October 6, 2026 — 5:00pm
And that’s it. The curtain has come down on Clayfield Studio.
10.957 days or thirty years ago today, on October 6, 1996, I opened the doors of my own full time photographic studio.
It was also my last official day at MAX Instruments, although I have to confess that I didn't actually go to work that day!
There is a lovely little connection between that day and today that I have carried with me for all these years.
The Sunday before I left MAX, the company held a farewell Sunday lunch for me at a local restaurant. At the end of the lunch, I was presented with a gold pocket watch by Max. Inside the cover is engraved: “Mark Taylor Photographer October 6 1996”
I still have that watch.
And today, exactly 30 years later, it marks the end of one of the most extraordinary chapters of my life.
For 30 years I have had the privilege of earning a living doing something I have loved for more than half a century.
Photography has taken me into some wonderful places and introduced me to an extraordinary number of people. I've photographed people, businesses, products, machines, weddings, places and stories — and along the way I've learnt an enormous amount, made plenty of mistakes, had some wonderful successes and accumulated a lifetime of memories.
Most importantly, I've met some truly wonderful people.
So to all of my clients, past and present, I simply say thank you.
Thank you for trusting me with your businesses, your people, your products and your memories. I have always understood what a privilege that was.
To my friends, colleagues and fellow professional photographers, thank you for your friendship, encouragement, advice, assistance and support over the years. The photographic industry has given me far more than a career. It has given me friendships that I will value for the rest of my life.
And to everyone who has recommended me, sent work my way, stopped by the studio, followed my work or simply encouraged me along the way — thank you too.
I deliberately chose my final photographic assignment.
As George Martin did with In My Life, why leave something this important to chance?
My last job was photographing Stephen Hart, a Brisbane sculptor whose extraordinary work includes his artistic creation of the WW2 PBY Catalina.
Stephen was also my very first friend — back in 1956.
So I thought that was a pretty good way to finish.
At the end of trade today there was no final job booked. No frantic rush to pack the car. No huge production to organise.
At 5:00pm, the curtain came down.
But I'm not quite disappearing from photography.
I will still happily undertake the occasional small job for past clients through until June 30, 2028.
There will simply be no more big projects. These days, lighting equipment, camera cases and all the other bits and pieces required for a major shoot are becoming a little too heavy to lug around! Plus there are lots of places to visit on my GSA.
Thirty years.
When I look back, I realise just how incredibly fortunate I have been.
To have spent 30 years running my own studio, doing something I love, surrounded by wonderful people and with a camera in my hands — I couldn't have asked for much more.
And so, tonight, I'll probably take one last look at that old gold pocket watch.
“Mark Taylor Photographer October 6 1996”
Thirty years later, the watch has finally reached its other end.
I'm not sad.
I'm grateful.
What a wonderful ride it has been.
Thank you all.
Mark
Mark Taylor Photography - 1973 - 1996
Clayfield Studio - 1996 – 2026
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| Looking forward to spending more time in the outback with MAX-11 |
