I got my first taste of Oasis in the 90s via the Britannia Music Club (showing my age here – but if you know, you know). I wonder how many times I’ve listened to Wonderwall since then? No gap. Just a change of format. From CDs to digital, their music has stayed on my playlist.
I didn’t manage to get tickets to the big reunion tour but not getting a seat has its perks. What I’ve saved in £ means more chances to support brilliant local music — and Norwich never disappoints. I recently photographed a live gig in the city, and the energy, the noise, the connection… it reminded me why I love doing this. You don’t always need stadiums. Sometimes you just need a basement and some earplugs.Here are a few images from the night. Featuring Tiger Night, Mo Feral and Beast with a Gun at The Holloway Norwich.
A few first looks from another shoot with Karen – known online as Fabulous Miss K. These portraits are part of a wider set of content we created together for her personal brand. Every look is self-styled by Karen using pieces from her own wardrobe – full of vintage X confidence. I naturally lean in to an editorial vibe. I love a bold, punchy, and a full of character outcome… will share more at a later date.
If these images speak to you, if you want portraits for content/your brand that have and editorial bite, and real character feel free to get in touch if you’d like to work with me.
Pleased to have my image Things from Other People’s Homes selected to be in Shutter Hub’s new publication Home. Shot in my studio, it features two of my second hand finds, a velvet chair from eBay and a rug from Oxfam. I’m endlessly inspired by objects with a past life; they bring character, history, and texture to both my home and my photographic work. Honoured to have this piece sit alongside so many other interpretations of what “home” means. The publication is released late summer 2025 and I’ll let you know once it’s out and where it’s stocked.
Delighted to have the below image selected for ‘In The Grey Area’ at the Gray Area Galley’s Contemporary Summer Art Show.
The image Titled - Artist Simon Pritchard will be displayed 8th -17th August at the Norwich Gallery. Please do go a long if you can where you will find the works of 40 other artists in the show. If you can’t make it then you can sign up to the gallery’s newsletter for more information and to stay up to date on future happenings -https://grayareagallery.co.uk/
As always thanks to Simon Pritchard for letting me lens him. If you want to learn more about Simon’s art practice you can find him here - https://www.artbeat64.com/about/
This portrait made it to the judges print round of the 2025 Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize, we didn’t made the final exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, London, sadly but I’m very happy to have got this exhibited in this brilliant summer show.
I’m very happy to share that my portrait of artist Simon Pritchard made it through to the judges’ print round of the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2025.
This year, nearly 6,000 entries were submitted to one of the most prestigious portrait photography awards in the UK, and under 400 of those were selected for the final judging stage, so I’m incredibly proud to have been among them.
This is the second time I’ve reached the print round (I also made it this far in 2023), and although my work won’t be part of the final exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery this time, I still feel a genuine sense of achievement. It’s no small thing to have work recognised by such a highly regarded panel, especially within a field that’s full of exceptional photographers.
The portrait - ‘Artist Simon Pritchard - Self Styled’ - is of Simon Pritchard, a painter known for his bold, cult film-inspired paintings and distinctive sense of style, both in his work and in life. The work explores personal style as self-determined identity. Simon’s visual presence, reflects a deep connection between creative practice and outward expression.
The shoot session process was conversational and unforced. These are Simon’s own clothes, he has styled himself using his own wardrobe. I wanted to push the boundary of traditional portraiture by including multiple elements (still and moving image, environmental audio, the photographer’s own voice).
It isn’t polished or theatrical, but it’s emotionally honest. During this shoot session, we spoke about the films, eras, and subcultures that inform his creative identity. This portrait is part of a larger body of work created during just one session, that includes photography, audio interviews, and moving image. I’m still working through the work created that day to collate it into a body of work I’ll share more of soon.
Reaching this stage in the Taylor Wessing again has been a real reminder of why I make portraits: to tell stories, to celebrate individuals who shape their worlds with care and creativity, and to quietly question how we see and define identity.
I’ll keep trying. Hopefully, one day, I’ll make it into the final exhibition. But for now, this moment still matters, and I’m really pleased to share it here.
If my work resonates with you and you’re interested in working with me, whether that’s a portrait, a creative concept, or something entirely unique, I’d love to hear from you. You can explore more of my photography and visual art on Instagram or kerrycurl.com, and get in touch to discuss commissions or projects.
