DRIVING THEIR DREAMS

It turns out there’s a lot you can do in van business. We talk to those who have pushed the boundaries when it comes to working on the road

- Bethan Andrews

DIVERSIFYING IN COMPETITIVE MARKETS IS CRUCIAL TO SURVIVING IN BUSINESS, SOMETHING AILSA BEE, FOUNDER OF KNUTSFORD-BASED ERNIE THE PHOTO BUS, WAS CERTAIN OF. SHE KNEW SHE HAD TO SET HERSELF APART FROM THE CROWD.

‘The fun is in the variety, the freedom. It appeals to the free spirit part of my personality’

I started looking at vans. I was full of drive, fire and enthusiasm for the idea, but also worried I was being a bit mad. But then I read a book called Big Magic, and it talks about ideas being living things, that they choose us, and if an idea comes to you, you have to act on it before it flies away and chooses someone else. So, I found Ernie. He’s a Volkswagen LT28 and had spent his life as a school minibus in Poole. I needed the van to be quirky, otherwise it just wasn’t going to grab attention. Ernie is a big beast, rare, and bright orange!

Photography doesn’t have to be complicated. A nice background, good light, a relaxed person or the ability to make them so, and that’s all you need. I’m not the kind of photographer who has a studio, big fancy lights and lots of equipment. Sometimes I arrive to work somewhere and people say, how long will it take you to set up? I sling my camera over my shoulders and that’s it – I’m ready.