Why You Need a Website for Your Holiday Let
This is The Summerhouse, a newly renovated cottage on a Scottish Borders estate. It has an idyllic lakeside location and is perfect for glorious walks so, of course, I had to take a lovely walk to get some of the photos.
It has a delightful and secluded garden overlooking the lake as well as a private access road and parking immediately outside. A perfect family retreat with total peace and tranquillity!
I photographed the holiday cottage just as it was being finished and I am delighted to see that the accommodation has already had loads of bookings for this year. I think the owners may be putting The Summerhouse on other third-party websites, but they do have their own website https://www.summerhousestays.co.uk.
Having your own website for holiday lets is a great idea because you pay no commission on the bookings you receive. Commission on booking sites can be as high as 22% so it is always worth taking your own bookings where possible.
You would also have more control over what your website says and how it looks so you can include as many pictures or stories about the property as you would like without hitting a character limit.
“Sarah has done photos for us for two holiday cottages and for my professional website.
Sarah is a great photographer and a lovely person to work with. She works to a high standard, always supplying well-crafted, lucid and perceptive photos that work really well. She has an eye for unusual angles and details that give her photos extra character. And she is a very approachable person to work with, always ready to go the extra mile (literally!) and very reliable. She is flexible in arranging appointments and prompt in producing work. Definitely our first choice and I would thoroughly recommend her.”
Thinking about having your holiday let professionally photographed, but still have questions? Book a call to discuss what photography would best help you and your business.
Written by Sarah
How to Write a Brilliant Commercial Photography Brief
I’ve seen loads of commercial photography briefs: good ones, great ones, and some bad ones. Drawing on experience, I’m going to offer some tips and advice for preparing one that will really make the most of your session.
So you might be wondering why do you need to give your photographer a brief? Or what is a creative brief? It might help if I explain what a photography brief is first.
A creative brief is a summary of requirements and agreements between the client and the photographer. It should list facts and other details to give an overall view of the plan and project. A good photography brief will help your photographer understand your brand and target market. It will demonstrate how the photographs are going to be used and set out basics like time, location, budget, and file delivery. A great brief can save a huge amount of time and ensure the success and effectiveness of your shoot, campaign, or project.
Allocating a marketing campaign budget can be stressful but writing a brief will ensure you get the best out of the creative element and maximise your return on investment in terms of your photographer’s time and creativity.
Address and Postcode of Venue/Location of Shoot
If the location is outside, include details of a backup location somewhere undercover or inside. Make sure you include a postcode and attach a google maps link or quick sketch of the location for bonus points!
Date, Time and Schedule
For larger and more complex projects, a schedule or timetable can save a lot of time. For example, if a large team are having portraits taken they can each have their own allotted time to arrive; not only will the team feel happier, but it ensures the photographs will turn out better as they won’t have to stand in line and feel embarrassed in front of others. Everything will run smoothly and you will look super efficient!
Target Audience
Identify who the photographs are aimed at or who the target viewers are. Knowing the kind of audience a project is expected to have will help your photographer come up with creative ideas that suit the interests of those people.
Brand Info
Unless you have used the photographer before, assume that they know nothing about the brand. Include brand colour info, brand guidelines, logos, ethos etc - every detail helps!
Objective / Project Goals
What should the audience see, feel, or do the first time they see the photographs? Do you want them to feel inspired to take action? Identify clear goals for the project. What problem is the overall project trying to solve?
Usage
List what the images are going to be used for. Think about: different social media platforms; whether any will be used for PR, on the company website or in your brochures, or on billboards. Specify which media the photographs are to be used in, and the length of exposure (how long the photos will be on the internet).
Format
Do any of the shots need to be in landscape or portrait orientation? Would square or a mixture of formats be more useful?
Examples
Include previous photo examples of what has worked well in the past. If you don’t have many good existing photographs already, you could send something like a Pinterest board of the style of images you like that would work for your project. Bad examples can be useful (but not as useful as the good examples) - if you are including bad examples, don’t get them mixed up!
Shot List
If this is not clear from the objective/project goals section, think about photographs that will be really useful to have. What is lacking in your portfolio? Look through the company website and think about your scheduled social media posts. Are there any that could do with a better photograph? Check through the printed literature for ideas of what could be improved on or what is lacking or needs to be changed before the next print run.
