Thank you so much for trusting me with this slightly crazy idea and booking a session without knowing the exact location or look! I’m so excited to create something a little different with you. (Please read all info & see image mood boards below.

The mystery location

I won’t be sharing photographs of the venue—inside or outside—as I really want to keep it a surprise.

You’ll receive the address one hour before your session begins. The location is close to Howick Village, approximately a five-minute drive away. It’s easy to find, with parking available on site.

The look and feel

This isn’t a clean, perfect white studio—and that’s exactly why I love it.

The venue has an old, slightly antique feel, with beautifully imperfect textures, rough old windows and a darker interior. Light enters sideways through the windows, creating gorgeous areas of sunlight and shadow across the room and floor.

If we have a sunny day, the light should be bold, directional and contrasty. If it’s cloudy, the old windows and moody interior will still give us beautiful, soft and atmospheric light to work with.

The finished images will feel:

  • Film-inspired

  • Warm and textured

  • Slightly grainy

  • Rich in colour, sunlight and shadow

  • Natural, playful and full of personality

I’ll be shooting with my usual professional camera as well as my Fujifilm camera, which creates beautiful digital images with a nostalgic film-like quality.

The two indoor looks

We’ll aim to create two different looks inside the venue.

The first will make the most of the space itself—the windows, directional light, shadows and textured interior.

For the second, I’ll drape a white or natural linen sheet over a backdrop. The window light will fall across the fabric, creating a soft, dimensional background rather than a plain, flat white backdrop. Depending on what works best on the day, you may be standing, sitting on the floor, or sitting on a stool or chair.

A portrait that represents your child

I would also love to create an individual portrait of each child that captures something about who they are right now.

They’re welcome to bring an outfit, toy, prop or special object that represents their personality or something they love. This could be:

  • A superhero or favourite costume

  • A musical instrument

  • A frilly dress and pearls

  • A skateboard

  • A football and sports uniform

  • Bubbles

  • Favourite character toys

  • Dinosaurs, cars, dolls or another treasured toy

  • Anything else that feels completely them

For example, a football-loving child could pose in their uniform with one foot on their ball. A child who adores Toy Story could bring their favourite characters. A dinosaur fan might bring a dinosaur toy or balloon.

It doesn’t have to be elaborate—just something meaningful, fun or wonderfully representative of this stage of their childhood.

What to wear

Because these photographs will have a slightly nostalgic, film-inspired look, clothing with colour, texture and personality will photograph beautifully.

Some ideas include:

  • Neutral clothing with one bright or colourful piece

  • Denim

  • Linen

  • Knits and ribbed fabrics

  • Textured dresses, shirts or jackets

  • Warm, earthy shades

  • Rich or playful colours

  • Layers and accessories

You don’t need to dress entirely in neutrals or make everyone match perfectly. Coordinated colours, interesting textures and outfits that still feel like you will suit this setting beautifully.

Outdoor photographs

The venue also has some lovely outdoor areas, including sheltered courtyards and steps surrounded by creamy, beige and warm orange-toned textures.

If time allows, we may photograph your family sitting together on the steps, explore the courtyard, or use the open blue sky for lower-angle photographs of the children playing or blowing bubbles.

Outdoor photographs will be a bonus and will depend on the weather, timing and how the session naturally unfolds. If we’re loving what we’re creating indoors, we may stay there for the full session. If time allows, we’ll create a mixture of both.

On the day

I’ll confirm your final session time shortly. Please arrive ready to begin so we can make the most of your allocated time.

We’ll follow the light, see what inspires us and create something playful, colourful and a little unexpected.

After years of photographing against clean white studio backdrops, I’m ready to experiment with deeper colour, imperfect textures, dramatic light and a more nostalgic feeling.

Thank you again for trusting the mystery—I can’t wait to share this experience with you!