I did a big and important photo session last week free of charge – just for bragging rights. Warning! This is NOT a humble brag.

There’ll be loads of photographers and business coaches out there shaking their collective heads muttering about devaluing my work, but: I. Don’t. Care. THEY DIDN’T PHOTOGRAPH SIR MICK JAGGER!! (Fist pumps vigorously)

At the 25th anniversary of the opening of The Mick Jagger Centre in Dartford last week, I was appointed as the only photographer at the event by the lead magazine, Dartford Living. I’d been sworn to secrecy by the publisher Vijay Jain; brought into the inner circle of less than a dozen people that knew octogenarian Sir Mick Jagger was dropping by the centre. Ostensibly to see his talented younger Brother, Chris Jagger, perform at the venue. There was a ‘hope’ that Mick would perform with Chris onstage – and he did.

My goodness, what a terrific opportunity. Unlimited access to the World’s biggest rock star (sorry Chris, that’s not you – but you’re still a rock god too). I followed Sir Mick around as he toured the building; met students from Dartford Grammar School For Boys, congratulated the basket ball team on a recent inter house win, posed with the centre’s staff and generally made himself available for shots with anyone that wanted a photo with Dartford’s most famous Son.

He was gracious. He was warm and friendly. He was a joy to photograph. He stayed for more than four hours. Far longer than any of us had hoped for.

Sir Mick listened to the kids from the Red Rooster Project, a group that benefits from his patronage and funding. He listened to two groups of Dartford Grammar School for Boys teenagers performing rock tunes (Creep by Radiohead and The Artic Monkeys banger, I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor.) Then he did three numbers with his younger Brother.

The first was written by Chris Jagger about the boys’ father. Mick confessed: “I don’t know all the words.” He performed it anyway, looking relaxed. He was having fun! Following that was a blues number with Sir Mick accompanying on guitar and harmonica and finally, the Rolling Stones’ standard, You Can’t Always Get What You Want. The teenage wannabe rock gods joined in the chorus, much to Sir Mick’s delight. How could I tell? I was standing no more than four metres away from them all, taking photographs – what’s more, he joined them at the end of the number to fist bump, high five and shake hands with the kids. That is more than showmanship. That is genuine love of the craft and encouragement to the young musicians that we’ll see on stages and stadiums in the future.

He had a good time. The kids – and they all knew who he was – had a great time. I had a fabulous time.

So what that I didn’t get paid? I earned attribution on my shots in all the leading World’s media – BBC, The Independent, Mail Onine, AOL.com and more to boot. Yes; I had to give up copyright (although I’d asked to keep it) to Marathon Music, Sir Mick’s management company. But that was a small price to pay, in my view, for a once in a lifetime opportunity to photograph this legend. Because, after all, you can’t always get what you want.