Bek from Kestrel Lane
You know when you get a feel off someone? That first moment where you can tell they’re solid, kind, real. Bek from Kestrel Lane had that in spades. Straight away I felt her energy; funny, honest, vision-driven. I knew I wanted to help her tell her story.
Her mantra right now is simple. Eat the slice of cake. Live for today because nothing is guaranteed. This project became more than colour and cakes and signage. It became a story about taking risks and backing yourself.
The Creative Connection
Bek was the creative behind the interior design at Ivanhoe Smiles and I loved what she created. (Geometric shapes are my weakness or strength). When she reached out after seeing how I documented the clinic, I felt genuinely honoured.
I am all about working with creative small businesses and especially women who are building something from scratch. This shoot brought together Bek and Zahara from Beurre Cakes which made it even better.
Beurre Cakes And A Leap Of Faith
Zahara is a small business owner of Beurre Cakes stepping out of her home kitchen and into a bright, colourful and seriously delicious new shop on Maling Rd in Canterbury. Brave, creative, grounded and full of colour. Bek described her as “grateful in a way that fills your chest and that was exactly what I felt on the day.”
The brief could not have been more open which is my favourite way to work.
Colour. Personality. A beautiful hand painted mural Zahara created herself. Something fun that allowed a story to unfold.
Shared Values
Kestrel Lane is a boutique interior design studio designing from concept to completion with people at the centre. Bek’s human centred approach aligns perfectly with what I aim for in every shoot. To see people. To hear them. To document their real story.
Zahara’s ethos is all about making people happy. Beurre Cakes is about ordering something crafted with skill, hours of thought and genuine care. I love this mindset because it is exactly why I do what I do.
Why This Shoot Mattered
All three of us come from corporate backgrounds that did not fill our cups. We each made the choice to step into something of our own and anyone who has done that knows the mix of uncertainty, challenges and heartache it can bring. Especially right now.
This is why collaborations like this matter. Supporting each other. Creating something meaningful. Being around kind humans, bold colours and yes, the most incredible pastry I have ever eaten. I still think about it.
I had to incorporate Lauren’s (Barrister) Boots (Merry People) in this shot #chefskiss
Like this story? Check out how I documented a Blacksmith, David from Simply Forged from Ashmore Arts