Hertfordshire Business Doorstep Portraits - Chorleywood & Rickmansworth
As lockdown eased and it became safer to go outside and photograph people from a safe distance, I beganto pick up my camera again and went looking for a story to tell.
A business isn’t just made - there is someone behind it pouring love, hard work and time into making it a success. And Covid-19 has hit us all hard! To support the gorgeous local small businesses in my area, I embarked on a new project: Business Doorstep Portraits of local business owners around Chorleywood and Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire which is where I live. It’s more than a business headshot, or a mini personal branding photoshoot - it’s documenting this time in our history and highlighting that the businesses on our high street are doing everything that they can to support others and stay afloat.
I am a local Chorleywood photographer and own this brand, personal branding photography for creative business owners and family, as well as a family and wedding photography brand over at www.freckleandwild.com. On my daily exercise walks during lockdown I have been photographing my community. Whether it be doorstep family portraits or the stunning Chiltern countryside.
But as a small business owner myself, I began to reach out to lcoal businesses to find out how they were doing during lockdown. So I decided I would visit these business owners on the doorstep of their closed business premises to photograph them and ask three things:
What has it been like for you during these strange times?
How are you continuing to serve and provide for the community?
What safe measures and assurances your staff and customers will be safe when you reopen?
This project was also featured in our local My News Mag
Beth from Beth’s Buns and BB’s Play Cafe
Doorstep portraits are not just for families in lockdown, they're also for small business owners. Here we have Beth outside her soft play Cafe on the Chorleywood high street. While the cafe is closed to keep children and parents safe, and Beth is uncertain when she'll be able to open again - she's still working hard!
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She, like many of us, are plugging the holes in her business, organising things she's had to put off in busier times and focusing on what she CAN DO. This includes baking and delivering delicious cakes locally.
When she opens her doors again, she will ensure that her customers are as safe as possible.
Instagram: Check out her cakes here @bethsbuns and her cafe at @bbsplaycafe.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bethsbunsbakery/
Address: Beth's Buns Shire Lane, Chorleywood, Rickmansworth, WD3 5, United Kingdom
Sheryl from Chorleywood Bookshop
Chorleywood Book Shop is still here for the communities bookworms and card givers. Sheryl, the owner of Chorleywood Book Shop is making sure her door is slightly open to the community by taking book orders and online and providing a safe pick up for them.
It has been tough for Sheryl to close her book shop and she is keen to re-open again and when she does there will be every safely precaution you can think of in place, from distanced queues, PPE to one way systems. She is dedicated to ensuring her customers and her staff are kept safe when the time comes to open her door fully.
Instagram: @cwgxbookshop
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChorleywoodBookshop/
Address: 4 New Parade WD3 5NJ London, United Kingdom
Hannah from Hannah’s Health and Beauty
f you live in Chorleywood, chances are you'll know Hannah! She's been in the beauty business for 16 years and lived in Chorleywood her whole life and at the moment, like everyone else, her business is closed.
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She's still working though, doing what she can to serve her community and her customers who love and trust her. If you pop her a DM she'll be able to provide you with a price list of products she's still selling throughout lockdown - her page has handy tips of mindfulness, beauty and wellness too!
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When Hannah opens the doors to her Health and Beauty salon, she will make sure her staff and clients are safe. You'll need to book in for an appointment as she won't be allowing walk ins, her staff will have all the PPE they need and the salon has had a deep clean and a fresh coat of paint inside - squeaky clean!
Instagram: @hannahshealthbeauty
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hannahs-health-beauty-148263115272708/
Address: 50 Heronsgate road WD35 Rickmansworth
Laura from Woodys Fired Pizza
Meet Laura from @woodysfiredpizza she serves up fresh great tasting artisan pizzas that show a real love for simple, high quality ingredients.While Laura's usual jobs are on hold as she and her horsecart pizza miracle cater for weddings and parties. Laura and her team are providing Chorleywood with pizza by safe collection.
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OF COURSE I had to order a pizza (or two) from Laura and can confirm - they are incredibly tasty!
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To order a delicious pizza treat, contact Laura:
Website: https://www.woodysfiredpizza.co.uk/
Email: Laurajane2017s@gmail.com
Phone: 07968 416 343
Neil & Belinda-Jane from Trend and Thomas Estate Agents
Trend & Thomas is a family run business, a husband and wife team who as COVID-19 hit had to juggle keeping abreast of the shifting Government guidelines, making sure they were taking care of their clients and home schooling!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Neil & Belinda-Jane have still been serving the community and their clients not only with usual business but helping those needing advice who have been affected by the pandemic.
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To raise morale, they also provided a Ricky Town Colouring book, a free download which they then filled their windows with all the kids colouring in! A beautiful way to brighten up the high street.
Since they have re-opened fully, they have shields, PPE and hand sanitiser in place to ensure anyone who pops in is kept safe. They are both so grateful to Teachers, our staff, NHS workers and cleaners.
Instagram: @trendandthomas
Website: https://www.trendandthomas.co.uk/
