Simon first started photographing music bands when he was the diary editor at Retna pictures. Disappointed by the results some of his photographers were getting, he took the advice of his then boss and now friend legendary rock photographer Michael Putland and went out and bought an entry level SLR camera and was given a lens by Michael and started shooting small gigs. Michael approved of the shots so Simon carried on going out in the evenings photographing up and coming bands. Within a month he had his first publication and within 3 months had an NME front cover and front page of the Daily Star and Sun. Representing some of the leading music photographers at Retna he was taught, given advice and mentored by some of the top names in music photography who included Michael Putland, Mick Rock, Paul Slattery, Ray Stevenson and Steve Double. He is now a full time free-lance photographer who has worked for and works for most editorial publications and is regular contributor to Q magazine, record labels, bands, press companies and management companies. In 2013 he was the NME professional photographer of year runner up.