BTS: In Between Moments with Morwenna Farrell’s Valentine’s Collection
Here are a few black and white behind-the-scenes frames from my shoot with artist/designer Morwenna Farrell for her Valentine’s collection. These are the quiet (and sometimes chaotic) in between moments I love most, the laughter before the pose, shoes half-on, a dress settling into its shape, the details and moments that give a look at how it all came together… When I worked the pit and backstage at London, Belgrade and Norwich Fashion Weeks, I realised it was the behind the scenes that really held my interest. Those experiences shaped the way I work now: a documentary approach that’s observant, unobtrusive and people-first.
Thanks to the ALWAYSEXCELLENT Cathy who I’ve been lucky enough to photograph a few times. Cathy’s instagram
If you’re planning a campaign, lookbook, runway, or studio day and would like me to join your team to get the behind the scenes get in touch. Say hi: hello@kerrycurl.com
New work with Norwich’s Ninety Three Store, a brilliant independent lifestyle shop championing considered pieces and everyday style. I spent an afternoon photographing two models in a mix of look. Easy layers, good textures, and those small details that can be easier to find when you shop small.
Between still portraits and a few video clips for social media, I wanted the images to sit somewhere between fashion and real life. Charlotte the found of Ninety Three Store has an amazing eye and cast two really brilliant people as models, Adeline and Lucie.
What I love about Ninety Three store is the ethos: curated, community-minded, independent. Supporting indie shops keeps our high streets interesting and our wardrobes personal. These photographs are a little love letter to that. Maybe they are also a love letter to November sunshine. Scroll to see more images.
If you’re local, pop in and say hello; if you’re further afield, give them a follow online and support independent wherever you are.
Norwich’s has a rich history in shoe making and whilst the world has moved on and the shoe factories are closed, we do have one former factory which until it’s redeveloped is proving a space for art and creative projects. It’s a space I absolutely love.
Morwenna Farrell kindly asked me to once again photograph her fashion show. If you see Morwenna’s name on repeat in my Journal and on my socials its because we make work together a lot. It’s incredibly special to keep being asked back repeatedly to shoot Morwennas collections and events and as she has evolved as a creative I’ve also photographed her many times as she steps into being a music artist too. This shoe factory event combined both her fashion and her music. What a perfect combo.
I photographed from pretty much everywhere: front of house as the looks hit the concrete runway, backstage getting those behind the scenes and side stage with the music acts who turned the whole thing into a gig-meets-fashion moment.
The collection itself is by an artist who hand-sources killer vintage pieces and screen-prints onto them to create one-off, wearable artworks. Garments with stories, not just seasons. What I love about these nights is the mix: performance and portrait. Huge thanks to Morwenna Farrell, models Cathy, Karen, Eden and Trish and musicians for letting me roam around and document it all. Scroll further for more runway, backstage and live performance images.
I LOVE that indie creatives are finding ways to get their work out there, make their own events, not waiting for someone else to make it happen for them. If you’re planning a show and want both the behind-the-scenes covered and want me to get those moments for you Say hello at hello@kerrycurl.com.
Running into the Light: A November session with Movement Artist Amy Ollett
On a bright October day I met up with movement artist Amy Ollett with a simple plan: be outside together and make new work. No heavy concept, just fresh air, space and we were blessed with sunlight. We’ve worked together several times and always return to the same shared interests: motion, rhythm and the blur between performance and portrait.
I also filmed short clips throughout the afternoon. They currently live as a reel on Instagram, although and I plan to shape them into a more curated moving-image piece soon. You can see the reel over on my instagram here
If you’re a movement artist, dancer or brand and this kind of work connects with you please get in touch if you’re interested in working with me. Say hello at hello@kerrycurl.com
A project from 2023. Shot in a house I was just moving out of, based on an urge to make one last piece of work in a space that had been home for seven years. Years that had seen me graduate university, begin the stages of navigating the creative industries as a photographer, and of course those lockdown times. I’m in the process of writing this project up and will add it to the Personal Projects section on my website menu.
I may have shared this image as an ‘image of the week before’… but I take a very holistic approach to these posts and generally share what takes me at the moment I’m looking for an image to share. Perhaps I should be be more organised and have the images prepped in advance more often, but I also quite like taking a lucky dip through my work and seeing what’s landing with me at that moment in time.