Models and Roles
List who will be in the photographs. Sometimes it makes sense to combine models and roles with your shot list.
Model releases are always required if using people, paid staff or otherwise. Some companies prefer to design their own model release documentation; here is a very detailed one from The Royal Photographic Society. There are also some really good mobile apps available for model releases. It is a good idea to have your model releases filled in and signed in advance of the shoot, if possible, as it will save a lot of time on the day.
If you are using company staff in the photographs, give them plenty of notice; no one likes to have this sprung on them the morning of a shoot. Make sure uniforms are smart and complete and find out if any safety equipment is required for a job (and therefore needs to be worn by staff in the photographs). If that is the case, make sure the equipment is available for them and let the photographer know it needs to be worn.
Other Useful Info
This section hugely varies from company to company and from shoot to shoot but can include things like available lighting, equipment, props, if rooms have been booked, parking, health and safety, PPE equipment required, the site passes, meal arrangements, location permission, or special rules of the location.
Delivery
If you have deadlines that need to be met, this is the time to say!
List preferred methods of file delivery. If you are unsure, check whether your office firewall will allow services like ‘We Transfer’ or ‘Drop Box’. If not, you will probably require a USB memory stick which can take longer, especially if it needs to be posted out, so take this into consideration with your deadlines.
Jpeg is the industry standard for the file format. Let your photographer know if you or your designer need another file type.
Think about end-use. You could save some time by asking your photographer to deliver high resolution and web resolution (at a specified file size for your website or preferred social media platform). They will have software to quickly and easily batch-process the images ready for you to use. Consider asking for ‘letterbox images’ (wide but not tall) for banners or ads; or some photos specifically in square format for Instagram. Just let them know what you might need. You can find out sizes from your web designer and the help pages on your chosen social media platform.
Payment and Rights
Detail the agreed payment and where the invoice needs to be sent. State any purchase order or other info that needs to be included. This saves a lot of time emailing back and forth after the shoot.
If you have agreed on special rights, release, copyright, or exclusivity this should be noted here to ensure that everybody is on the same page.
Contact Details
It’s important for everyone to have team members’ details in case of unforeseen delays and last-minute changes to the plan.
Call your photographer after sending them the brief to discuss ideas before the commission. They may have experience in similar shoots and could have some really useful knowledge that could save you a lot of time and money.
Template
Download the free sample template below and use the explanations above to build a well-rounded photography brief for your next project or campaign. Remember to keep it as short as possible (2 pages max) but include as much information as you can.
Written by Sarah
A Great Blend of PR, Headshots, and Product Photography for Innovative Local Firm, Silvery Tweed Cereals
Over the last few years, we have completed quite a variety of photography work for Silvery Tweed Cereals, from Headshots of lab technicians and managers to new machinery and facilities, and large fleet vehicles.
We have also covered events and charitable activities for STC who have been celebrating their 175th anniversary. One event that sticks in my mind was a great summer fete for their staff. The fete raised £1500 which was donated to local charities; Berwick Lifeboats, Berwickshire Riders for the Disabled Association, The Grove School, and Berwick Cancer Cars.
Another charitable activity we covered was the new ‘Silvery Tweed Technical Centre’ at Berwick Middle School. STC funded a school kitchen refurbishment, which included six new ovens, pasta machines, a barbecue, UV bacteria lights, chopping boards and utensils, nutritional analysis software, as well as a new lighting system and painting. https://www.silverytweedcereals.co.uk/News-and-Updates/
More recently we completed a project with Silvery Tweed and Fords the Bakers who tested out 6 new blends for artisan bread. You can read about it on the blog, or on British Baker Magazine or in the local press, Northumberland Gazette.
These are the beautiful breads made from the blends by Fords the Bakers. I spent an afternoon photographing the loaves of bread in the studio with technicians from STC. These photos will be used: to advertise the new blends; as product photography for their brochures and website; and in sales catalogs.
Product photography session in the studio for prop hire business Get Knotted
Product photography in the studio on a plain grey background to show the quality and detail of some of Get Knotted's prop hire items for their website and blog.
