After years of her friends and family persuading her to enter the Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition, Katie Sara Anderson finally built up the courage to enter this year and has now been selected to have her work exhibited at the prestigious academy.

The 31-year-old from Watford is a professional photographer who enjoys taking photos of musicians performing live and we caught up with the former Watford Grammar School pupil to find out a little more about her.

Can you tell me about the photograph that was chosen to be part of the exhibition?

The Photograph that was selected for the Summer Exhibition is of the English musician Polly Jean Harvey (PJ Harvey). I chose this one to enter as the image to me feels quite eccentric and artistic which encapsulates my idea of her as a musician and performer.

Where did you take it? What inspired that shot?

I took this photograph of PJ Harvey at her live show at the Troxy theatre in London.

PJ Harvey is very interesting to photograph. She is naturally beautiful, and her unique stage presence as well as her dramatic costumes are inspiring to capture and portray.

Is this the first time your work has been selected by the Royal Academy of Arts?

This is the first time that I have entered the Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition.

How did you feel about it being chosen?

At first I really couldn’t believe it. I was sure that a mistake had been made. My parents and close friends have been prompting me to enter for a couple of years, but I was daunted by the reputation and importance of the Summer Exhibition.

It's an incredible feeling to be part of such a prestigious and historic event; one which has been held annually since 1769 and which holds such importance for the Arts. I'm extremely honoured to have my work hung on the same walls as some of the most talented artists in the world today.

Watford Observer:

Can you tell me more about your career as a photographer? What do you do on a day to day basis?

I'm largely a self-taught photographer. Professionally, I have worked and have been trained in several areas within the photography field.

I've worked as the photo editor in a large fashion studio which gave me great studio and post production experience. I have also worked at a top camera manufacturers and gained valuable experience working at a high end printer company.

Today, I am the founder and director of a creative company called Vanilla Collective www.vanillacollective.co.uk which specialises in Photography, Graphic design and Web design. I work as the art director across all mediums.

Do you specialise in a particular kind of photography?

I tend to specialise in live music photography as that Is my main interest. I have photographed for a large number of national and international companies, magazines and record labels, including Rolling Stone Magazine, ABC News and Universal Records.

I also cover fashion, travel, theatre, press and event photography.

Where did your love for photography stem from?

Since i was a small child I’ve always been intrigued by cameras and photographs. My dad passed me on his Canon Ae1 film camera and since then I started collecting old cameras.

Previously when I was the PA to the Technical Director at Canon UK I would see the technical team completely dismantle cameras and build them back together. I’ve always loved the mechanical side of cameras, and how each film run through a different camera can have a totally different look and feel. Even though I use digital for a lot of my work, I’m fascinated by film and the developing process. The beauty of taking a photograph and developing it yourself is quite magical.

It is not just the technical side that I enjoy. I also love the concept of capturing a moment.

Where do you get your inspiration from for your photos?

I love music, especially watching it live. My inspiration for my photography comes from the artists and their performance. Capturing personality and emotion in my photography is at the heart of what I want to achieve. I have developed a distinct style with this aim in mind. I'm delighted that this has been recognised by the Royal Academy.

Is there a photographer you are inspired by?

I remember years ago seeing an Annie Leibovitz exhibition in Brooklyn, NYC and being blown away by the simple beauty in a lot of her personal work. I get a similar feeling looking at Michael Kenna's photographs of snowy landscapes taken in Hokkaido, Japan. In contrast, I find equally captivating the compelling photographs of Skins and Punks in 1980s Britain by Gavin Watson.

I’m inspired by quite ethereal and dream-like work. Not one artist in particular, but more the feeling that a photograph gives me no matter what the subject.

Growing up, what did you enjoy doing?

Growing up I liked anything that involved being outdoors. Riding my bike, adventuring, making things, generally being creative.

We had a dreamy little cottage in Wales where my family and I used to spend our summers. There was no television; I would be outside everyday (despite the rain) enjoying the freedom. It was these summers that sparked my imagination and led to my desire to work in the arts.

Where did you grow up?

I was born in Hammersmith in London, and I was brought up in Watford.

Was photography a big part of your family?

Photography wasn't a huge part of my family growing up, but my parents own a few very nice vintage cameras and super 8mms. My dad has a huge slide collection of images he took growing up which is always really nice to watch on a projector as a family. I think that really helped my interest grow from an early age.

Can you tell me more about yourself – what do you like to do in your spare time?

I’ve always had a strong desire to travel. I started at a young age and travelled independently around the world when I was 20. I still love seeing new places. I also enjoy writing. I’m currently in the midst of writing a set of children stories which started out as a project for my young nieces. Other than that I'm usually playing tennis, practicing yoga or trying to better my cooking.

What did you study?

After leaving school I decided that I wanted to build experience in photography and fashion editing. I was fortunate to be able to pursue a career that I loved.

What school did you go to?

I went to Watford Grammar School for Girls.

What do you have lined up next?

I'm very busy building my company and we're currently working on a number of exciting projects. At a personal level I am working on a further portfolio of photographic images which I hope people will enjoy.

These will be appearing on my website where they will be available for purchasing.

The Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London, W1J 0BD, until August 21. Details: royalacademy.org.uk, vanillacollective.co.uk