The local village campaign that changed everything for me and made me fell in love with branding photography

I’m excited to share with you my photography project that started in 2020 during lockdown. As we were all stuck at home, I found myself with a lot of time to think about creative projects, and “Faces of Lightwater” was one of the ideas that kept buzzing around in my head.

The project aimed to capture portraits of the incredible people who make up our village.

From the friendly butchers to the dedicated teacher. It was my way of recognising and celebrating the individuals who make up our community, especially during a time when we were all isolated from each other.

As you can imagine, it wasn’t easy to start the project during a pandemic.

I had to ensure everyone’s safety and follow the government’s guidelines, so I had to limit the number of people I could photograph each day. However, I was determined to make it happen and started reaching out to people in my village.

I was amazed at how receptive people were to the project. Many of them were excited to have their portraits taken and share their stories, even during a challenging time. I was able to capture some truly beautiful moments and personalities during the project.

Of course, there were challenges along the way. With lockdown restrictions constantly changing, I had to adapt my approach and reschedule photoshoots on numerous occasions. Nevertheless, I remained committed to the project, knowing that it would be worth it in the end.

Looking back on the project, I’m so glad I took the leap and started it during such a challenging time. It was a way to bring a bit of joy and recognition to the people in our community who were doing their best to keep things going during a difficult period.

I hope that the portraits I captured will serve as a reminder of the strength and resilience of our village during this time. I’m grateful for the opportunity to have met and captured the faces of some truly remarkable people, and I hope that someday we can look back on these portraits and remember the spirit of the community during lockdown.

Annie x