Blog - Interior & Lifestyle Photographer, Oxfordshire

Commercial Lifestyle Photography | TechPixies Oxford

17th January 2020/0 Comments/in Lifestyle Photography /by Alex

This was a set of commercial lifestyle photography images for the tech upskill company TechPixies. TechPixies aims to help people learning digital and social media skills in order for them to either get back to work or further their career. TechPixies are based in Oxford and host from Grant Thornton offices in both Oxford & London.

The brief was to provide a set of lifestyle images to capture the essence of what they do, and the spaces that they use.

Commercial photography for TechPixies Oxford

Social History Commission | Oxfordshire

6th January 2020/0 Comments/in Garden Photography /by Alex

Last year I was commissioned to photograph a garden and exteriors of a house which had a very interesting and emotional history. The house and the land were going up for sale but it had previously been a family home where all of the children had grown up before the elderly parents died. Naturally they had wonderful memories of playing in the garden and wanted me to capture it for them.

The house stood empty with everything left as it was. Teracotta pots near the greenhouse which once overflowed with homegrown strawberries, fruit canes left to seed, a boat house no longer used, disused children’s play equipment and a workshop left exactly as it was. Here’s just a few shots from this very emotive session.

I’d call this documenting social history photography in Oxfordshire and it’s something I have an absolute passion for. If you have a family home which you’d like to record with photographs, please get in touch.

Greenhouse and workshop
social history photography oxfordshire

Teracotta pots left undisturbed
social history photography

The greenhouse again from a different angle

The more formal garden area
social history photography oxfordshire

Interior Photography Bucks | House of Kingswood

25th January 2019/0 Comments/in Interior Photography /by Alex

I was recently commissioned to photograph a brand new interiors showroom over at Westcott, Buckinghamshire. This flagship showroom has been recently finished to show a selection of high end bathrooms along with a kitchen and living area.

It was a challenging project photographing the small spaces in particular and especially as there was no natural light. The images are to be used by the company for press and PR purposes.

The brief was to photograph the interior areas with some focus on the details and then to photograph the showroom along with some photographs of the staff working and the owners.

House of Kingswood – https://www.houseofkingswood.co.uk/

You can see my interior photography portfolio here.

A Visit to Barnsley House

25th June 2018/0 Comments/in Garden Design, Garden Photography /by Alex

I can’t tell you how long I’ve wanted to visit this garden for, especially as it’s practically on my doorstep, but I’ve never really had a reason to go until the GMG organised a visit earlier this month. Barnsley House is a beautiful stone hotel & spa set in a small Cotswold village just past Bibury. The house was built in the late 1690’s.

In 1939 Barnsley House was purchased by Cecil and Linda Verey who passed it onto their son David, an architectural historian. David was married to Rosemary Verey and together they constructed a garden through the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. In 1962 David brought the Temple from Fairford Park to be situated in the gardens. Rosemary Verey went on to become a noted garden designer, designing gardens for celebrities and royals alike.

We were shown round by head gardener Richard Gatenby who works extremely hard with his team to keep the gardens looking immaculate. If you haven’t been can I suggest a visit for Afternoon Tea! If you want to read more have a look at Richard’s blog here.

We started off in the Rose Garden which is the garden with the pond and the temple, separated from the rest of the garden by the most beautiful ornamental iron gates festooned with Clematis. Moving through the garden there is a beautiful combination of formal and informal. Topiary with borders of roses, lupins and foxgloves. An archway of pleached trees leads the eye to the temple and away to a beautiful water feature. Over the other side of the track there is the kitchen garden where they grow lots of fresh ingredients for the hotel to use in the kitchen. There are lots of little elements of surprise which is what I really love in a garden.

Ascot Spring Garden Show

12th June 2018/0 Comments/in Garden Design, Garden Shows /by Alex

My garden photography got off to somewhat of a slow start this year due to a very cold, miserable and pretty non existent Spring. Whilst keeping warm inside I read that Ascot were having an inaugural Spring Garden Show which I definitely knew I wanted to check out.

I arrived there on a pretty grey Thursday afternoon to see what was going on and was pleasantly surprised at what I was greeted with. It is a beautifully intimate show, still with a selection of gorgeous show gardens but easily accessible and not a large as some other flower shows. There’s a theatre with a talk timetable from the likes of David Dominey and Simon Lycett and plenty stands where you can indulge in a little shopping.

The show gardens were really varied and designed by some talented high end garden designers. I had such a fantastic time photographing them and chatting with the designers. First up was this geometric inspired garden by Tom Hill Garden Design. I loved his use of colour and form and the copper elements he brought into it.

En Pointe – Tom Hill Garden Design

A Garden for All Seasons – Kate Gould

The garden was designed in two separate areas with a section for dining and entertaining and a section for relaxing. The planting was a colourful mix of oranges, blues and greens set off against the rusted metal.

The Landform Spring Garden – Catherine MacDonald of Landform Consultants

I love the simple Spring colour scheme of the planting keeping to yellows and whites and incorporating a lawn and contemplation area. I’d say this was a nice garden to reproduce in your own back yard, whatever the size.

The Courtyard – Joe Perkins

A sunken seating area with tall hedging and beautiful planting gives this a reel feel of privacy and it also has a Mediterranean feel with the terracotta pots and water feature at one end.

