11/09/2026
Set 1: The Bauble Arch: My "I Can Do Better Than That" Moment
This one has a bit of a story behind it.
I came across a photo online of a giant arch covered in baubles, and it was stunning. Genuinely, it stopped me scrolling. Then I looked closer and realised it was AI generated. Not a real backdrop, not a real set, just a very convincing image.
And something in me went, "right, well, I can actually make that."
So I went on a mission. I spent weeks hunting down baubles, literally hundreds of them, in every colour you can imagine, trying to find the right mix that would look rich and full rather than sparse and sad. Attaching every single one by hand took a ridiculous amount of time and patience I didn't know I had. My back will confirm this was not a quick job. Oh have I mentioned, I had 2 toddlers 'helping' me?!
But it was completely worth it, because when I finally stood it up and stepped back, it looked exactly like the picture in my head. Better, actually. My daughter walked past, stopped, and said, "oh mummy, that is incredible amazing!" and honestly, that was the moment I knew I'd got it right. If it impresses a six year old who has seen every set I've ever built, it's doing something right.
Paired with an elegant navy backdrop, the arch becomes the perfect spot for those slightly more formal family portraits, the ones that might end up framed on the wall or on this year's Christmas card. Hundreds of colourful baubles against that deep navy just feels festive without tipping into chaos.
www.rubyboxphotography.co.uk
