The ocean, endless sky, sand between your toes, and a pop of red. What else do you need for a successful model portfolio session? This one with Meg took place on Fistral beach.
Family Session by the sea in Cornwall
We had to postpone the Michell Family photo shoot in Cornwall multiple times as it just would not stop raining! But eventually, we decided to just go for it and the sun agreed and came out in all its glory! The North Cornish coast was the perfect backdrop to capturing beautiful moments for this young family, and I enjoyed every minute of our time together!
Pretty in Pastel: multiway dresses at Enys Gardens
In August, I had the pleasure of photographing gorgeous dresses on four gorgeous girls in an equally gorgeous setting. While this was a commercial shoot, the likes of which usually live on my commercial site, I felt that the style and theme of this shoot suited this blog much better. Wouldn’t you agree?
These amazing Lavalia multiway dresses come in a rainbow of gorgeous colours and they are perfect for having bridesmaids in one colour or shade but allowing them to tie the dress in their own style! For this shoot, we chose pretty pastel shades that looked amazing in the beautiful setting of Enys Garden. We even managed to catch some sunshine, which has been eluding us most of the summer!
Thank you to the whole team for making this one of the prettiest shoots I’ve ever done! xo
THE TEAM
Photographer: Marianne Taylor
Dresses: Lavalia
Models: Lucie Rose Donlan, Corinne Evans, Maisie Tooley, Emily Airton
Hair: Alice Jane Hair Design
Make-up: Sally Orchard & Chloe Drew from Orchard Makeup
Flowers: This Rugged Coast
Venue: Enys Gardens
Cliffside Engagement Session in Cornwall
Technically, these two cuties are already married, but because of the timing of their nuptials, they didn’t have an opportunity to arrange a proper wedding party until now. While the ceremony on the day will be called a Vow Renewal, the day is most definitely a genuine wedding day for them and their family. They even travelled down to Cornwall for their engagement session, which I couldn’t have been happier about!
These two are possibly the sweetest couple I’ve ever had the pleasure of spending time with, and I can’t wait for their London wedding day in just a few weeks!
Model portfolio session: on the beach with Maisie
A warm July sunset, Crantock beach in Cornwall… could there be a lovelier setting for a model portfolio shoot. We managed to cram in two different outfits and plenty of giggles into this quick session with Maisie.
Editorial Portraits : sunset surf
A sure sign of summer approaching Cornwall is when the evenings get longer and it’s warm enough to pop out for a sunset surf under a perfectly pink sky. This shoot felt like blowing off of the cobwebs of winter, and feeling alive again! Just how amazing is that sky?
THE TEAM
Photographer: Marianne Taylor
Model: Lucie Rose Donlan
Swimwear: Protest
Tara & Simon : A Cornish Together Session on the Beach
Ah, Cornwall in the Spring! In the beginning of March, I got to spend some time with Tara & Simon, who are getting married next month at their beautiful house in North Cornwall. The couple wanted their engagement session to take place on their local beach (how amazing is it to live in a place where you have a local beach, or five!), so we headed down to Constantine Bay.
To me, there’s really nothing better than a walk on the beach smelling the sea air and listening to waves crashing in. Needless to say, I enjoyed every minute of this session!
I can’t wait to see these two tie the knot in just a month’s time, it’s going to be a good one!
Romance in Cornwall with the Cornish Concierge
I’m so so excited to be working in collaboration with the fabulous Cornish Concierge to bring you the ultimate couples weekend in Cornwall! Combining a photo shoot with hairstyling, a makeup artist, a private chauffeur and lots of little luxury touches, this experience is perfect for a pre-wedding shoot, engagement celebration, or an anniversary getaway.
Come enjoy the best that the gorgeous Cornish coast can offer, and experience the ultimate way to create beautiful photographs to last a lifetime. See more details over on the Cornish Concierge website!
Autumnal bridal inspiration shoot by the ocean
The original concept for this shoot might have started as something completely different and the circumstances, the weather, and the tide might have been against us, but in the end, I think this is where we were meant to end up. These were the images that we were supposed to create. The wind, the rugged Cornish coast, the modern bridal vibe, it all came together perfectly. I guess sometimes you just have to let go, enjoy the journey, and trust that it all works out!
