Frazer Harrison is about to embark on a total career change – for the second time in his 33 years.

The photographer – who started his working life as a junior assistant in Marks & Spencers’ menswear department – is set to swop his job on the Hull Daily Mail for life as a paparrazzi photographer for a Hollywood entertainments agency.

“It will be totally different and a real challenge”, said Frazer.

“As a press photographer for the regional press, most people welcome you with open arms, but in this type of work in Los Angeles, everything is against you. You are trying to get pictures of stars who don’t want to be photographed and you’ve got the security guards to deal with. It’s very difficult work.”

Frazer’s new job will see him travelling all over the globe for the World Entertainment News Network, starspotting and trying to sneak pictures on set locations for new films. There will also be feature work involved.

He takes up his new job on September 21, but has already spent a couple of weeks in LA where he photographed Sidney Poitier, Michael Caine, Prince Naseem, Melanie Griffiths and Pamela Anderson.

Frazer already has a portfolio of live concert photos of stars like Tina Turner, Bon Jovi, Sting and Oasis which have been the basis of four exhibitions in the Hull and Bridlington area.

“I think I got this new job on the strength of those pictures,” he said.

But life could have been very different for Frazer, who joined Marks & Spencer in Lincolnshire on a YTS course after having a part-time job with the store when he was a sixth-former.

Frazer explained: “At that time, as part of your training, you had to do an attachment with a retail company. But no-one in Lincoln wanted a male shop assistant, so I was asked if there was another company where I would be interested in working. I suggested the Lincolnshire Echo, and it was arranged.

“I was supposed to be spending time with accounts and advertising, but after a week in accounts – when they asked me how I’d liked it – I said it was dreadful and I’d rather be back at Marks & Spencer.

“They asked me if there was anywhere I would like to work, and as I liked taking pictures I suggested photographic. So I spent the next seven weeks working in photo sales.

“After that they took me on as a dark room technician, and in my spare time I used to take photos. Eventually, the editor – who was Neil Fowler then – agreed to take me on an indentured apprenticeship. It was the first time in the history of the paper that they had taken on a trainee photographer and sent them away on block release to college to do the NCTJ training.”

After five years at the Echo, Frazer moved on to the Hull Daily Mail where he has worked for the last ten years.

But now he faces severing all ties with Humberside – for at least a year.

“I certainly won’t be coming back to England for the next 12 months at least,” he said. “The cost and the distance is one factor, but, also, why would I come back to cold, damp England when I could be touring places like Mexico in my spare time?”

In his new job, Frazer will be working alongside another ex-UK regional photographer – David Buchan.

He is relishing the prospect of change and challenge, and said: “Whatever happens I am sure the experience of working out there will stand me in good stead when I eventually do return to this country – and who knows what doors it might open up for me.”

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