“I just love catching life — the different types of shots you can take and the perspective you get on your surroundings,” is how aspiring photojournalist DeZhane West describes her love of the camera.

Now equipped with a Canon EOS, the Berkeley Institute S4 student has been avidly covering school events as well as organising her own shoots, with the help of the photo and video-sharing site Instagram.

“I enjoy being behind the camera, looking at the outcome of a photo and editing it,” the 18-year-old said.

“It often comes out better than I thought it would.”

Still caught up in the early flush of discovery, DeZhane said she expected photography to get tougher as her experience grows.

Events she covered just this weekend included a birthday party and baby pictures at John Smith’s Bay, after “someone recommended my name”, she said.

The Canon was a Christmas present “to better my professionalism and get my work out there”.

DeZhane’s inspiration came at an early young age from cousin Stevona Daniels, who studied photography in Britain and has provided tips and critiques.

Some of Ms Daniels’s work can be viewed online, including a series of YouTube videos.

“She helped me with my first personal shoot with an actual person down on the beach at Mid Ocean,” said DeZhane, who also has the keen support of parents DeVaughn West and Lennette Warner.

DeZhane’s work for Berkeley has included photographs for the school’s tribute last month to Arai Joell-Johnston, who lost his life on the Island’s roads, as well as yearbook pictures, video of spring and Christmas concerts and pictures of drama productions.

“At the moment, I’m just building up my portfolio and hoping to turn it into more of a job,” she said, adding that some of her latest customers have even offered to pay a little for her photo shoots.

To view her work or get in touch, check @dezhanewest on Instagram, which she recently joined, uploading videos from school and snapshots inspired by nature and walks around her St George’s neighbourhood.

Keen on dance and drama as well as sports, DeZhane hopes to channel her camera skills into creating her own dance videos.

She has been accepted to study theatre at Barry University in Miami, but first she plans on taking two years out after graduating from Berkeley to join the Police Cadets. Intrigued by criminology, she is also following in the footsteps of her uncle, Antoine Daniels, the Assistant Commissioner of Police.

For now, DeZhane has no definite career aspirations, but is letting her many interests guide her.

“Never be afraid to take a shot,” she said. “Take your camera out at any time and start snapping. No picture is a bad photo. It’s just a memory.”