The story behind the photo | A photography newsletter
One photo. One story.
26 October 2023 edition
This is one of the very few Halloween photos I have. The TV gives a clue about the time of the year (I waited for the right image to appear on screen before pressing the shutter). It wasn’t just any Halloween, but the 2020 one. London was under strict restrictions.
We were in the midst of a six-months-long home renovation, and were renting a small flat nearby. Everything was sailing smoothly until the dreadful Winter lockdown hit, and for us - like for many - the space became suffocating. Not being in our own home made it worse. The rather shabby decor reminds me of how unsettled we were. The wonky composition reflects this.
In February 2021, still in lockdown, we moved to our new house, which was still a building site. Organising the move, managing the renovation project, homeschooling, and settling in a new demanding job - all in lockdown - nearly broke me.
This photo reminds me of hard times. Why am I sharing it? I document my family with a commitment to preserve snippets of our real lives through photographs, including the difficult times. Looking back at this photo now, fully settled in our own home, makes me feel privileged and lucky more than anything else.
I am a documentary family photographer based in Dulwich, primarily serving East Dulwich, Herne Hill, and Peckham, and I am available to travel across London and beyond. Get in touch if you are interest in booking a session with me.