It was such a pleasure to work with such an amazing team, and I fell head over heels in love with this separates gown by Ailsa Munro and the wildly perfect flowers by This Rugged Coast. I hope you enjoy looking at these windswept images as much as I enjoyed shooting them!
THE TEAM
Photographer: Marianne Taylor
Model: Lucie Rose Donlan
Hair: Joanne Einnis of Gold Bird Hair Design
Make-up: Chloe Drew
Flowers: This Rugged Coast
Gown: Ailsa Munro
Jewellery: Zeaglass
Living is easy : country sunset portraits
I’m pretty sure you’re beginning to recognise this girl. Since moving to Cornwall, Lucie has become a muse to me, and she really helped me rekindle my love for photography. I’m so happy to get to work with her, both on commercial projects, but also on personal projects and inspiration shoots like this one.
I’ll never forget what a lovely evening we spent capturing these leisurely images under the candy sky. These kind of evenings and shoots make me feel like my heart is bursting with love for Cornwall, and for being able to make a living with the camera in my hand.
A birthday celebration at Padstow Kitchen Garden
How about a surprise birthday party on a working farm in Cornwall, where you get flown in by a helicopter and where the ingredients of your birthday meal come from within a few miles? That’s exactly how Jo’s birthday party played out, and it certainly was an affair to remember!
Held in the cutest tepee at Padstow Kitchen Garden, planned to perfection by The Cornish Concierge, it was just the most amazing setting for a family gathering in Jo’s honour. There were wildly gorgeous flower arrangements by This Rugged Coast, beautiful stationery by Ariadne Creative and a spectacular cake made into the spitting image of Jo’s dog by Peboryon, all accompanied by acoustic music by Toby Lobb aka Loveridgemusic.
Farmer Ross Geach (who also writes a column for the Telegraph) took the birthday party for a tour of the farm, where the hors d’oeuvres were prepared fresh right in front of them. After working up an appetite doing archery and other activities, it was time to sit down for a three-course meal prepared in the outdoor kitchen by Jackson Bristow.
It was such a pleasure to get to photograph this intimate party and get to spend a day in such a beautiful setting, I really hope the pictures convey the relaxed and joyous atmosphere!
Siren of the Sea : Rose
I’ve been meaning to blog this rather magical Siren of the Sea session for ages! But in the whirlwind that was this summer, I didn’t get around to it until now!
Rose wanted the photo shoot to showcase her physicality and strength as a dancer, so she really gave a LOT during the session. At times I was simply mesmerised by her movement and had to remind myself to take pictures, and on a few occasions, I had to force myself to keep my eyes open and not whimper (too much) when Rose was jumping on the edge of a cliff!
While we weren’t blessed with good weather (it was drizzling throughout!) I still think these are some of the most magical portraits I’ve ever taken. The backdrop of Cornwall is so majestic and rugged, matching Rose’s wild abandon twirl for twirl.
I really hope some of the magic is transported to you via these images! Rose’s goldilocks hair was styled by Severin Hepburn of Hepburn Collection.
Editorial portraits : it’s a surfer’s life
Lucie is a new ‘Flavour Enthusiast’ and brand ambassador for Little’s Coffee, and recently we shot some editorial portraits of her for the flavoured coffee brand. You can see Lucie’s introduction interview over on their blog.
THE TEAM
Photographer: Marianne Taylor
Model: Lucie Rose Donlan
Coffee: We are Little’s
Surfboard: Adam’s surfboards
Editorial portraits : On a summer’s day
On a lazy summer’s day, on a field above the sea in Cornwall. These are the days you’ll remember.
THE TEAM
Photographer: Marianne Taylor
Dress: Sailaway Dress Company
Model: Lucie Rose Donlan
The Magic of Cornwall: surfer lifestyle portraits
Seeing that there’s a heatwave sweeping across the UK, I thought it appropriate to share these sunny Cornish lifestyle portraits!
Lucie is a surfer and surfing instructor based down here in Newquay, North Cornwall. These portraits were taken as a part of a shoot inspired by the laid-back surfer lifestyle of the Cornish coast. The Atlantic Ocean calls surfers to its embrace no matter what time of year it is, and Lucie is an example of someone who lives for the sea, and of it. Her passion is truly infectious! I hope you enjoy this shoot, and perhaps get inspired to come down to Cornwall for a lifestyle shoot (or a surf!) of your own!
