I wanted to share a recent shoot with my good friend and collaborator, Isabelle. We have worked on many projects together over the years and grown close, so when she came to me with an idea for a series of portrait sessions about mental health, I was straight in.
Mental health affects everyone to some degree. Some struggles are visible, others are quieter and easy to miss. Having lived with dyslexia for years, I know how much it can shape daily life. Language has always been hard for me, yet photography lets me communicate and express myself without leaning on words, which is a large part of why I love it.
Isabelle wanted to focus on the positive side of mental health rather than only the difficult side. We set out to make images that carried good feelings and the things that lift people. Colour was our way in. Many people find that colour shifts their mood, so we brought bright, upbeat tones into the studio to build a fun, warm atmosphere.
We spent a good while talking through ideas and settled on four portraits to carry that positive message. The studio was full of laughter as we worked, and I think that energy comes through in the final images.
I am based at Foyers Photography in Bentwaters near Ipswich, Suffolk. I am really pleased with this series and looking forward to sharing more of it.
