Omar Saleem Birmingham-Based Creative Writer & Photographer Specialising in Lifestyle & Portraits

The Journey: From Library Shelves to Self-Taught Photography & Design

My journey started back in the 1990s - some of the best years to grow up, in my opinion. While my peers were focused on the curriculum, I often found myself disinterested and unchallenged in classrooms. I’d frequently slip away or skip out on lessons, seeking a “safe haven” in the school library. It was there that I took charge of my own education, spending hours reading books on Science, Technology and Photography. I would read photography books cover to cover to learn about composition and different styles.

It was during this same period that I also discovered a passion for web design. Back then, internet access was a luxury and my time on a computer was strictly limited. To make the most of it, I would teach myself what I could and then spend hours writing out lines of code by hand using a pen and paper. When I finally got back onto a PC, I would frantically type up everything I’d written and test to see if it worked.

I made plenty of mistakes and published a lot of sites over the years; some became popular with fellow classmates and students at school — like a site that provided download links for game console emulators and ROMs. A Pirate Bay of sorts before Pirate Bay. Unfortunately it was short-lived and was ultimately shut down. Those early experiments taught me the fundamentals of coding and design. I designed and built this website using everything I had learnt since those early days, and from knowledge gained working as a web developer for a short period of time. I’m incredibly proud of it, though I’m always learning and adapting as I go.

I am a firm believer in working with purpose and putting my heart into everything I create. I set the highest standards for myself because, ultimately, it’s about more than just delivering a project - it’s about publishing work that I can be genuinely proud to stand behind and put my name against.

Qualifications & Recognition

My dad was a huge inspiration during my early steps into Photography; he would spend his break times at work cutting out photography competitions from newspapers to bring home and encourage me to enter. This fueled the fire he knew was already burning. That early encouragement led me to Sandwell College, where I studied under the mentorship of published photographic artist Helen Sweeting, earned my HNC, and eventually became a member of the Royal Photographic Society with a Licentiate (LRPS) qualification.

Since then, I’ve had the honour of being a runner-up in the ILFORD “Power of Motion” competition and seeing my work exhibited in Sandwell Library as part of the Jubilee Arts Archive Project.

My Philosophy: Authentic Lifestyle Photography

I believe that lifestyle photography should be a reflection of real life, not a staged version of it. My goal isn’t to capture a “perfect” pose, but to find the quiet, honest moments that tell your true story. I look for the light hitting a room just right, a genuine laugh, or the small details that define a personality. I want your photos to feel like a collection of memories that are as warm and familiar as a favourite song.

The Experience: Relaxed & Intentional

If you’re worried about being “bad” in front of the camera, don’t be. My sessions are effortless and conversational. I prefer gentle direction over stiff posing, ensuring the process is as enjoyable as the final images. On the technical side, I work with both digital and film. I love the precision of my Canon DSLR, but I have a massive soft spot for the feel of a 35mm lens and also medium format, with my Rolleiflex being my favourite camera. For peace of mind, I always use dual memory cards and carry backup bodies. Your memories are too important to leave to chance.

Beyond the Lens

Photography may be one of my greatest passions, but technology has been another constant thread throughout my life. That curiosity I first discovered in the school library and through those early experiments with computers and web design eventually grew into a career spanning more than 20 years in IT.

Over the years, I’ve worked across IT Operations, Service Delivery, Major Incident Management, Change Governance, Operational Resilience and IT Security. Much of my career has involved working behind the scenes in complex, 24/7 environments where technology needs to be dependable, secure and available when people need it most. I’ve led teams in the UK and internationally, managed major incidents and large-scale production change, and worked closely with Information Security to strengthen the resilience and security of critical IT services.

I’ve always been drawn to solving problems and understanding how things work. More recently, that curiosity has taken me deeper into cybersecurity, particularly Security Operations, threat detection, incident response and automation. I enjoy finding ways to make complicated processes simpler and more effective, including using automation and AI to improve how security incidents are detected, investigated and contained. I’m continuing to develop my knowledge in this field and am currently working towards the CISSP certification.

In many ways, I see a connection between my creative and technical worlds. Photography taught me to pay attention to the smallest details; IT taught me that the smallest details can sometimes make the biggest difference. Whether I’m behind a camera, writing code or investigating a technical problem, there is always that same curiosity and desire to understand what is happening beneath the surface.

Cyber Flight Academy

That combination of technology, cybersecurity and a desire to share what I learn eventually led me to create Cyber Flight Academy, an independent cybersecurity certification-training platform operated under my business Security Concepts Ltd.

I wanted to build something that made learning cybersecurity a little more engaging and accessible. Cyber Flight Academy turns certification practice into an interactive, scenario-based experience within a distinctive cyber-flight environment, giving learners a place to practise concepts, challenge their understanding and build confidence as they prepare for professional cybersecurity certifications.

The questions and scenarios are independently created for learning and exam preparation rather than reproducing official examination material, and the platform uses randomisation throughout practice sessions to keep the experience varied. Most importantly, the training is intended to remain free, because I believe that someone’s ability to learn and develop their skills should not always depend on their ability to pay for it.

Visit Cyber Flight Academy →

The Little Things

For all the technology in my life, I still find inspiration in the simplest things: the smell of tea, the sweetness of a Caramel Latte, or the tradition of fish and chips on a Friday. I’m a creative writer and poet who has a soft spot for the tactile and nostalgic things in life — the sound of rain, vintage Casio watches, old Nokia phones and the classic Game Boy. I enjoy a long walk alone, will happily stop to watch birds in mid-flight, and still find something worth appreciating in both a sunset and a sunrise.

Work With Me: Omar Saleem Photography

I’m based in the city of Birmingham within the West Midlands, but I travel nationally. Whether it’s Lifestyle Photography, Portrait Photography, or a creative project, I specialise in capturing the details that others may miss.

Please contact me for a custom quote for all photography bookings, project commissions, and freelance writing inquiries.