Hi! I’m Ellen.
Ever since experimenting with my first camera I’ve been in love with taking pictures, playing with and capturing light in all of its beautiful forms. The way the late afternoon sun makes shadows dance across a table, or how an overcast day can soften tones and turn colours a pastel shade — these simply make my heart sing!
For me, photography is also about documenting those split-second moments and making them last many lifetimes - a fleeting glance from a stranger, a drop of condensation on a chilled wine bottle. These moments are full of beautiful realness, which I strive to capture.
Ellen Richardson Photography
I’ve developed my skills and understanding across a variety of genres by working internationally in multiple photographic mediums. I pride myself on delivering consistently fresh and exciting images and love to work with a wide range of clients in the UK and abroad.
The majority of my work is focused on food, lifestyle and event photography. Heading into the city to shoot a busy new bar, or out to the Sussex countryside to capture a picturesque vineyard makes for varied and fulfilling days!
When I’m not working with my clients, you can often find me shooting portraits for friends or wandering new towns and cities, camera in hand. I just can’t stop!
HOW I WORK
I like to keep each shoot flexible and relaxed - I find this helps the creativity to flow. We’ll chat about what you’re looking for via email or phone beforehand, or if we’re local and you’d prefer to talk in person, let’s grab a coffee. If creative direction would be helpful, I’ll mock up a mood board for us to talk through.
Most of my wonderful clients are located in Brighton and Hove, which is where I’m based, but I cover all of Sussex, London and Kent, and I’m more than happy to travel further afield. As they say, have camera, will travel!
Once we've found a date and time for your shoot, I prepare by getting the measure of the location and our forecast. I’ll make a plan for how best to work with the natural light, looking at elements such as window direction, light and dark areas, and where there’s shade if we’re going to be outside on a bright sunny day. These preliminary plans help to ensure we get consistently beautiful shots on the day. Then it’s just one final catch up to check everyone’s happy, and it’s time to get stuck in!
Digital or Film?
My client work is typically shot on digital, as it enables me to reliably deliver consistent results with fast turnaround times. But I do have a soft spot for film photography as well, as I find this intimate and experimental medium fascinating and I often take one of my 35mm or medium format cameras on my travels or when walking around Brighton.
If you’re after that distinctive film look and feel in your images, I’m always open to exploring options with my clients!
MY story
I fell in love with photography in my early teens when I was gifted my first “proper” camera for Christmas. Ever since then, I’ve been fascinated by light and how to capture it.
In 2014 I decided to pursue my passion and launched my own photography business, and a year later escaped to the southern hemisphere to work and travel. I spent three years in New Zealand and Australia, where I shot fashion editorials, covered New Zealand Fashion Week and worked events and festivals with VICE Australia, and really found my feet as a photographer.
I moved to Brighton in 2018 and was completely charmed by the vibrant hospitality scene, and I’m now very proud to be working with a wonderful array of restaurants, bars, cafes, hotels, breweries and vineyards in the city and across Sussex, and looking forward to expanding further this year!