Get-Knotted is a wedding and prop hire company based in Earlston, Scottish Borders. They offer floristry, styling and have a fantastic working relationship with many of the bigger wedding venues in the borders and Northumberland.
“It is always great to work with Sarah. We have collaborated on many projects and she is always great fun, massively talented and patient. I recommend her not only for wedding photography but also commercial work.”
Product Photoshoot: We Are Rushworth, Designer Knitwear Fashion
Product Photoshoot: We Are Rushworth, Designer Knitwear Fashion
This week we had a great shoot with 2 local models, Shaun and Dawn, for the designer brand We Are Rushworth. The styling and direction was led by designer Victoria Rushworth who was assisted by Georgia Thorburn (Georgia's creative mood boards were fantastically useful).
Make up by MUA Eren Saygilier, Bridge Street, Berwick.
After the studio work was done, we retreated to an old warehouse next door for some location work. We had an outdoor place in mind but it was raining so we might use that location on a new shoot.
Their story goes: We are sharp. We like to find our own way. We have imagination. We appreciate effort. We are not perfect. We are aiming high. We are Rushworth... are you?
I was glad of all the help in direction as WAR (We Are Rushworth) have a very strong brand that they follow so consistency is very important in terms of the look and feel of the images.
We Are Rushworth have projectWAR, a small and bijoux shop in West Street, Berwick upon Tweed, which is very much worth a visit but if you can't make it they also have a nice web presence here https://www.wearerushworth.com/
Written by Sarah
Product Photography for Hide & Tweed’s Handmade Leather Gifts
I recently photographed a beautiful range of handcrafted leather gifts for Hide & Tweed, created by Julie, a talented maker selling her limited designs through Etsy. Each piece is made with care and precision, and it was a pleasure to capture the texture, craftsmanship and individuality of her work.
For the shoot, we wanted to keep the styling simple and authentic. I used an old barn door from my studio as a backdrop — its natural tones and weathered surface complemented the warm, tactile quality of the leather perfectly. The result was a set of product photographs that felt true to Julie’s brand: elegant, down-to-earth and timeless.
It’s always inspiring to work with independent makers who pour so much heart into what they create. Photography like this is all about connection — helping small businesses showcase their work beautifully and confidently online.
Specialist Car and Campervan Rental Website Photography at Wedderburn Castle
I've been allowed to drive some superb cars in the name of photography. Just look at this VW Bumblebee Camper Van; it’s my favourite, and you can even watch movies on the dashboard!
Car photography is not my usual line of work but this job was a real joy. The owners of Arkvendor Specialist Car Hire have some stunning vehicles to hire and wanted to showcase some on their website. Our friends at Wedderburn Castle allowed us the use of their grounds for this photo shoot which makes it extra special. It’s a real cross-border collaboration.
Written by Sarah
Tumbling Birds Product Studio and Location Shoot with Models
These adorable products and cute wee model sessions were shot over a few mornings a while back in preparation for Jodie's new company commerce website Tumbling Birds. The site was designed and developed by Northern Lab in Berwick.
Jodie uses lovely bright colours in her designs so we produced some simply styled product shots on a grey background to show off the vibrant clothing for eye-catching product descriptions. We spent a fun picnic afternoon at the farm with all the babies to illustrate how these lovely items could be used. These photographs have been used in the banners and galleries on Jodie’s new site.
Written by Sarah
Brand Photography for Rejuvenating Solutions, Berwick-upon-Tweed
I recently worked with Susie at Rejuvenating Solutions on a combined interior and headshot photography session at her beautiful clinic on Berwick’s Quayside. Susie wanted images that not only looked professional but also reflected her brand’s fresh, calming atmosphere and clean, elegant colour palette.
We spent time making sure her brand colours came through clearly in both her portraits and the salon interiors — subtle whites, soft greens and neutrals that feel polished and serene. The goal was to create a cohesive set of photographs for her website and social media, showcasing the professional skin care services now available in Berwick.
I always love working with local businesses like Susie’s. It’s inspiring to see how thoughtful design and professional photography can work together to help small brands stand out with confidence.
