Creative brand photography in Croydon
Nestled in the heart of leafy Sanderstead, on the outskirts of Croydon, you’ll find a new haven for art & design enthusiasts: Hive Design Studio.
The creative hub is the brainchild of business partners Jo and Felicity. Housed in a former public convenience turned teashop turned art studio, Hive is now a welcoming space offering bespoke workshops for budding creatives of all ages.
With the help of a talented team of tutors, Hive specialises in bringing people together to learn, create & connect. Their workshops cover everything from watercolour painting, drawing, pottery & candle making to Japanese bookbinding & photography; there truly is something for everyone.
Of course, no creative session is complete without a little fuel. Hive serves tea, coffee, and homemade cake, and for special occasions, they’ve created the ultimate treat: a “Craft-ernoon Tea”, complete with a bottle of fizz to sip while you create.
Their mission? To inspire & nurture creativity in a warm and welcoming environment.
Brand Photography at Hive, Croydon
Back in the summer, I spent a day with Jo and Felicity in their Croydon studio, capturing everything that makes Hive so special as part of their brand photography portfolio.
As someone who grew up drawing, painting, cutting & sticking, before heading off to art school in my late teens, I felt right at home. It was creative heaven!
Jo and Felicity gathered some of their tutors & former students to be photographed. We laid out fresh canvases, lined up sharpened pencils, filled old jam jars for brush washing & set out palettes bursting with vibrant watercolours.
Jo baked a cake. Felicity poured the tea (and later, the prosecco). We staged & photographed a handful of workshops, capturing the chat, the laughter & the sparks of creativity that Hive does so well.
The Results
The final photographs showcase Hive not just as a studio, but as a community hub where creativity & connection flourish.
As I look back through the images, I feel that childhood creative spark & I’m trying to choose which workshop I’ll book into first.
If you’d like to find out more about Hive Design Studio (and see some of my images featured on their site), you can visit their website and book a class here.
“We had a brilliant experience working with Ally for our brand photography at Hive Design Studio. From the outset, she set up the shoot by asking us questions that really helped us clarify what we needed, which meant we got the absolute most out of our session.
On the day, she was flexible, professional, and made the whole shoot feel fun and relaxed. We’re so pleased with the final images – they’ve been used across all our channels and really elevate our branding.
Having a bank of high-quality photos and stock footage we can reuse has been incredibly valuable – and brilliant value. Highly recommend Ally to anyone looking to capture the heart of their business through photography.”
– Jo, Hive Design Studio
In the meantime, here are some of my favourite photos that capture the Hive spirit.
Jo & Felicity spend some time preparing the studio before a class.
The watercolour tutor shows students what to do.
Toasting their creativity with some fizz!
Sweet treat to keep the creativity fuelled!
Jo & Felicity finish the shoot by celebrating Hive’s first anniversary!
Professional brand photography in Croydon, London, Surrey & the South East
I’m Ally, a photographer based in Croydon, South London, specialising in helping brands build a portfolio of creative images that showcase their business & attract their ideal client.