Sunshine and Rainbows - Family Session on Cocklawburn Beach
Mary's family gathered for a photoshoot on Cocklawburn Beach in Northumberland just before and during golden hour. The setting sun casts a warm and radiant glow, and the North Sea provides an aesthetically pleasing backdrop. It’s a great time for a family shoot.
I love that Mary's parents are standing proudly together, expressing their love and wisdom. The gentle breeze adds a touch of natural movement to the scene and the light along, with the people, brings the magic.
Eat Sleep Ride: Business Gateway, Scottish Borders
I was asked to provide a range of business profile shots of Eat Sleep Ride for Business Gateway to use across various media in print and online.
Eat Sleep Ride is a social enterprise run by Danielle McKinnon who takes in problem horses for backing, schooling, and retraining.
Business Gateway helped Danielle secure grant funding from Social Investment Scotland which will help her to continue to provide educational, therapeutic and community engagement initiatives that are free or affordable to disadvantaged children, families, and individuals from a largely rural community.
Headshots: John Casken, Composer
I spent a lovely morning with John in the stunning Harthope Valley (Northumberland National Park) shooting some head shots and details to include on his new website. www.johncasken.com
Before I went to meet John I spent some time listening to his work, 'Apollinaire's Bird', this was during the school run I must add, it definitely made the children go at a different pace with getting ready!
Finding out about someones work and getting to know a bit more about their personality before a session always helps with how I choose to represent them in their photographs. Talking with someone about their work can also inspire ideas on things to include/backgrounds to use/poses/props so a pre shoot consultation is always helpful if there is time.
“ I found you very easy to get on with, totally understanding of what I was looking for, and had a very good eye for composition and texture. I found the whole experience stress-free, and was very pleased with the results.”
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
Shooting for an article in Essex University's student magazine Nick Elwood
Nick had been asked to take part in an article for Essex uni’s Alumni magazine, but going all the way to Essex for photographs was not practical for him…
So I was asked to take some similar photographs to what was taken of the other person in the article. Nick arrived on his bike and even played me a tune on his flute!
Princesses For a Day: Sarah and Emily, Winners of 'Cash for Kids' Auction Prize
It’s every little girl’s dream to be a princess and for Sarah and Emily Macleod (aged 5 and 3) it became a reality last week when they were treated like royalty at Wedderburn Castle. A day of pampering and being treated like a princess was their prize in the Radio Borders Cash for Kids charity auction. The winning bidder was their dad Ross, who bought it for his 5-year-old daughter Sarah.
Radio Borders Cash for Kids manager, Candy Rafferty, said: “One of the radio presenters happened to know Ross and told me that he had two daughters and tragically his wife had died, so they didn’t have a mum. I phoned the owners of Wedderburn who immediately said they would be very happy to have an extra princess. I phoned the dressmaker who immediately said she would design two dresses. I phoned the hairdresser and it was the same.
“It’s just such a lovely example of the generosity of Borders people, and as the charity manager at Radio borders Cash for Kids, I am blown away by it every single day.”
On arriving at the castle for a day, Sarah and Emily were greeted in regal style and escorted to the Wedderburn’s grandest chamber, where they had their hair styled and were fitted out with tiaras and princess outfits from ‘A Perfect Fit’ in Coldstream.
Attending the princesses were Brian Rafferty, Royal Warrant holder and hairdresser to HRH the Queen when she is in Scotland, and a dressmaker, lady-in-waiting, and courtiers from Radio Borders and Wedderburn Castle.
Amongst the princesses’ royal duties was the official opening of Wedderburn Barns, a new rustic party and wedding venue in the former Georgian stables at Wedderburn Castle. The princesses cut the ribbon on the barns, toured the premises and had official photographs taken at the castle and barns by Pictorial Photography.
Other official engagements included sealing documents and letters at the grand dining room table at Wedderburn and inspecting the castle and grounds to ensure that all is in order. Lunch for the princesses included a selection of special cupcakes designed especially for the day by Borders Cakes and Cupcakes.
A horse-drawn carriage ride around the ground of the castle finished off their day, courtesy of the Cornhill Carriage Company. Then after spending the day being treated like royalty in the castle, it was back to reality for the two girls.
Cash for Kids is the official charity of Radio Borders and provides a helping hand to children around the Scottish Borders and North Northumberland. They are currently running their Christmas Mission to help the thousands of children in poverty who would otherwise wake up to a Christmas without presents this year. They’re asking you to buy just one extra present this year - new and unwrapped gifts suitable for children and young people or make a cash donation online, in person or over the phone.
Read more at: http://www.berwickshirenews.co.uk/news/the-cash-for-kids-charity-1-3197082
Interview with Jen Doherty, Publisher and Celebrant
Can you tell us what a typical workday looks like for you?
It varies. If I'm researching a book, I'll be puttering about in the place I'm thinking of writing about. I'll be buying postcards, talking to people, gazing at things, and listening in the cafes; I love this stage of things.
If I'm meant to be writing, I will probably be up to date with housework, clothes all laundered, visits to distant friends in the diary… Eventually, writing will begin…
If I'm at the point where a book is going to press, there is a lot of checking and dashing about to make sure it all looks right.
Most of the time, life is somewhere in between.
Which part of your job do you feel most passionate about?
In writing, it's about giving children representation of the place they live in. I love it when someone recognises their street or the beach where they play.
I also very much enjoy offering young illustrators a chance to work on a book.
What tips would you give to someone starting out in your industry?
Muse on it. Get some information. Make sure it won't sink you if it goes wrong. Then do it, if it feels remotely right.
What is the best feedback you have ever had from a client?
I've had some lovely letters from young readers, and it's been great to see some of the books used in schools.
