We started with coffee in the drawing room, then did a tour of the sets so the attendees could start planning their shots. As well as the main set of a lovely afternoon tea table full of sweet treats and pretty vintage tableware, there were two bedroom sets, a bathroom with a stunning rolltop bath, the drawing room with its roaring open fire, the boot room with saddles, trophies and various other props and delights for the businesses to use.

Once they had decided which sets were best for their product it was onto the snapping! Attendees are requested to know how to use their camera but I was on hand to help with any technical questions and image improvements while stylist Jo Wood put the finishing touches to the shot by adjusting the prop placement.

After a few hours shooting time we had a break for a well deserved lunch! Beautiful sandwiches and home made scones were served in the dining room by candlelight. An afternoon tea fit for a princess! We all agreed we could have sat there all afternoon but there were more pretty pictures to be taken!
By the end of the day the businesses had moved around from set to set taking their own photos of their products in various settings. They all seemed very happy with the results, and I look forward to seeing their photos.

The next PhotoStyled day is going to be even bigger and better! The Vintage Garden Wedding will include a bride and groom, so as well as the room sets you get models too! Places are limited to just 6 so make sure you book early and don’t miss out!

Here are a few shots I took at the Tea Party…

Voting closed at midday today and after hundreds of votes the winning business is…*drumroll*

Quincy Lampshades!

Congratulations to you Ruth! I shall be bringing my camera to Bristol for a location photo shoot to tell the story of your quirky lampshade business in beautiful photos!

We mustn’t forget the very worthy runners up it was an EXTREMELY close competition between all 3 with the leader changing throughout and second place Print for Love of Wood finishing just 8 votes behind! The runners up will be receiving gift vouchers as I can’t bear to think of them ‘going home empty handed’.

Look out for the results of the Quincy Lampshades photo shoot next year!

Thanks everyone for your entries and votes, have a lovely Christmas!

Lyndsey x

Print for love of wood, Lancashire.

I love the idea of capturing Jacqui’s print process, the use of antique machinery in her business to create contemporary products is a great story.

I started my small business after being made redundant. I run a traditional letterpress studio using antique Victorian printing presses and vintage wood type. I would love to see the process of printing captured on film. Something I can’t do because at the helm!

Quincy Lampshades, Bristol.

This craft has been passed down through Ruth’s blood line without her even knowing, a story of craftsmanship and family history I would love to tell.

Beige. Beige. Beige. Everywhere. But not here at Quincy Lampshades. My lampshades are bold and ballsy. Beautiful lampshades glowing with brightness. It was only AFTER I decided to set up business that I discovered my Granddad made them too, many moons ago. It must be in my blood. I’d love to tell this story.

Shy Violet Interiors, Dorset.

Suzanne has created a wonderful lifestyle business and a creative space that doesn’t feel like work, a great story on why we all brave the world of the self employed.

I’ve always felt that running this shop didn’t really feel like work – its such a wonderful place to work and shop. I thought it was just me, but now my staff have started to say the same thing – although they very hastily add that they still expect to be paid! We’re opening a Courtyard Cafe, a Music Shop and opening our Walled Garden to the public next Spring, and I would really love someone to capture the wonderful atmosphere we have created here in our workplace.

So there you have it, our 3 finalists. Will I be taking my camera to Lancashire, Bristol or Dorset? All lovely stories, vote below! You have until midday on Wednesday 21st. After which the winner will be announced, just in time for Christmas!

VOTING HAS NOW CLOSED

The Prize

WIN an editorial photo shoot for your business worth £200!

Eeeeeek I told you it was exciting!!! that’s right a location photo shoot can be yours. Start the new year with ten gorgeous new editorial photographs for your business. Great photography that tells the story of your business or products really does bring in more customers, my regular clients would agree with me on that!

The winners photo shoot is a 2-3 hr shoot at a location of your choice. Following the photo shoot all the images will be added to a client only area of my website where you can select your favourite 10 images. These will then be posted to you on a USB mini drive as high resolution photographs that can be used in all print and web formats. You can even send them to magazines, who knows they might feature your business!

Who can enter?

This fabulous prize is perfect for those of you who make or craft products from a small independent business, or sell from an independent shop or market. Location photographs tell a story, think of the pretty editorial style photos you see in the likes of country magazines. The photo shoot can include products, people and places.

How to enter!

To enter simply add a comment below sharing the story you want to tell…we don’t need the whole story of your business, just the story you would love to capture in your winning photographs…

For example;

I own a farm shop and would love photos of the animals on our farm, the shop and all the colourful fresh produce.

I make beautiful soap from my garden workshop and would like photographs showing how they are made and all the ingredients.

I sell pretty products from a local market and want to capture the bustle of our stall and show happy customers buying our organic products.

I sell pretty garden products online and would love a photo shoot of them in a country garden.

Post your entries here before 6.00pm 18th December and this Christmas you could win an editorial location photo shoot for your business! Good luck!

Small Print

Your entry will appear here within 24hrs of being submitted. One Entry per business. Winner will be announced on Wednesday 21st December. No cash alternative. Location hire (if required) and props are not included. Photo shoot must take place on a weekday subject to availability, during the first quarter of 2012. Further photographs can be purchased at £20 ea if more than 10 required. As with all professional art works, the images are Copyrighted and cannot be sold or gifted to a third party, use is restricted to your own business promotions.

So back to the studio I went, armed with a problem that needed solving and am delighted to say that Photostyled is now launched! Cottage Crafter’s who are keen to take their own photographs can now come along to their choice of themed photo shoot,  simply add their products to the gorgeous props and sets and get snapping with a professional photographer (that’s me) and professional stylist (the delightful Jo Wood) on hand to help out!

No need to pay a photographer, a stylist, source a location, pay location fees, find props, set up, this is all done for you! With places costing just £200 and including a beautiful lunch, you get 5hours to shoot a whole range of products and take home some very gorgeous photos to promote their work.

Take a look at the Photostyled Website and book your chosen theme today!

If you prefer to leave it to the professionals, stay on this website where you can work out the exact cost of professional photographs without asking for quotes.

Think of a beautiful floral spring time afternoon tea with all the trimmings, rustic and vintage props, easter eggs and of course an egg hunt! -all perfectly styled like the big companies do, but especially for your little business! Simply bring your products and camera and go home with a beautiful set of images for your website!

A styled shoot like this especially for your business would mean you sourcing lots of props and planning, but we do all that, giving you gorgeous photo opportunities for a fraction of the cost and effort, with a professional (that’s me) on hand to help out.

Locations and dates tbc. Early bird booking price of £150 (£200 standard) Limited to just 10 places per day.

Currently I have venues in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire but due to demand am now spreading my wings and flying (well, driving) to a location near you!

If you are interested in attending one of my ‘Photograph Your Craft’ or ‘Build Your Portfolio’ days for small businesses then contact me with your location. With workshops being exclusive to just 8 people at a time, I could be coming to you very soon! but only if I know you are interested, so tell your friends, tell me, and gather interest for your county.

My clients products are often photographed on location, but its not all stately homes and fancy hotels, I work with a lot of cottage industries countrywide and we always need new locations.

You may have a pretty fireplace or cosy kitchen, a favourite corner in your garden or a field with a view, a photogenic front door or an old barn door, a beach hut or a garden shed, if you think you have a setting for a pretty photo however large or small  then contact me today! Who knows we could be shooting at your location next, and you could earn some pennies from it too!