Carter's Family Butchers and Holiday Home in Bamburgh, Northumberland
Last week I went out to Bamburgh to photograph Carter's. The Carter family have been the village butchers for over 100 years and have built up a great reputation by providing a personal service and top quality produce. Each time I'm in Bamburgh I make sure I pick up a couple of scotch pies, totally yummy!
I love the fact that all their meat comes from local farms holding the certificate of Farm Assurance. Their cattle lambs are grass fed and they obtain the meat from their prime cured bacon, hams and sausage from free range pork. In addition R Carter & Son makes a variety of pies, black and white puddings and they also roast and boil their own meats.
I had to go out to the Bamburgh shop really early in the morning to avoid the queues! Seriously, this is a popular village shop, with locals and holiday makers alike. Sue and Mike were really kind to me and made me a coffee and bacon sarnie which was utterly delish! After photographing the shop I went up to their holiday accommodation and took some interior shots for brochures and website marketing. The pictures from the shop are to be used in a new website designed by Northern Lab in Berwick.
Carter's is the home of the 'Bamburgh Banger' and has even been endorsed by Rick Stein as a Food Hero. It's easy to see why Carters is so popular, as someone famous once said (who's name escapes me) 'You get the business you deserve'.
Pier Road Development 'The Maltings' Berwick upon Tweed
I recently photographed The Maltings, a brand-new development on Pier Road in Berwick-upon-Tweed. Built on the former site of William Leith Marquees, this modern collection of homes has been finished to an incredibly high standard — and the views are absolutely stunning. I have to admit, it almost had me signing up for one myself!
The shoot focused on capturing both the craftsmanship and the location. Each property has been designed to make the most of the light and scenery, so photographing them meant paying attention to the little details — from architectural textures and materials to those expansive coastal views that make Berwick such a special place to live.
It’s always exciting to see thoughtful new developments taking shape locally, especially when they blend contemporary design with a sense of community.
You can find more information about the development at www.cv-developments.co.uk/themaltings.
Website Content for Hutton Stone
This week I spent 3 days at Hutton Stone Co. documenting their operations and systems to give clients a broader sense of the size and extent of what goes on.
Products I photographed include paving, walling, rockery, and masonry. Services I shot included bespoke carving, sawing, and delivery. Cutting-edge heavy machinery and the stringent health and safety at Hutton Stone featured heavily too.
Below there are a couple of examples of the stone samples on a plain white background with colour matching for e-commerce and brochure purposes. I also shot some key staff members to bring across the craftsmanship and welcoming personality of the company; I also feel that it's quite nice to see who you are dealing with over the web!
The website will be getting a fresh new look in the near future, keep a lookout for www.huttonstone.co.uk.
Written by Sarah
Kezie Adventurous Foods Styled Food Photography
It's amazing what is hidden away in the borders, I was really excited when Kezie Foods commissioned me to shoot the packaging and a range of serving suggestions for their 12 new exotic, gourmet ready meals.
After taking the booking over the phone, the next morning a large white package arrived with a range of meals in for me to have exactly the same experience as their customers would after placing an order online. It was a chance for me (and the kids!) to sample the foods and play about with ideas for styling the shoot.
I had a really helpful meeting with the designer and printer of their booklets to see exactly how the images were being used in the new booklet and what formats they were required to be in.
We collected a multitude of props for the shoot and came together in a large room with great light for an entire day of cooking and shooting.
Here are some of the shots from the day, they make my mouth water!
Should you use a Logo as your Profile Image?
Guest Blog by Helen Barlow, Ethical Graphic Designer
From a designer who loves designing logos, you'd probably think I'd say "Yes", but I love designing brands even more. Your profile image, like your logo, is simply one element of your brand in its entirety.
Like all elements of your brand, it needs to work for you. We like to think of social media graphics as a tool in your brand tool kit, which also contains, at a minimum: your brand promise, mission statement, colour scheme, typography/photography style, brand language, and graphic devices.
Therefore this tiny little square is part of a much bigger picture and needs to be thought about in terms of your business, marketing and brand strategies. It would be wrong to assume it should be a logo or a headshot without thinking about how you can make that free advertising space useful for you. If you had to pay fifty bucks for that ad space you'd think more about what you wanted it to communicate.
