“ I turned up in Lismore at a few weeks of age. I am a Lismore High school boy. My father Jack Paterson was transferred here with the Commonwealth Bank. He was the manager from 1967 until the early 90’s. My mother, Sylvia had retail outlets called Eastlands Sewing and Craft Centre in Lismore and Ballina. I have a brother Dr Murray Paterson, he marks honours papers for the uni in Vis Arts. He’s a musician and plays with Tex Perkins and the Dark Horses. He also has his own project called Headlands which is about surfing and its culture in the late 70’s. I have a sister Amanda Maxwell, who taught at Alstonville primary for 20 years. She now lives the other side of Tamworth.
In the early 80’s my homes driveway was the best cricket pitch in the local area. We would have these community games of cricket with all the neighbourhood kids and adults.
A new person moved into the street named Gerard Mills and he worked for the Catholic Education office as a media person. He had a home darkroom so he started to show me various photographic techniques which was my introduction to Photography. One of the things he used to do was travel NSW documenting church buildings and in those days it was slide film. One of my jobs was to photograph his slides 8 times for image banks in other countries. In doing this there was this repetition of composition thrown at me which improved my photography. I used to photograph the local gig scene as a teenager when Lismore had a great live music scene.
At 15 I worked with Michael Shapter who had Dixons Photographic’s in Warina Walk Arcade. I spent so much time there he said I may as well work there. I left there and worked at Quick as a flash which was in Lismore Square in 1984 back in the early days of 1 hour photos. I then went back to school and did my HSC.
I went off to study Photography at QLD College of Art for a couple of years and then spent some time working as a photographer. I came back and started working again with Michael who was now Fletchers Photographic’s. I managed the store for him until 1998. I never worked harder but I learnt so much. I try and pass that on to my guys, the opportunity to learn.
In 1998 after working for Michael for 7 years my father gave me the opportunity to go out on my own. The concept being that it would be his retirement project because I was well accustomed to retail photographic but less so the business side. He didn’t actually give me money, he secured a loan. Unfortunately 6 months later he passed away. Two days later the bank froze the overdraft. They said, ‘We understand the Guarantor has passed on so your facilities are frozen’. I had nothing so I learnt some great lessons in those days which I think have positioned me well.
The transition from film to digital later was tough. When I opened in 98 there was 17 photo shops in this area and now in Lismore we are down to one. We turn 20 next year and the classic thing is 20 years ago as a 30 year old you put together a strategy to lead to success. You say to yourself, If I achieve that I’ll move on but the community and area is such that, well where would you want to move on to. I certainly said to myself at the start, I’m not going to be one of those guys who hangs on until I start making bad decisions. Now that I reflect on that 20 years later, the key is to harness the outcomes by involving your staff and the younger people in how to stay contemporary in the business. Too easy is it to disregard input. One of the catch 22’s is the longer you’ve invested in a subject like photography, the more likely you are to believe that you’ve been around the block a few times and you know all there is to know. To let go of that and let them influence where you go is really important.
Personally I love street photography. I have a deep passion for the Leica brand. It took me a long time but I’m fortunate enough now to shoot with 3rd Leica. It’s slow and it’s my cup of tea.
I employ 10 people. Some are up to long service leave. Some have been with us for 10 and 15 years. There’s a lady Christine who I worked for at 15 at Quick as a Flash. She was my supervisor, later I employed her at Fletchers and now here. Christine still works for us in our studio activities Like Santa at the Square, Awkward Christmas photos, SCU grad ceremonies and school formals.
Three years ago at 47 I had a heart attack. It was no surprise to me. I loved smoking, loved a drink. I still get melancholy about smoking. I just didn’t feel right. It wasn’t pain, just a bit of a tingle. Not the Hollywood, grab your chest type. The classic thing is, being exposed to anxiety in my life, when I felt unusual I would sit on the edge of the bed and breathe which I did and told myself I was just a bit anxious. What they teach you to say when you have an anxiety attack is ‘It’s not going to kill you.’ Next thing I’m on the helicopter to the Gold Coast. I celebrated turning 50 with a trip to Japan which was awesome. The support of my team here at The Camera House during that event and through a Christmas on their own was incredible. I’m indebted with gratitude.”