Your blog is called ‘Who Is Bobb Parris’. Tell us, who
IS Bobb Parris?
I’ve had to reflect on that several times myself over the years
that I’ve had the blog. I suppose it’s an ever-evolving collection
of my creative pursuits and projects. Who Is Bobb Parris had
started out as a street photography blog and a means of getting
back into the habit of taking pictures – something that had to take
a backseat when I started in law.
I came across a photographer’s’ message board where people would
share ideas for personal projects and embarked on a “100 strangers”
one for myself. It led to the site naturally shifting into
documenting street style. Now, there’s more of a mix of personal
style-based projects, interviews, and general summations of causes
and events I’ve found interesting.
You are now a photographer, among other things, but
previously you were a lawyer. What was it like making the
transition into a more creative profession?
It was scary! Most lawyers aren’t natural risk-takers. We’re the
ones who’ve memorised the rulebook, not the ones playing on the
field. So, leaping into the unfamiliar and unpredictable world of
freelancing, and deciding to pursue something as subjective as
photography in a commercial way, was daunting. That said, I’ve met
so many former lawyers who are either photographers, or DJs, or
working in some other creative capacity. The common thread has been
that eventually it gets harder and harder to deny your creative
leanings, so something has to give.