Why journal at all? It’s a way to share more work, you can only show so much on your website and instagram. Those of you who have followed my work/career for years will already know I used to be a ‘blogger’. From around 2010-2014 I wrote a pretty successful blog about vintage and secondhand fashion and style. I worked with many amazing brands and had some brilliant experiences.
However by 2014, I was becoming concerned about over consumption and was I pushing that through my blog? Blogging was changing and although I didn’t know it at the time, the hints of ‘influencer’ culture were starting to develop. I knew something was changing and it wasn’t a direction I was feeling my groove with. It was a hard choice to stop blogging (in fact I killed years of work by taking it off line). Blogging 100% helped me get on the career path I am now on. Not just through the opportunities it gave me but the way it helped build my confidence and explore and develop my interests. In those early days of blogging, us bloggers were just throwing our thoughts out online, not even knowing if anyone would read our posts. Following numbers didn’t matter to most of us. Those days seemed like much simpler times…
A rework of a shoot with Music Artist Molly Willis. I like revisiting past work, having many many files to go back through during those lockdowns was the distraction i needed. In an effort to be organised on social media, I was going back though work to plan some instagram posts. I’ve had a couple of months enjoying a mainly successful instagram detox, so this task did not come easy… which is perhaps why I found myself looking ways to disseminate the work. Creative procrastination.
You can see more from this work (along with a music visualiser) made in the summer of 2023 here
Just a quick post to share some news about an event this month where you’ll be able to find me. Artist Morwenna Farrell returns to the Shoe Factory Norwich for an evening of fashion and live music. She’ll be showcasing her latest upcycled vintage collection and screen printed eco tshirts with her signature western style.
Models will walk to live music from a hand curated selection of bands, who will be playing stripped back sets so a beautiful opportunity to hear some fresh music, watch some looks and just generally have a nice evening.
Ten artists are also showing some work to create an exhibition. These artists have been invited by Morwenna and I’m happy to say I’m one of them. Alongside all of this, there will also be some creatives with stalls, I’ll have some prints for sale. I’ll also be photographing the show and the music - so some along and say hi.
Morwenna has also super kindly offered me some space at the Shoe Factory to create some personal work so I’m very excited to see what comes out of this because it’s a space I find so inspiring.
Some pictures to give you a flavour of what Morwenna’s last launch event in the Shoe Factory was in 2022. If you’ve followed my work for a while, Morwenna Farrell will be familiar as I’ve been lucky enough to work with her so many times over the years both as she’s developed her amazing brand and now her music career too.
Always a pleasure to work with her. She puts her heart and soul in to her creations, creating the designs, sourcing the vintage, screen printing by hand, writing her own songs… she is the true definition of an indie artist, she is incredibly supportive and a wonderful ambassador of slow fashion and music in Norwich. I’d encourage you to go take a look and maybe follow if you don’t already.
To discuss working with me or to make general enquiries drop me an email hello@kerrycurl.com Follow me over on instagram
Image of the week with Jordan Wake. This is from an ongoing project called ‘Beyond Threads’ which documents my meet ups with Jordan, which are infrequent so this is a very fluid project with no closing date. The benefits of this mean there’s no pressure and each time we meet is an opportunity to just play and explore with clothing as we catch up on life.
I photographed this in an empty shop unit in Norwich which I set up residency in for a while and used it as a studio space to make work. I like working from environments which aren’t dedicated photography studios. In fact none of my studio spaces so far have been ‘typical’ ranging from backrooms of old shops, former galleries, this shop space and the latest on is above a sign manufacturing business…
Someone asked me recently why I spend time making personal work, and allow my focus to drift onto personal projects. I could only answer with three words.. “Why wouldn’t I?…
To chat about commissions, make general enquiries or suggest ideas on how we can work together, feel free to email me hello@kerrycurl.com . Follow me over on instagram .
As we approach the countdown to the end of the year, I find myself as per usual, using Autumn for a bit of reflection and thinking ahead to the new year. I think it’s a September ‘new term’ thing. In many ways I find September more of a key month that January.