Who do you admire most in the world and why?
No singular person, but I have huge admiration for the people who maintain good cheer in the midst of difficulty. Not simply surface cheeriness, but the kind of quiet joy that comes from engaging deeply with whatever they are doing. When my mother was in a nursing home in her final months, there was one helper who so obviously relished her work, and cherished the patients, that it was like standing in a light just being in the room where she was working.
Do you have a favourite quote that you turn to for inspiration?
"Everything serves."
It took me a while to sense the truth in that (and when I think about some of the suffering the in the world, I sometimes question it), but over the years, I've found it to be pretty much true.
What are your future plans for Serafina Press?
More books. More places, but probably still in a small, gradual way. We're taking a break from launching anything this year, but the next book, set in Mull, is written and is in the works. Gillian Stewart - the same young illustrator who worked on The Unicorn of Holy Island - is already creating the images.
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
Maltings Theatre Board Like You’ve Never Seen Them Before!
These pictures of Northumberland theatre trustees go to show that board meetings don’t have to be boring!
Walking over the cobbles along the tranquil Tweed to the Quayside is my treasured morning ritual. It allows me to clear those thoughts and plan the day ahead. I had the board of the Maltings Theatre coming in for a photo shoot that evening and I felt in need of a flash of inspiration to help decide what exactly I was going to do when they arrived.
I couldn’t help it but the word ‘board’ was not filling me with enthusiasm or creativity. I also had the feeling that the people coming in may not be too keen on getting their pictures taken.
The Maltings is a creative and theatrical place so I wanted to take some photos that captured the essence of how it both inspires and entertains.
Ros Lamont, Maltings Head of External Affairs, booked the headshot sessions and loved the idea of an alternative shoot but had concerns about not all of the board members being up for such radical photographs. I assured her that I would do my best to enthuse them and start the session with a traditional portrait of each member to put the subjects’ minds at rest.
I decided to put the theatre board’s acting skills to the test. They had all come prepared for a traditional corporate studio headshot with lovely ironed shirts and combed hair, but that is not what I had in mind.
It took a bit of time to explain what my ideas were but surprisingly nobody was too phased! We had a complete riot and there were blood-curdling screams and roars coming from my little studio - I wonder what the neighbours thought? Some of the subjects needed a little help or coaxing with getting the expressions out so I was asking questions and telling them stories and scenarios. This technique can be very helpful in photography. You have to show some emotions to evoke them from your subject at times.
So that was my evening of turning a potentially dull photo shoot into a really fun and impactful art project. I’d love to know your thoughts; feel free to comment below!
Written by Sarah
Gunsgreen Extravaganza in Perfect Eyemouth Sunshine!
Put together by Jenna Shields, assistant manager at Gunsgreen House, the Extravaganza proved a very popular event for Eyemouth and the weather was perfect!
Organised to celebrate the launch of the Smugglers’ Trail at Gunsgreen House, the event saw nearly 1,000 people visit the seaside town to enjoy a variety of food stalls and be entertained with displays of birds of prey as well as a performance from the Lynella School of Highland Dancers and live music.
Holiday Accommodation Interior Photography Bamburgh and Alnwick
A quick photoshoot this morning at a 3 bedroomed cottage near Bamburgh and Alnwick, this was a 2.5 hour session which is our Space and Place package, details of what is included in the Space and Place package are below:
1-1 consultation call with Sarah to discuss your accommodation.
Planning of props if required.
2.5 hours of photography (this is enough time to cover a 3 bedroom holiday cottage with some details and exterior shots).
Travel within 15 miles of Berwick upon Tweed.
Custom, hands-on processing of all final images.
Claimable business expense.
25 professionally retouched, high-resolution digital images.
Online password-protected gallery to choose your images from.
Available to download online or via USB.
Licence to reproduce for business use.
£395 for 25 digital images (both high and web resolution)
If you can't be around for the photography like this customer who lives elsewhere, I can arrange key collection from a neighbor or masterlock box and get on with the photography with minimum fuss, saving you time away from your busy schedule.
Music at Paxton | Festival Photography at Paxton House, Berwick
I’ve had the pleasure of photographing the Music at Paxton festival several times now, capturing everything from live performances to the quiet, in-between moments that make this event so special. Held each summer at Paxton House, near Berwick-upon-Tweed, the ten-day festival brings together world-class musicians and local audiences for a family-friendly celebration of chamber music.
My approach to photographing the festival is documentary-style — blending into the background to capture the energy of rehearsals, the intimacy of performances, and the beauty of the setting. I’ve also created portraits of individual musicians and photographed some of the elegant architectural and natural details around the venue, which feature in the festival’s brochure, website, and promotional materials.
It’s always a joy to work with the Music at Paxton team and to be part of a cultural event that showcases the best of music and hospitality in the Scottish Borders.
You can learn more about the festival at www.musicatpaxton.co.uk
Peace and Love Party for Madeline’s 60th at Palace Green, Berwick
Madeline’s 60th birthday was a celebration full of colour, laughter and love. Friends and family gathered at the Palace Green Scout Hall Pavilion in Berwick-upon-Tweed for a wonderfully themed ‘Peace and Love’ party — complete with bright decorations, flower-power outfits and plenty of dancing.
It was one of those events where everyone felt instantly at ease. The hall was alive with music, conversation and colour — a perfect reflection of Madeline’s vibrant personality. My goal was to capture all those little in-between moments: shared jokes, hugs, and the happy chaos of people enjoying being together again.
Events like this are always a joy to photograph — filled with genuine emotion, personality and connection. Madeline’s family and friends created such a warm, welcoming atmosphere, and it was a privilege to capture a milestone celebration so full of life.