What Lies Beneath by Claudia de Jong & Phil Tremayne

Beautiful planting from Claudia combining an eating area, arbour and the cutest shed you’ve ever seen.

Yardley Flower Garden – Pip Probert, Outer Spaces Design Ltd.

I love the sound of water in a garden so these beautiful water features really did it for me. I also loved the stonework and the variety of plants used which really popped against the grey and white of the walls.

Looking forward to returning next year to see some new gorgeous gardens on display.

Snowdrops

25th January 2018/0 Comments/in Garden Photography /by Alex

Well happy 2018 and though it’s so tempting to stay inside when it’s cold wet and windy, I am making myself be more aware of the change in seasons. Spring is already on it’s way with the emergence of snowdrops and yellow winter aconites. I visited two beautiful places very recently and wanted to document them.

First of all a trip to Waterperry Gardens on a snowy Sunday. The snowdrops were just emerging and the light dusting of snow on the topiary gave another dimension, even though my fingers were freezing it was worth it.

Second of all a trip to St Boltophs church at Swyncombe which is renowned for it’s carpet of snowdrops. They were still very much in their early stages but looked beautiful in the morning dew.

London Garden Photography | Barbara Samitier Garden Design

14th November 2017/0 Comments/in Garden Photography /by Alex

It never feels like a good idea when you set your alarm clock for three thirty in the morning, especially at that moment when it goes off but once I’m on my way and I know I’m going to be photographing an amazing garden, the tiredness changes to excitement. We had been checking the forecast for a number of days beforehand but when I met Barbara outside the property in Dulwich at 5.30am it was still dark and the sky was filled with swirling grey cloud instead of the wonderful sunrise which had been promised – great!

As daylight started to come I could finally begin taking photographs of this incredible garden designed by Barbara Samitier. The garden itself is a long narrow plot which Barbara had sectioned into several areas without any feeling of barriers or being disjointed. Nearest to the house was a tiled area which led into the garden. The paths were made of York stone stepping stones and the huge family sitting area is just a wonderful outdoor space. The huge porcelain tiles are by Alhambra and unlike anything I’ve seen before but they look amazing. The giant anglepoise lamp gives a really edgy, modern feel.

Further down the garden there is a BBQ area with it’s own wooden seating and further on still a hidden contemporary seating are with chairs by Solid Soul. The garden is decorated with reclaimed mirrors and old pots which give an eclectic feel.

Garden Photography London | Barbara Samitier Garden Design

14th August 2017/0 Comments/in Garden Photography /by Alex

GARDEN PHOTOGRAPHY LONDON

A few months ago I was commissioned to photograph another of Barbara Samitier’s beautifully designed gardens, this time in South Dulwich. The garden was a long rectangle stretching from the rear of the house with a brick wall, giving lovely texture on one side, and a slatted fence on the opposite side. The garden felt really secluded and very private. The planting was a mix of grasses/box hedge/salvias/umbellifers and more mature trees.

Although a fairly small garden the use of space and planting was really inspiring. I especially love the details (I always love Barbara’s details!) of the sunken flags to collect rainwater for the wildlife and reflect the sky. What an absolute haven of beauty. If you’d like to see another garden I photographed for Barbara, here’s the link.

If you would like to get in touch about a commission, contact me here.

A visit to David Austin Roses

29th June 2017/0 Comments/in Garden Photography /by Alex

This week I was lucky enough to go on an industry visit to David Austin Roses at Albrighton in Shropshire. Always having been enthralled not only by the brand but by the wonderful stand at Chelsea I was excited to go and learn about the story behind the roses and see the beautiful gardens. The morning started with an introduction by Michael Marriott explaining how they go about creating new variants of rose. The greenhouses were full of plants and the perfume of roses hung in the air.

We then walked over to the trial fields where new plants are put through their paces in difficult conditions. Here they stay for a number of years before they pass the test and can go to market.

And then the part I had been waiting for, to go and explore the gardens and see the wonderful roses. If one word could describe these gardens it would be ‘floribunda’ – a mass of stunningly beautiful and incredibly scented roses.

After lunch we were invited to visit Mr Austin’s own private garden which was not only beautiful but adorned by the most wonderful sculptures created by his late wife who was clearly an extremely talented artist. I even got to meet the man himself which was an incredibly humbling experience.

And finally back to explore the perennial garden. I found I was drawn to two particular variants of rose time and time again – Queen of Sweden and Boscobel. It’s time for me to make a new space in the garden!

Do you have a favourite David Austin rose? I’d love to know, leave me a comment below.

Garden Photography | Barbara Samitier Garden Design

28th June 2017/1 Comment/in Garden Photography /by Alex

Garden Photography Hertfordshire

I was recently commissioned to photograph a new garden design in Hertfordshire designed by the incredibly talented Barbara Samitier. I love Barbara’s design style, her planting, her use of lighting and all the wonderful details she incorporates which make you look and then look again in more detail.

Although the garden design was for a commercial property it incorporated wildflower turf, festoons lights, raised vegetable plots, a pergola and a seating area with fire pit. I’m sure that anyone who uses this garden in the future will appreciate all the features that make it such a special place to spend time.

I think it’s very important to photograph a garden at sunrise because the light is so soft and the colours look so different. It’s especially magical when there is a lot of moisture in the air which creates a very ethereal feel.

If you are a garden designer and you would like to get in touch about a commission, please contact me.