“I’ve quit my job to follow the dream.”

With those words Jack Lodge – whose photographic talents bring the sights of our amazing county to a global audience – announced he had turned his hobby into a full-time business.

Astonishingly the 28-year-old, pictured right, who lives in Wimborne, is totally self-taught and only took up photography six years ago.

But his landscape images – often captured at sunrise when the rest of Dorset is still sleeping – swiftly built a large fan base both home and abroad.

It now runs into the tens of thousands.

Jack, who graduated from Arts University Bournemouth with a BA First Class Honours in architecture, also managed to combine his love of photography and early-morning stakeouts with a full-time job in an architect’s practice.

But not anymore.

Jack Lodge Photography is now his sole focus.

He said: “It’s always crossed my mind, the last two or three years, to start up on my own.

“I just thought it would be amazing to do photography every day but it was always like a dream – it was never going to really happen.

“Then in April this year I decided to do some workshops, five in total with three spaces on each.

“I said to my fiancée, Rianna, that we’ll see how it goes but I’ll probably sell only one or two spaces.

“Within 48 hours they had all sold out.

“I was really taken aback.

“I didn’t realise I had an audience that wanted to join me.

“It just blew my mind.

“I did the first workshop and I felt at home.

“It was going out with like-minded people and literally spending the whole day exploring Dorset.

“It opened my eyes to what could be done.”

Workshops will now be one of the revenue streams Jack will be relying on now he’s turned self-employed.

He’s also an ambassador for Fotospeed, f-Stop and Kase Filters UK with various associated roles including referrals and talks at trade shows.

Jack also plans to relaunch his box sets, provide prints of his images and will shortly be launching his 2023 calendar.

But, of course, at the centre of everything is his landscape photography and the excitement he feels each, and every, time he captures another stunning image.

Jack said: “I just love catching something different.

“Not many people are out at sunrise and I enjoy sharing it with people.

“Many message me and say they’ve moved away from Dorset but I remind them of home.

“That makes it feel so special.

“It’s having that connection with a group of people who appreciate my work.

“It’s a very pinch myself moment when people comment.

“Some pictures make me tingle.

“I had one in a bluebell wood about four years ago.

“I came home and had something like adrenaline shakes the whole time.

“I just thought: ‘Oh, my God, what’s just happened.’

“It took days of trying to get the picture and I’ve had that a few times.

“Some colourful skies you only see once or twice a year.

“When they do happen, it’s amazing.

“I do get very over-excited.

“On social media I do live videos and I’m known for sometimes being a bit over-enthusiastic!”

Among his mentors Jack includes fellow landscape photographer Andy Farrer – “he is just amazing and his work is incredible” – and, on the business front, Joe Hayes who recently launched his own business, Kindful Creative.

Jack said: “Joe is just so inspiring.

“I can sometimes over-think and have doubts but Joe’s attitude is: ‘I’m going to learn it, love it and put everything into it.’

“Joe [pictured] launching his business gave me the kick to do mine.

“He’s just a great guy to be around.”

In November 2023 Jack will marry Rianna, an architectural designer.

They’ve been together 13 years, since school, and, says Jack, he could not have found a more supportive and understanding partner.

He said: “I’m super lucky to have her.

“I also feel very excited about the future.

“It was a scary decision to go it alone but also the right one.

“I’m 28 now and I’ve been doing photography since I was 22.

“The time has just flown past.

“I was thinking that if I don’t do it now then I’m going to be 30, married and with a whole set of different responsibilities.

“It felt this was the right time to do it.”

• Jack’s work can be seen on his website – jacklodgephotography.co.uk – as well as Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.