A PROFESSIONAL photographer is seeing life through a new lens after making the switch to barbering after the pandemic made him rethink his future.
Richard Frew has been a photographer for more than 10 years but has recently become a fully qualified barber after struggling to find freelance work during the coronavirus lockdown.
The 33-year-old Aberdonian was working as a freelance photographer when he approached Sovereign Grooming, who agreed to train him up to help him pass his SVQ qualification.
Since qualifying last year, Richard has secured a full-time position at Sovereign Grooming’s Aberdeen salon on Union Street – plying his trade as a barber with a digital twist.
Richard said: “When Covid hit, it forced me to think about my career and what I wanted to do.
“Working as a freelance photographer at the time, business was obviously not booming and I wanted to turn my hand to learning a new skill.
“Barbering had always interested me; it was a profession where I could continue to be creative and work with people which is something I’ve enjoyed about photography for so many years.
“There are some similarities from my photography skills that have transferred nicely into the barbering world.
“They are both hands-on jobs where you can express yourself while working to deliver what the customer wants.
“As a career, its brilliant to know that you are working every day to make people feel better about themselves and that is genuinely rewarding.”
Richard previously worked as a press photographer for the Daily Record and since going freelance has worked for the likes of BBC Scotland, Marriott Hotels and WWF.
“Sovereign Grooming has tailored the perfect role for me and I couldn’t be happier.
“Not only do I get to work as a barber, I also work on photography and videography for the Sovereign Grooming brand, whilst continuing to carry out my freelance photography in my spare time.”
Kyle Ross, co-founder at Sovereign Grooming, was central in helping Richard in his bid to become a fully qualified barber.
Kyle said: “Richard was extremely motivated and determined to work all sorts of hours to get as much practice in as possible.
“It was a no-brainer for me to help him start out on what will be a brilliant career path.
“Since starting at our Aberdeen salon, Richard has really thrived in his part-barbering, part-digital role and we couldn’t be more delighted to have him as a member of the Sovereign team.”
Kyle opened a barbering school in Glasgow earlier this year, where he trains up prospective barbers to get fully qualified in just 15 weeks.
Kyle said: “There is a real skills shortage in the barbering industry due to the pandemic and The Sovereign Grooming Academy is set up to combat that.
“We are genuinely committed to filling the industry with the next round of top talent and Richard is just one example that it is never too late to discover a new career path.”
Kyle Ross founded Sovereign Grooming in 2016, opening the first salon on Aberdeen’s Union Street.
The brand has since opened a state-of-the-art salon in Edinburgh’s New Waverly – followed by a contemporary salon and barbering academy on Glasgow city centre’s Renfield Street.
He was named Best Barber UK at the International Barber Awards in 2017, a year which also saw him named Scottish Men’s Stylist of the Year.
In 2018, he was named Best Barber at the Scottish Hair and Beauty Awards and in 2019 was shortlisted for GQ Magazine’s Barber of the Year title.