So despite all of the above the work I’m about to share is actually from 2023, because it’s one of those ‘wow was it really that long ago??’ moments and I realised that although I had shared some of the work I made behind the scenes of Finn Doherty’s music video previously but there was also lot that I hadn’t. It was a full day shoot so unsurprisingly given that Finn and his team had created three amazing sets, there was a lot of imagery, ranging from documenting behind the scenes to capturing stills of the scenes. I loved it.
Team credits:
Directed by: Atkin and Finn Doherty
Produced by: Finn Doherty and Paolo Tuveri Director of Photography: Samuel Robinson Editing and Colour Grading: Elif Gonen Gaffer: Ray Njoku 1st AC: Isaac Stanley Hair & Makeup: Olivia Birch Stills: Kerry Curl
‘Figure It Out’ written by: Finn Doherty Produced by: Evin Durkin & Finn Doherty
I would love to do more work like this, going behind the scenes to document music videos, so if you are planning something and would like an extra layer to your content offerings to share with your audience then get in touch.
I’ve had to make my piece with the word ‘content’ and that photography can and very often does fall in to this category as we are forced to feed the social media monsters and layer what we share and how we share it. So if you are making work and want to create an image library so share more than the official final outcome, let’s chat.
Beam Me Up Cowboy — new band imagery for The Molee Shakes.
Together with Morwenna Farrell of The Molee Shakes, I cooked up some cosmic vibe visuals to accompany the their track “Beam Me Up Cowboy.” The brief: western with a spacey twist. Why have one cactus when you can have two… Really pleased with how these turned out, like a a 60s70s sci-fi TV show.
We also shot a video this day which I’ll share in a future post.
Scroll to see the series: portraits, instruments and a few playful group shots that land between performance and promo. Huge thanks to the band and guest Gavin Bowers who makes a cameo on this track.
If you’re a musician or label looking for story-led visuals—single art, press portraits, cover shoots or behind-the-scenes and would like to work with me, say hello at hello@kerrycurl.com
Some news on the 23rd Julia Margaret Cameron Awards…I’ve had some success in this latest round of awards in the form of six Honourable Mentions in both the Fine Art and Portrait categories as well as also receiving a Winner Award in the Portrait category.
I’ve just updated my ‘About’ page if you’d like to have a browse of how my images have been received and exhibited over the years.
For the 23rd Julia Margaret Cameron Awards, the selected images were:
To chat about commissions, make general enquiries or suggest ideas on how we can work together, feel free to email me hello@kerrycurl.com . Follow me over on instagram .
Huge thanks to the lovely humans featured in these images. They are all creatives and/or people with an instagram profile, If you’d like to visit them you can find them below -
Happy to share that this images made with Dance Artist Chloe Rowlatt has been selected for The Glasgow Photographers Gallery group show which runs 5th - 30th June 2024.
To chat about commissions, make general enquiries or suggest ideas on how we can work together, feel free to email me hello@kerrycurl.com . Follow me over on instagram
Their shows are always brilliant and feature artists working with a varied range of mediums. I’ll be showing some work from my ‘The Last Ballad of Magdalen’. The opportunity to exhibit this work has also afforded me the chance to sit down and express some thoughts about the concept of the work.
I’ll share some more once the exhibition is live, I’ll be sharing prints and moving image. If you can make it then please come along!
Exhibition details
TBA - Artist Collective. Five Years
Opening Eve: March 7th 6-9pm (all welcome)
Exhibition dates: March 8th/March 9th 10am-5pm
March 10th 12pm-4pm
Location: The Shoe Factory St. Mary’s Works - St. Mary’s Plain, Norwich NR33AF
‘The Last Ballad of Magdalen’ features Eden, and the shoots assistant was Morwenna Farrell. The work was conceived as a poignant ode to bidding farewell and forging new memories steeped in a simulated nostalgia.
Come along and see more if you can, but I’ll also share as much as possible on social media too, including the exhibition itself plus more on the concept and ideas behind the idea. Every item in this work is second-hand/vintage and/or already owned by Eden or myself. If you’ve been following my work for a while you’ll know incorporating vintage and second-hand clothing is an enduring and important element in my work. Utilising and repurposing them is very much part of my process.
Hopefully see you there!
To chat about commissions, make general enquiries or suggest ideas on how we can work together, feel free to email me hello@kerrycurl.com . Follow me over on instagram
Documenting the creative process is one of my favourite things to do, so when The Molee Shakes asked if I’d be able to come and observe them in the studio as they recorded their first album the answer was a big YES.
