Leyla Kazim, Photographer in London

Leyla is a photographer based in London specialising in food, drink, restaurants, travel and people. She is also an established food and travel writer, contributing to a number of publications.

Leyla has taken her photography services global for most of 2015, travelling and photographing the world for eight months. This epic adventure has been recorded on her blog - thecutlerychronicles.com - a personal anthology charting the places she visits, the cultures she experiences, the food she eats, and the impressions they make upon her. A Londoner born and bred, despite being all around the world, there are few cities she loves as much as her home town.

Leyla's whole life is focused around food and dining. It's how she earns her living, how she spends her free time, and what dictates the countries she chooses to visit.

There are few places she is happier than in a restaurant, be that behind a lens or with wine and friends. And she would love to share her insider tips on the best places to eat in London with you!

Leyla speaks English.

Where are some of your favourite places to shoot in London?

There are endless great photo shoot opportunities in London, it really depends what you’re looking for.

Leadenhall Market is a stunning example of the spectacular architecture that can be found in London, a shopping arcade tucked away between Leadenhall Street, Gracechurch Street and Lime Street in the City of London, opened in 1445. When people first visit they always drop their heads back in awe as they gaze up at the beautiful archways.

I think there are fewer handsome buildings in the world than St Paul's Cathedral, and the structure has many angles from which to get some great shots, particularly from the pedestrian-only Millennium bridge. If I'm shooting from outside it, I aim to get an iconic red London bus in the frame too to complete the picture! The view from the dome is one of the best in London, and well worth the admission fee and the effort climbing up the stairs to get to it.

Walk down the river to More London and you get great angles of Tower Bridge. From here, you can also snap the Tower of London as well as some of the newest additions to London's skyline such as The Gherkin, buildings in the City of London and The View From The Shard - where you can ascend to Europe's highest viewing platform for even more panoramic views.

Three words to best describe your style of photography?

Natural, genuine, light.