Anoif Photography

12/06/2026

09/06/2026

The third edition of The Brand Edit didn’t quite go how I expected...

After Malton, I thought the project would naturally gain momentum.
Then Pickering had only a handful of applications.

Then Helmsley had even fewer.

I found myself wondering why. Was it the algorithm? Was it because branding photography still feels like a luxury to some small businesses? Or perhaps businesses in our smaller market towns are only just beginning to see the value it can bring.

One of the promises I made when I started The Brand Edit was that I’d share the journey honestly, so that’s exactly what I’m doing.

The funny thing is, whilst Helmsley had fewer applications, it still introduced me to someone brilliant.
Grania, and This Other Eden.

A colourful homeware and garden shop in the heart of Helmsley, filled with carefully chosen pieces sourced from Yorkshire and beyond. The sort of shop where you pop in for a quick look and end up staying far longer than you planned.

Spending time with Grania reminded me why I started this project in the first place.

Not just to create photographs, but to meet the people behind local businesses, hear their stories, and help more people discover them.

And sometimes those conversations lead to other conversations, new introductions, and opportunities you never expected. It’s becoming one of my favourite parts of The Brand Edit.

I’ve shared the full story on the blog, including how Grania went from helping build a successful retail space in Ripon to opening This Other Eden in Helmsley, why showing the person behind the business matters, and what I’m learning as this project moves from town to town.

🔗 Link in bio
The more I do this project, the more convinced I become that every business has a story worth telling.

08/06/2026

Watch to the end to see who won June’s Brand Edit

05/06/2026

If you are based in Kirkbymoorside and surrounding areas it’s your chance to apply for The Brand Edit my lastest project that spotlights local businesses though my documentary branding photography approach. To find out more simply click the link in my bio and read all about it. You can apply there too.
Applications closed Monday 8th June at midday and the winner will be announced later that day. So far I’ve worked with a Social Media Strategist, Cecily and Pete at and Grania at .other.eden in Helmsley this project is helping me spread word of small businesses in my area whilst showcasing my own working and hopefully demonstrating how valuable good, well thought out branding photography can be for a business.

04/06/2026

Is it just me who thinks about these things?

How many tiny decisions, chance encounters and crossed paths have to happen for two people to end up standing together on their wedding day?

Last Saturday, I found myself thinking about exactly that while listening to Taryne’s speech at Hackness Grange. Before they met, Taryne and Blythe’s lives had overlapped more times than they realised. They shared mutual friends and crossed paths on several occasions, yet somehow never properly met.

Then they did.

Blythe was completely smitten.

Taryne, quite sensibly, needed a little more thinking time before agreeing to a date 😆 And the rest, as they say, is history.
The thing that really got me, though, was hearing how Taryne grew up in South Africa and applied to universities all over the world.

When her place at Leeds came through, she made the brave decision to move thousands of miles from home.

It’s madness to think that if she’d ended up somewhere else, somewhere in America perhaps, we wouldn’t have been standing there last Saturday watching them exchange vows.

One application.
One decision.
One leap of faith.
An entirely different life.

From their emotional first look to the sparkler exit at the end of the night, their whole day felt full of gratitude for the journey that brought them here.

What a couple.
What a place to celebrate.
And what incredible people to spend the day with.

Now tell me...Is it just me who lies awake thinking about how people end up finding each other?

02/06/2026

I wish more people knew how much good brand photography could help them elevate their business.

Not because better photos magically create success.
But because they change the way you show up.

Yesterday I heard someone say:
“Insecurities are people’s greatest flaw.”

And it got me thinking...
So many business owners are carrying around stories that are holding them back.

“I’m not photogenic.”
“I don’t like being in front of the camera.”
“My business isn’t big enough yet.”
“I’ll do it when everything is perfect.”

But it’s always words that start the process of action.

The words we tell ourselves can either unlock our insecurities or reinforce them. That’s exactly why I created The Brand Edit. Each month, I choose one local business and give them a branding photography experience designed to show them what everyone else already sees.

