It was great to see the July edition of Devon Life in my letter box yesterday as I shot the cover photo last summer and loved the results. Go grab yourselves a copy as it’s packed full of articles and features showcasing this awesome county that I’m proud to call home.
I have mixed feelings from the shoot to be honest, so I will set the scene. I dropped in a disk of photos to the editor at Devon Life for a different shoot, and it came up in conversation that they were looking for a front cover with a camper van (preferably blue), blue sky, the sea, sand and ideally an open gate leading to the scene. The only slight issue was that it was needed pretty much the next day or two. I said ‘leave it to me’ (as I do too often in life perhaps) and off I went. I drove around my favourite spots on the South Hams coastline that night and as the sun was going down at Bigbury I suddenly remembered that Catherine a good friend of mine had been to a wedding the previous year in a marquee in a field overlooking Bantham beach and Bigbury. Result. So I found the spot – Mount Folly Farm, knocked on the door and the owners there were thankfully really helpful. They run a campsite and wedding location with pretty much the best views you could wish for.
Anyway, I then managed to source a fab retro camper van (thanks Iain), gathered a few props (thanks Jane), then called my stylist friend Katey of Homerestyler and she was happy to come and style the shoot the next day (thanks Katey!) She brought with her an awesome selection of retro seaside props to match the van and happens to look stunning too so into the shot she went as well!. Check her out with my eldest daughter gracing the cover!
The day of the shoot was scorching and the scene looked beautiful. I was just parked up waiting for the others to arrive and was contemplating the view – my husband and I got engaged at Burgh Island, were married at Thurlestone (the next beach over) and spend every spare minute on Bantham beach so it was idyllic. Or so I thought. I then turned around in the car to find that my 18 month old had spent the car journey picking off the glue that was holding together a cut in the middle of her forehead. She is pretty accident-prone and likes to keep me on my toes with these things! I freaked out inside as we were pretty remote at this point, but suddenly remembered the trusty old gaffa tape in my bag (a photographer’s best friend) and stuck it back together. Not the greatest idea I’ve ever had perhaps. Talk about luck – along the coastal path walked a nurse who was on holiday and saved the day with her butterfly stitches. My husband later arrived and took her off to our local hospital to get it re-glued. It was yet another example of trying not to mix work and pleasure that’s for sure! I had only brought my girls that day as we were needing to set up a bit of a family picnic scene by the camper. Well, my eldest daughter made it into the shot anyway, alongside Katey of Homerestyler and they look fab!
The scene – and my favourite Devon view…
Iain (who owns the camper) and Roxy the dog were a real laugh, so great to have met you guys and thanks again x
Right, I’m off to surf the internet for a camper van to buy (just kidding) – one day I think I will though x