THE TEAM
Photographer: Marianne Taylor
Model: Lucie Rose Donlan
Hair: Severin Hepburn of Hepburn Collection
Jewellery: Jane’s Handmade Jewellery
Surfboard: Adam’s surfboards
Accessories: Roo’s Beach
BTS video (coming soon!): The Storycatchers
Rose & Robin : Joyful anniversary session by the sea
It’s crazy to think it’s four years since Rose & Robin’s wedding day! To celebrate, these lovely souls travelled to Cornwall for an anniversary photography session by the sea. It was just the loveliest to get to share some giggles and beautiful moments with Rose & Robin again, and to see that four years on, they are as madly in love as ever!
I really wouldn’t mind if I got to spend the rest of my life standing on a cliff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, taking pictures of people in love. That would be just fine with me.
(Also, hydrangea game in Cornwall = strong)
Jeannie & Billy : Coastal pre-wedding session in Cornwall
Jeannie & Billy, who are getting married in Hong Kong later this year, knew they wanted to have engagement photos taken in the UK. But since they were open to other locations than London I, of course, jumped at the chance to get to do their pre-wedding session in Cornwall!
Pre-wedding sessions are a common thing in certain countries where the wedding day locations (and huge sizes of the weddings themselves) don’t necessarily allow for a proper portrait session on the day itself. So, many couples opt for having a longer engagement session during which they’ll change into a few different looks, including a wedding gown, and often these images will be then displayed on the wedding day. I’ve been shooting pre-wedding sessions in London for many years, but now that I’m down in Cornwall I really hope my clients will see the potential of the amazing landscape here and travel down for some truly magical backdrops for their images!
Before getting started, Sally Orchard worked her make-up magic on Jeannie and Alice Jane Hair Design was in charge of the two different hairstyles of the day. During our three-part session, we managed to visit cute little villages, as well as some of my favourite beaches and majestic cliff tops. We also experienced a wide variety of weather from sunny and summery to full on fog during the same day!
P. S. I know there are a lot of images, but I’m finding hard to narrow them down further, I just loved every minute of this shoot, and I love all the photos!
The Siren of the Sea : Elli
I met Elli for the first time when she was just 3 months old. A few years later, she was the subject of one of my favourite portraits I’ve ever taken. Now, at thirteen, she is turning into such a beautiful and gentle young woman, and I couldn’t be happier that I had the chance to photograph her here in my beloved Cornwall! I don’t know what it is, but my soul is at its happiest doing these shoots, feeling the wind and hearing the roar of the ocean.
If you want to have your own Siren of the Sea portrait shoot down here in North Cornwall, do get in touch! (Likewise, if you have a woman or a girl in your life you’d like to treat to a beautiful experience & some pretty magical images!)
A windswept mother & daughter session by the sea
I can’t quite describe how happy my heart is about being able to do family shoots by the sea in Cornwall! This mother & daughter Together Session was rather windy, but that didn’t dampen the joy of spending time together by the beautiful coast of the Atlantic Ocean.
This session shows you that there’s no set formula for what a family shoot needs to look like. It’s not just for families with small children, it can be a great way to spend time with older kids, or spend quality time with one sibling at a time. There’s no reason why a family shoot couldn’t consist of a completely grown up family, either. You can never have too many beautiful pictures of yourself together with your loved ones.
The Magic of Cornwall: The Siren of the Sea
Ever since I moved to Cornwall, I’ve yearned to do a shoot that incorporated some of the stunning scenery here, from the beautiful beaches to the magnificent cliffs with views over the majestic Atlantic Ocean, combined with the kind of portrait photography I want to do more of in the future. When I came across Lucie, who’s a local surfer and a model, I knew she was a ready-made Siren of the Sea, and I couldn’t wait to photograph her!
Putting this shoot together was also a chance to get to know and work with some of the incredibly talented suppliers in the local area, and I really couldn’t have been happier with our little team. Here’s to creating many more beautiful things together in the future!
I hope you’ll enjoy these images, and perhaps even get inspired to travel down to the breathtaking North Cornwall to have your very own day as a Siren!
The Team
Photographer: Marianne Taylor
Model: Lucie Rose Donlan
Hair: Joanne Einnis of Gold Bird Hair Design
Make-up: Chloe Drew
Flower crown: Elle Grime of Inspire Hire
Gowns: Minna