Not just a collection of photos.
✔️ A confidence boost
✔️ A fresh perspective
✔️ A bank of images that genuinely reflects the quality of their business

I’ve already had the privilege of working with and .other.eden through this little project, and it’s been incredible to see what happens when business owners start showing up more confidently. Sometimes it can be the conversation we had that starts knocking down the barriers you had in your mind.

The fact that someone else can see you and your vision can be more powerful than you ever realise.

This month, The Brand Edit is coming to Kirkbymoorside.
If you’re based in Kirkbymoorside and you’ve been putting off professional photography because of one of those stories you’ve been telling yourself... this might be your sign.

Applications close at midday on Monday 8th June.
Or if you know someone quietly building something brilliant, send this their way.

Apply via the link in my bio


 


01/06/2026

01/06/2026

I recently heard someone say this...

“Wearing red in photos stops the scroll and encourages the swipe.”

Whether that’s scientifically proven or not, I don’t know 🤷🏻‍♀️ But it got me thinking about something I talk about all the time...Good branding photography isn’t just about taking nice photos. It’s about making intentional decisions.

When I met with Emma from Four Trees Counselling, we talked about far more than locations and outfits.

We talked about her clients.
How she wants people to feel.
The story behind her business.
The things she enjoys outside of work.
The little details that make her who she is.

It comes back to this: people don’t connect with perfectly curated brands. They connect with people.

The red trousers might stop the scroll.

But it’s Emma’s story is what encourages people to stay.
And that’s really what branding photography is about.

Creating images that don’t just look good, but work hard for your business.

Save this if you’re planning a branding shoot this year

And tell me... do you think the red trousers worked?

29/05/2026

You may not agree with this, but I believe people buy from people.

It doesn’t matter how beautiful your products are, how lovely your shop looks, or how much thought you’ve put into every detail. If people don’t know the story behind it all, they’re missing a huge piece of the puzzle.

Think about it. We’ve all met people who could sell just about anything. Not because the product was better than everyone else’s, but because they were passionate, knowledgeable, and genuinely cared about what they were offering.

That’s why I think it’s so important for small business owners to show themselves in their businesses.

This Other Eden is filled with beautiful homeware and garden pieces, carefully chosen by Grania. But the thing that makes it different isn’t just what’s on the shelves. It’s Grania’s eye for design, her love of Yorkshire, and the atmosphere she’s created within those four walls.

The photographs from this Brand Edit aren’t just about documenting a shop. They’re about helping people connect with the person behind it. Showing potential customers what they’ll discover when they visit, and giving Grania a bank of images she can use across her website, social media, press features and marketing as the business continues to grow.

Because whilst products catch people’s attention, it’s often the people behind the business who make them stay.

Applications for the next Brand Edit in Kirkbymoorside will be opening soon.

If you’re a local business owner and would love to be considered, make sure you’re following along for updates. 👀

ShopLocal Helmsley YorkshireBusiness

27/05/2026

Double the fun at the weekend with two cousins sharing their Christening day, little Sonny and Hettie 🤍

It was especially lovely to be there because I photographed both Sammy and Vicky’s weddings a few years ago now. There really is nothing more special than being invited back into people’s lives again and again, getting to see families grow and new chapters unfold.

One of my favourite parts of the day was capturing Hettie, Sonny and Rupert with their great-grandparents. Not everyone is lucky enough to still have them around, and having those photographs feels incredibly precious.

I actually split the photo in slides 6 and 7 because that moment deserved a little extra space. It’s one of those images that will only become more valuable with time.

Thank you, for having me back and trusting me to capture another important family milestone.

Days like this are also a reminder of why I love branding photography so much. Whether it’s a Christening, a wedding, family life, or a business, I’m always looking for the same thing: the story.

The relationships.
The little interactions.
The moments that might seem ordinary now but become priceless later.

Because people connect with stories, not perfection. And that’s just as true for a brand as it is for a family.