Every photographer remembers their firsts. The first time you get the framing just right, the first time you nail a fast-motion shot, and the milestone moment when you finally step out of your comfort zone. This past weekend was a massive milestone for my portfolio, pushing my camera and my creative adaptability to its absolute limits. I went from the high-energy, neon-soaked chaos of a packed city nightclub to the raw, high-stakes adrenaline of Scottish League One.

Here is how a chaotic weekend behind the lens unfolded across Aberdeen and Montrose.

Night One: Diving Into the Neon at Prohibition Aberdeen

Club photography has always intrigued me, but capturing sharp images in a dark room filled with flashing strobe lights and fast-moving crowds is a daunting challenge for any beginner. Huge thanks to the team at Prohibition Aberdeen on Langstane Place, who kindly gave me entry, access, and the opportunity to gain some vital experience.

Stepping into the venue with my camera in hand, the atmosphere was instantly electric. The drinks were flowing, the bass was thumping, and the energy was infectious. My goal was simple: capture the raw, unedited joy of the night.

Shooting in a nightclub means constantly tweaking your settings on the fly. You are balancing slow shutter speeds to let in the vibrant ambient neon light, while using a flash to freeze the action. It took a bit of trial and error, but once I found the rhythm, the magic happened. I looked through my viewfinder and saw a sea of hard-partying crowds with massive smiles on their faces. From capturing groups laughing at the booths to the packed dance floor losing it when the beat dropped, the shots came out alive with energy. Leaving the club with a memory card full of dynamic, high-contrast party portraits felt like a massive win for my portfolio.

Day Two: Pitchside Adrenaline at Montrose

There was no time to sleep off the adrenaline. The next day, I packed up my zoom lenses and headed down the coast to Montrose to cover the highly anticipated match between Montrose FC and Cove Rangers.

The contrast couldn't have been sharper. I went from a dark, enclosed space to the wide-open, unpredictable environment of a football stadium. Instead of tracking dancers, I was tracking athletes moving at full speed, trying to anticipate where the ball would land next.

The match itself was an absolute thriller. The atmosphere from the fans kept the energy high, and the action on the pitch gave me plenty to work with. Montrose put on an impressive display, taking the upper hand and sealing a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Cove Rangers. Capturing the split-second moments—the strain of a header, the slide tackles, and the raw emotion of the winning goal celebrations—showed me just how fast you have to be to make it in sports photography.

The Takeaway

Looking back at the weekend's work, I am incredibly proud of how much these two completely different worlds pushed my technical skills. Club photography taught me how to master complex, low-light lighting environments and interact with people to get the best out of their expressions. Sports photography taught me patience, hyper-focus, and speed.

A massive thank you again to Prohibition Aberdeen for opening their doors to an emerging creator, and to the squads at Montrose and Cove Rangers for putting on a fantastic game. My portfolio is looking healthier than ever, and I am officially hooked on the hustle.