• Brand Photography
    • Personal Branding Photography
    • End-of-Year Studio Special
    • Headshots
    • Events
    • Luxury Places
  • Learn Photography
    • Phone Photography Workshop
    • 1:1 Camera Tuition
  • Family & Weddings
    • Family Photography
    • Newborn Photography
Family

Family

by Andy Dane | Feb 13, 2026

Newborn

Newborn

by Andy Dane | Feb 13, 2026

Featured In

Featured In

by Andy Dane | Jan 28, 2026

I’ll try to keep this brief, but there is somethin I’ll try to keep this brief, but there is something happening more and more that is making me frustrated. Being sent ChatGPT Photoshoot Guidance Documents, instructing me how I should approach your brand photo shoot. Sometime from you, sometimes from your brand/web designer. This usually includes information about how it’s best to use natural light, and how to create images with space for social media etc. Imagine the response you’d get from a highly skilled artisan baker, if you gave them basic instructions for a vanilla sponge cake as inspiration. This is the basic vanilla sponge cake. Actually it’s not even that! It’s synthetic cake mix in a box that you just add water to! In this AI pack I get a full shot list, pages and pages of it! As well as list of things to avoid, that are photoshoot cliches. Here’s the problem. I cannot work from a list, especially one that is effectively sponge cake recipe. And, surely you didn’t book me to follow a generic list? This is how I like to work I like to chat face-to-face (often on zoom first, that’s fine). I like to hear about what you love about your business why you set up, where you hope it’s going to move to in the future. I want you to do the work, researching brands that align with your values and really light you up. We talk about your ideal client, why they choose to work with you. We talk about locations styling, and any insecurities and worries about being in front of the camera. Then I make a visual brief and a few paragraphs written by me, in advance so that we both have trust in what we’re doing on the day. On the day we keep referring back to my visual inspiration, but we give ourselves time to play. In short, I cannot bring ‘my all’ if I’ve got my head in bland AI created instruction manual. The magic happens human to human. If something similar happens in your business, I'd love to know how you handle it x
I’m so proud to be Fatima’s chosen photographer. I’m so proud to be Fatima’s chosen photographer. Quick little story. When we were taking these photos in a Derby cafe, a man came over and asked ‘What is this in aid of? Are these photos for a project?’ I’m pretty sure he was imagining the answer was going to be something for a women’s magazine about keeping ourselves busy while the men are at work. ‘Yes’, said Fatima (in her wonderful friendly and matter of fact tone), ‘I’m Fatima Eltinay, Doctor and Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Derbyshire.’ Yes she is! So proud. P.s. - It wasn't the man in the third photo. That was Steve, a very lovely man, enjoying a quiet coffee before I asked him is we could borrow his shoulder for a shot.
Not everyone’s images are for public sharing. So Not everyone’s images are for public sharing. Sometimes the photos become part of a body of work that is far more important than a social media marketing plan. It’s been a privilege to work with @elm_foundation over the past 12 months. Each of our shoots has been different, each one has brought me closer to understanding the incredible work they do there. They kindly wrote me this wonderful review - “It has been our pleasure to work with Helen Rowan Photography this year. We now have authentic photos (no more stock images) of our staff and partners who support our work. Helen listened and took the time to understand our charity and the work we do. Not many people like having their photo taken, but Helen has the ability to make everyone feel at ease. We have more vibrant newsletters, real images for our website and socials and most of all, you have captured the compassion of staff who work here at Elm. Thank you!”
Bit soppy, but more than anything else being able Bit soppy, but more than anything else being able to hang out with other business owners most days, makes my job a joy. Anna Lowe owns a fantastic online fitness program for women in mid life called @midlifefitnesscoaching You might recognise her from a shoot I posted earlier in the year. We’re working together regularly this year. This time we focussed on Anna and her team demonstrating exercises for the programme. What an exceptional and lovely group of women!
Are you thinking about what to post on Instagram n Are you thinking about what to post on Instagram next week? Is all the usual inner monologue holding you back from sharing one of your Brand photos? Even though you know it’s an excellent way of getting your message across, you keep putting it off. Do it! You never know where it might lead. What do you think? (by the way, if you replace the words brand photos with the word exercise, this is absolutely me right now!)
There’s a great article in October’s edition of @r There’s a great article in October’s edition of @reflectionsmag , featuring three wonderful business owners who I photograph on a regular basis. I can’t quite put into words what it is (it’s not my speciality) but there must be something in the water in Eyam. Absolutely wonderful, all three of them! Such a great read @fionastubbs.writer Featuring the wonderful @delightfulliving @thehuteyam_thecottageeyam @cafevillagegreen

Find Me

Ashgate Avenue
Chesterfield
Derbyshire
S40 1JB

  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow

Find

  • About
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Sign up for my newsletter

Privacy Policy