Yahoo News 'Moving to Liverpool was the best decision I’ve made in life'
A woman moved to Liverpool “knowing no one and having no business” but said it was the “best decision” she's ever made.
Celebrity photographer Jacqueline Ferguson, originally from London, started her life over after travelling to Liverpool and “falling in love” with it. The 57-year-old settled in Sefton Park just before the Covid-19 pandemic and has since, opened up her photography studio in the heart of Woolton Village.
She told the ECHO: “Randomly, I chose to move here, not knowing anyone or having any business. I just wanted to start my life again.
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“Being my age people asked if I was sure I wanted to do this, but I've lived all over, Spain and the US, so Liverpool was a risk I was more than willing to take. Moving to Liverpool was the best decision I’ve made in my life, I’m so happy here.”
Although Jacqueline was prepared to give up life in the country’s capital for Liverpool, she wasn’t ready to sacrifice her career as a renowned photographer. Over the space of three decades, Jacqueline amassed an impressive CV including working with the likes of The Royal Family, Dannii Minogue and David Attenborough.
She said: “I will always have work down in London as that’s where I’ve gained my reputation photographing The Royal Family and celebrities, but it means a lot to me to be working more up here now.
“Once you are vetted, and they’ve done all their security checks, it's very easy for you to go back in with the Royal Family. It’s an amazing achievement of mine as they are so strict. I had five minutes and was only allowed three actuations (the number of pictures a camera is allowed to take). It took four hours of preparation to make sure the shots were absolutely perfect.
“Thankfully, it all happened with ease, Queen Camilia has been doing it forever. She was the easiest of all the Royals, she smiled at me and smiled at that camera and that was it. The image was taken at a gentlemen’s club so I was the only other woman in the room.
“I always think if I can photograph the Queen with no problems, I will be fine with anyone else. That was the most exciting and nervous I’ve been at the same time before.”
Jacquline is hoping to build a similar portfolio now she is in Liverpool with actors Stephen Graham and Jodie Comer at the top of her wishlist.
She said: “People have been so welcoming since I moved here and Scousers have so much character, so I’m looking forward to capturing the perfect shots of them.”
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