Olivia Carrell
ABOUT Olivia
I first met Olivia Carrell when we were both studying at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) in Manchester. She’s a wonderful soprano who has since built a brilliant career performing and teaching across the UK and Europe. Back in April 2019, she reached out because she needed some updated portraits for her website and upcoming concert programmes. She wanted something creative and natural, completely steering clear of those stiff, clinical 'concert hall' poses that clutter the classical music world.
WHAT Olivia Needed
Olivia came to the session totally prepared with a clear vision and a few different outfits so she’d have plenty of variety for her promotional materials. The main thing she needed was a shoot that captured her real, vibrant personality using soft, clean light. However, shooting in a popular public space like a gallery can make people feel vulnerable, so she needed a relaxed pace where she could change easily and feel completely at ease without a public audience watching her every move.
WHAT I CREATED
I structured the session around a quiet afternoon at The Whitworth Art Gallery, which is easily one of my favourite spots in Manchester. The architecture offers a beautiful mix of historic and modern backdrops, and the massive windows let in an abundance of soft, diffused natural daylight. On a typical overcast Mancunian day, this light creates a deeply flattering glow that highlights the subject naturally.
To handle the challenge of shooting in a public space, I used a handy trick: I checked the ‘popular times’ feature on Google Maps to plan our session during the gallery's quietest period. It worked perfectly. The shoot felt entirely relaxed, moving at a comfortable pace that accommodated her outfit changes easily. I captured a mix of natural, radiant portraits that show her true artistic depth alongside her genuine warmth.
Highlights
On-location session at The Whitworth Art Gallery, utilizing soft, natural Mancunian light.
Smart timing via Google Maps data to avoid crowds and keep the environment low-pressure.
Multiple wardrobe changes to build a versatile bank of standalone portraits for CVs and programmes.
Honest, clean editing that highlights true-to-life tones with absolutely zero artificial filters.
WHAT Gemma SAID
coming soon
