Catherine Connor

CATHERINE CONNOR

Managing Director of Aspire Photography Training

Catherine Connor’s meteoric rise in an often-chaotic working world comes from her grounded and realistic approach to business development, team motivation and leadership. Liberating herself, she leapt out of the world of corporate management to create a photography training company, initially alongside Annabel Williams, and more recently on her own. Her infectious energy never fails to motivate those around her, and equips her with an organic understanding of market direction, fashion trends and lifestyle management. 

Catherine is first and foremost a people person; her unique sense of fun, determination to succeed and boundless commitment to her industry make her a born mentor. She imparts a wealth of skills and knowledge pitched perfectly to achieve the vital balance of confident ability and self-worth to all of those she trains.  It is Catherine's passion for her subject that makes learning from her a pleasure.

Now recognized as a leading figurehead within her field, frequently requested as a platform speaker and often with a waiting list, Catherine both is, and has been, fundamental in changing the shape of the photographic industry.  Acknowledged by the biggest international photographic bodies in existence today, Catherine has hosted and presented with an audience of over three hundred photographers.  Her reputation has formed through the books she has co written, the marketing and business columns written within the photographic press, and her platform speaking.

In early 2000, Catherine headed the Fujifilm Envisage programme designed to prepare everyone within the photographic industry for the birth of digital photography, to reinvent the industry as we it was known.  Catherine’s relationship with Fujifilm was a real benchmark, key to the success that the company has enjoyed since, opening the door to many opportunities from managing business development grant schemes, national media consumer campaigns, coordinating trade shows and much, much more. 

In 2010, she relaunched the company as Aspire Photography Training and now as sole owner, she continues to inspire, lead and innovate within the world of photography. Exciting new projects are planned for the months to come.