I have long had a love affair with Jane Austen’s novels. I’m a keen reader as it is, but when I first discovered Austen in my younger years I could sense the quiet rebellion in her writing at a time where women were very institutionalised into their gender role and relied heavily on the male presence for survival. A lot of Austen’s heroines fought against this imposed societal necessity but with a happy ever after ending none the less. After all, you have to respect the historical context and the need for Austen to make sure her characters continued to live fulfilling lives but having overcome obstacles first.

I love the style, the floating fabrics, the romanticised visuals and beautiful natural aspect of the English countryside that creates an environment of pure romance and freedom. And so a Jane Austen inspired photoshoot just had to be done and where better than by a babbling brook where we could recreate our own little Mark Darcy moment.

I absolutely loved this session. We each wrote a letter to ourselves; our present selves. It was important to me that we were able to embrace and respect the journeys we’re all currently on. Not a future version of ourselves with “hope” involved, but a letter where we fully see the woman we are today. The struggles we’ve endured. The respect, love, care and acknowledgement that we need to value in ourselves.

Without a doubt I will be re-hosting this session in May 2026 because it was just beautiful in all aspects. It felt like a quiet rebellion to patriarchal system we’re all still surviving within. A chance to spend a morning with like minded women just allowing ourselves to embrace our femininity and romanticise the lives we want unapologetically.