Use your brand as a tool, a visual salesperson when you're not there. You'll save a lot of time and be able to fall in love with the things you like doing in your business on a day-to-day basis.
So when it comes to profile images, how can you use them as a tool? Well, the obvious answer is if you have your headshot on social media then those awkward networking events become a lot less awkward. People you've been tweeting on the run-up to it know what you look like, so no more fumbled first interactions!
Seriously though, people buy from people. Think of your brand as a person and design a logo with that in mind. Give it its own voice and story and your customers will be able to resonate with it on an emotional level.
As the digital landscape grows, consumers are becoming increasingly concerned with trust. If they can't see the person behind your brand, how can you expect them to engage?
A headshot is the perfect way to start building that personality behind your brand (and no Sarah didn't pay me to say this.) I can speak from experience. In 2013 when we changed the One Line profile images to my face rather than our logo the engagement and follower levels jumped right up within moments.
For businesses who are trying to reach a wider audience and make themselves more visible and recognisable online, a headshot will resonate far better with people who don't know you than a brand logo that they've never heard of. It's a great way to build your profile.
You could even do both at the same time. We did this with The Little Fair Trade Shop's social media graphics. Sabeena was well recognised online and had built a great following using a headshot. Working with us on a rebrand she wanted to push the brand identity a bit more. This was all part of a bigger strategy because the logo was about to be the single visual used on the packaging; we needed to connect her packaging with what people also saw online without losing the personal touch. So that company mug does come in handy after all.
Of course, if your logo is everything about your brand, then yes, use it as your profile image. If you're Nike or FedEx we're probably not going to want to see a photo of your CEO but actually, a shot of real-life people on your team would be quite interesting and it lets us know you're not a team of robots. Don't forget you have that huge banner behind your profile image to use as free advertising space. So if your strategy dictates that you have your logo in the square, then have a team shot in the banner. If it's a headshot in the square then use your logo in the banner. Think about combinations of photography and logo or key messages that will work hard for what you're trying to achieve with your digital marketing.
Like, follow, connect and check out my website at One Line Studio.
Cashmere Scarf Design with Sinclair Duncan and Radio Border's 'Cash for Kids'
Cashmere Scarf Design with Sinclair Duncan and Radio Border's 'Cash for Kids'
In February I was commissioned by Radio Borders to photograph various models wearing a pretty cashmere scarf. I was intrigued by why the radio station was promoting scarfs for Valentines and Mothers Day so when I heard that Sinclair Duncan had been making limited editions, designed by a local school girl, and that all the profits were going to the Cash for Kids charity, I was very keen to be involved.
Here is the story behind the scarf.
In late 2015, Sinclair Duncan invited 70 Primary and Secondary schools in the Scottish Borders to enter a competition. They asked them to design a scarf for a local charity, Cash for Kids. The scarf would be 100% cashmere and it would be made in Scotland by Sinclair Duncan.
Sales and Marketing Director at Sinclair Duncan, Debbie Paterson, announced the winner live on the radio at the winner's school assembly: “The entries received were of such a high standard, but there was one that stood out for all of us. The careful choice of colour and contemporary design shows talent beyond her years.” Little did the winner (9-year-old Eve McKenzie from Knowepark Primary School in Selkirk) know what an impact sales from her scarf would have on her community:
All profits from the scarves would go to charity and the profits ensured that:
7 children snuggled up in their own bed for the first time
3 autistic children can play in specially adapted safe places
1000 children woke up to gifts at Christmas of 2015
45 children will have warm clothes and shoes
A family can sit down to warm cooked meals
Here is Eve getting ready to model the scarf.
CLICK HERE to watch the video showing some of the manufacturing processes of the winning scarf and also. Proud Eve showing off her amazing talent.
These scarfs are limited edition and are bound to sell out fast, remember all profits from every scarf in this design go to local children's charity Cash For Kids, CLICK HERE to buy now!
Even Lorraine has one. (Not my photo, Lorraine took her own selfie.)
Here is one of the Valentine-themed and some of the Mother’s Day-themed photographs.
Remember, the scarfs are limited edition and selling out fast, ALL of the profits from every scarf in this design goes to local children's charity Cash for Kids, CLICK HERE to buy a lovely scarf.
Well done Eve!
Written by Sarah