I had my work cut out for this shoot given how many buildings I had to get round but also extensive grounds that I could have happily worked in all day. The weather was beautiful and the garden was well organised with distinct areas for growing, playing and sitting in quietly to eat and drink, read, reflect or just listen to the birds. The colours and textures were rich and varied and I realised how much joy it gave the owners to walk around the space and enjoy the different areas of their garden. I wanted to show how the distinct areas all connected so that prospective buyers could get a feel for the layout of the garden and just how much it had to offer. I admit that exploring and photographing this garden did make me want to have my own little green space to cultivate and maybe even photograph. In the meantime here’s some of my favourite shots from photographing this wonderful space.
family homes
A lovely home in the countryside on a perfect shoot day
I admit I got very lucky with the weather on this shoot. Beautiful blue skies and a lovely part of Lincolnshire to be working in. This home is down a quiet country lane and externally is quite understated. The outdoor space is very generous and the view out of the kitchen is wonderful. You could sit peacefully on the patio looking out all afternoon! A great space for entertaining friends or hosting a large family gathering. The interior was a joy to shoot as there was lots of sunlight streaming through the windows and cosy rooms to settle down in for the evening with wood burners and large sofas. The owners were very friendly and accommodating by clearing surfaces and tidying up so that I could move from room to room easily and concentrate on what the best angles were to make images from. This is a small selection from the shoot.
A stunning new build home in the village of Boothby Groffee in Lincolnshire
A beautiful newly built home in the village and civil parish of Boothby Groffee in the North Kesteven district of Lincolnshire. The weather was changeable so there was a little stopping and starting with the outside shoot but it’s all part of the job. Both the developer and I are really happy with the final images.
New builds that haven’t been ‘dressed’ are less complicated to shoot as there’s no furniture to have to work round. However, it’s then all up to the prospective buyers to visualise themselves in the house and think about how their furniture and personal belongings will fit in. How to bring the best out of their new home to make it comfortable for them and welcoming for family and friends?
Some people have the gift of just knowing how decor, furniture and artwork all work together but others will consult with interior designers to help find the best ideas and colours for each room. It’s exciting to start with a blank canvas and I imagine the person who buys this house will have a lot of fun creating a wonderful home.
Pelham Waterside Development
These are some of the images I shot of a show home on the Pelham Waterside development near the River Trent in Nottingham. The architects have done a great job on the layout, across three floors, complete with a private terrace outside the master bedroom. I loved the way each room has been styled and how the space worked so well as I moved from room to room. It was a dream shoot and it’s wonderful to work with a team of professionals who give me the freedom to think and shoot so that we have a selection of images that give a sense of what it would feel like to live in this house. I’m already looking forward to the next project.
Architects: www.cpmg-architects.com
Styling: www.claudehooper.co.uk
PR: www.bigoldhouse.com
Design work: www.simpkinburley.com
Small really is beautiful
Images from a show home on a brand new development in the centre of Newark in Nottingham. This house has two bedrooms and is an excellent example of well planned layout and bold interior design. Any home, no matter what the size, can look beautiful and feel luxurious. It was wonderful to be working on this project with a progressive housing association keen to build such great homes for people to live in. I had so much fun walking around and shooting this home. I was lucky to have a good weather day with lovely diffused light coming through the windows. I can’t wait to start the next project with them and share it with you.
Beautiful Properties in the East Midlands
It's always an honour to enter someone's home who is willing to give me total access to take photographs. I don't take the trust for granted so I move from space to space as discreetly as possible and I'm acutely mindful that I'm in someone else's home. Although I work systematically I take the time to think when I'm in a space and consider where the best places are to place my tripod and begin work. As ever, the devil is in the detail when shooting property, so I am constantly assessing the space as I work to make sure everything looks right. Wherever possible I will remove or move things around to make the image work as well as possible to show off the space. Getting back to my desk, shortlisting and editing each photograph is where I finally decide which images will be shown to the estate agent and vendor of course. It's lovely to get positive feedback but I continue to learn all the time because I want to produce the best images I possibly can.
