Jo Wore her Beautiful New Dress, Went Barefoot in the Mud - and Taught Me Something About Showing Up
Jo at Berwick Plantation
When I photographed a lovely friend Jo for her business Wild Revival a couple of weeks back, I knew it wasn’t going to be your usual brand shoot. She happily went barefoot, carrying her foraging basket and wearing a gorgeous new orange dress she’d decided wasn’t too nice for sitting in the mud.
We walked through the plantation, along the river, and down to the Pier beach. The weather did its usual Northumberland thing - damp hair, wet hems, perfect light - then, by the time we got to the beach, actual sunburn. Jo didn’t care. She laughed, got stuck in, and somewhere between the berries and the seaweed I realised she was giving me a quiet reminder about the confidence that comes with just being yourself.
Good brand photos aren’t really about poses or polish. They’re about showing up as yourself and having fun - the version of you that laughs when the dress gets muddy and doesn’t need everything to be spotless to feel genuine.
Jo’s brand, Wild Revival, is all about connection: to nature, to ourselves, and to the world around us. She spends her days foraging, teaching, and helping people reconnect with nature and the simple joy of being outside. Photographing her wasn’t about creating something glossy; it was about capturing what was already there - a sense of belonging, curiosity, and calm.
She moves through nature like it’s home, picking up leaves and berries as we went, pointing out things I’d have walked straight past.
Jo foraging on Berwick’s New Road
There were a few moments from the shoot that were quite memorable: the way Jo happily sat down in the damp forest bed and didn’t flinch but actually laughed when she stepped in gross boggy river mud, barefoot(!); the way she thanked the trees for supporting her and for letting her touch their bark for a photo.
I realised that’s what showing up really means. It’s not about having everything perfectly planned; it’s about being present. Being visible, and being yourself even when things aren’t tidy. Choosing to be seen - in business, in photographs, in life - just as you are.
Every time I photograph someone like Jo, I’m reminded that confidence looks different on everyone. Sometimes it’s heels and lipstick; sometimes it’s muddy feet and laughter on a damp Monday morning. The setting changes, but the message doesn’t: people connect with honesty.
If your business or creative work is rooted in something real - craft, care, nature, community - your photos should feel that way too.
So, wear that beautiful dress. Step in the mud. Let your audience see you. That’s where the real magic happens.
Behind The Scenes on Jo’s Shoot
Thanks to Abigail (Jo’s sister) for taking these photos
Curious what a full brand session includes?
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I created some short film clips for Jo during her brand shoot, these can be used on social media or as moving images on her new website.
Wild Revival Brand Photography
Photography by Sarah Jamieson, Pictorial Photography
Location: Berwick-upon-Tweed and the Northumberland Coast
Client Jo Thomas - Wild Revival - Check out Jo’s Substack (her new website is in progress, I can’t wait to see it!
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