win is just incredible. I feel very humbled and thankful that I work with such amazing people and clients that have the vision and open mindedness to allow me to be creative and project the world through my eyes. It is a great start to 2011, and I hope the rest of the year will be just as exciting.

"I would also like to thank the team at InBiz, as their help was invaluable in setting up my business. Without their guidance, I have no doubt I would not have been this successful."

For more information about Tim's work, and his business Ambient Life: www.ambientlife.co.uk