From London Streets to Ocean Peaks: Issy Croker's Journey

There’s something magnetic about the way Issy Corker sees the world — maybe it’s the way she chases light, maybe it’s the way she chases waves, or maybe it’s that beautifully brave moment she once had where she chose creativity over certainty… and never looked back.

Born and raised in London, Issy built a life behind the lens long before she ever paddled into a lineup. But in the last few years, something shifted. After a decade of shooting food and travel, she hit a creative wall - the kind that makes you question everything. So she did what most people only dream of: she pressed pause, packed her bags, and followed the ocean. And somewhere between those first shaky paddle-outs and learning to shoot in the water, she rediscovered the spark that started it all.

Today, Issy’s work is instantly recognisable - sun-kissed, feminine, effortless, and deeply connected to the sea. She’s now globetrotting with her camera, capturing the kind of ocean moments most of us only see on our screens, and collaborating with iconic brands like Billabong on projects such as Her Horizons.

From the outside, it looks like a dream life: surf breaks, sunrise shoots, creative freedom, and a lifestyle built on passion. But as always, there’s a story beneath the surface - one built on risk, reinvention, and the courage to back herself.

We sat down with Issy to chat about where she’s come from, how surfing rewired her creativity, what it actually takes to build a career out of your art, and the magic she’s chasing next.

Meet the woman living life completely on her own terms - and inspiring a whole wave of creatives to do the same.

 For those who don’t know you, tell us a bit about yourself — where did you grow up, and what’s your story so far?
I was born and raised in London to a supportive family that instilled all kinds of self expression in us kids. At some point in my teens my father gave me my first camera and my creative spark found an outlet. When I moved back to London after studying English Literature at university I told myself I’d try photography for six months just to see what happened, and here I am - still doing it 13 years later. It’s been my world ever since.

When did surfing come into your life, and how has it shaped the way you see the world (and your work)?
Surfing came into my life pretty late, I wasn’t raised anywhere near a surf culture and it wasn't something I even tried until late in my twenties. I spent about ten years shooting food and travel, constantly on the move, until I hit a real creative burnout at the end of 2023. So at the start of 2024 I took three months off and went surfing. I learnt how to shoot in the water from two amazing surf photographers, and it gave me a new creative lease on life.

How did your photography journey begin? Did you study or are you self-taught?
I am totally self-taught, I didn’t study photography formally — I just spent years experimenting, messing up, trying again, watching people I admired, and slowly figuring out what felt like “me.” I had some amazing assistants along the way that I learnt a lot from, but honestly you never stop learning as you go and that's what makes it so exciting.

You’ve recently collaborated with some big names like Billabong — what has the process been like getting brands to recognise and value your art?
Once I started shooting in the water and really leaned into ocean-focused stories — brands started paying attention. It wasn’t overnight, but when your style finally aligns with the right people, it feels really natural. Working with Billabong has been one of those moments where I’m like, “Okay, this is exactly where I’m supposed to be.” 

For anyone wanting to turn their creative passion into a career, what advice would you give?
Make the work you actually want to be hired for, even if no one’s paying you yet. Keep showing up, keep putting your content out there, and don’t worry too much about being perfect — that part never comes anyway. Collaborate with people you find genuinely talented and learn as much as you can from them. Find time to wrap your head around the boring but essential  business bits, because they’ll help clear the path for the creative bits to flourish.

You seem to be constantly on the move, working from all over the world. Does your photography fully support your lifestyle, or do you have other projects that keep things flowing?
Photography has become the cornerstone of my income, but I’ve built a few different streams within it — collaborations, licensing, and some ongoing personal projects. A wide demographic of clients across different industries pushes my creativity and constantly opens the door to new opportunities. Having a nomadic life offers more jobs around the world and the freedom to chase experiences I wasn’t having in London. 

You’ve captured some incredible women doing what they love in the ocean. Can you share one standout moment that’s really stayed with you?
There was this one sunrise session with a group of friends — the ocean was glassy, the light was insane, everything felt calm and slow. They were all really in their element, and I remember just floating there thinking, “I can’t believe this is my job.” It was one of those moments that makes all the travel and early mornings worth it.