Recorded at Catch 21 Records in Norwich and thanks to the recording studios owner Gavin for having me along.
I photographed The Molee Shakes first live gig a couple of years ago so it’s lovely to be able to document their story like this.
To chat about commissions, make general enquiries or suggest ideas on how we can work together, feel free to email me hello@kerrycurl.com . Follow me over on instagram
Had a super quick flyby shoot with the band UFORODEO this week.
They’re at Red Rooster Festival later this year but you can also catch them elsewhere - keep an eye on their instgram for news and updates. https://www.instagram.com/uforodeoband/
To chat about commissions, make general enquiries or suggest ideas on how we can work together, feel free to email me hello@kerrycurl.com . Follow me over on instagram
SOMEWHERENOW - A durational work by Movement Director Hannah Ashmore, performed at Norwich Shoe Factory with dance artists from Norwich City College.
I recently had the chance to capture the City College Norwich dancers as they created improvised performances on the opening night of the college’s ‘Apricity’ art exhibition. It was an interesting one to document as the dancers moved freely through the building, the artworks and the many guests.
Once again I found myself understanding how much being photographer backstage at fashion weeks has developed my style and that I feel extremely comfortable with my documentary approach to the making process. A special thanks to Movement Artist Hannah Ashmore for involving me in her ‘SOMEWHERENOW’ project. I’m looking forward to making more work with Hannah in 2024.
Photography/Video - Kerry Curl
Music - Monsplair
To chat about commissions, make general enquiries or suggest ideas on how we can work together, feel free to email me hello@kerrycurl.com . Follow me over on instagram
In the 22nd Julia Margaret Cameron Awards, I’ve been fortunate enough to be recognised with a few Honourable Mentions. One of the series awarded is called ‘Meeting Chloe,’ which was a collaboration with dancer Chloe Rowlatt I’m so grateful to have been able to create this work at my forever happy place The Shoe Factory in Norwich. Additionally, a heartfelt thank you goes to Morwenna Farrell for generously sharing the space, enabling me to pursue new ideas and projects.
The second series selected is ‘The Last Ballad of Magdalen’ Both of these series received their Honourable Mentions in the Fine Art Catagory. This series was features Eden and was assisted by Morwenna Farrell. I’ll be sharing some more from this series next month so I’ll save sharing more about the concept and ideas behind it until then.
I’ve also been fortunate to receive some Highly Commended awards in the single image categories too. In the Fine Art category one of my acid landscapes was selected (you can read more about that project here) the other selected image was from a collaborative photoshoot with model Lindsey-Ann and hair stylist Kathy Narayn-Webb. Work including this image and video from this shoot with Lindsey-Ann and Kathy has been preciously shown in an Open Studio in Norwich (2021). It’s nice to be able to keep finding new audiences for the work.
The final Highly Commended award goes to an image of Jordan Wake in the Portrait Category. This image was also long listed in the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2023. It’s part of an going project with Jordan which I’m in the process of writing about and adding to my selected projects section of my website.
To chat with me about commissions or make general enquiries, suggest ideas on how we can work together, feel free to email me hello@kerrycurl.com . Follow me over on instagram
I’ve photographed Karen (Fabulous Miss K) This particular image is just one among many captured during various shoots over the years. Some images from this shoot went on to find a wider audience, with one being selected as a winning image in The British Journal of Photography’s Portrait of Britain 2019 and another being displayed at the ‘Hello Future Fashion’ exhibition as part of Norwich Science Week in 2021. This particular image though has sat on a hard drive. Revisiting this work a few months ago this one uncropped really caught me. Left uncropped, including the behind the scenes preserve’s its authenticity maybe. Plus the body language and perhaps I also miss this studio space a little bit.
The studio it was taken in was the back room of a former tattoo shop in Norwich. Despite its rough and unfinished appearance, the space had a unique bohemian vibe that inspired creativity. I worked from there for a couple of years. I don’t miss the dampness or chaos of the building, but I look at the walls and the paint splattered concrete floor and I must confess a sense of nostalgia for its rawness and honesty.
Reflecting on my creative journey, I find myself acknowledging the impact of my environment on my process. Unconventional studio spaces have played a pivotal role in shaping my work. I question if I would have created the same impactful images in a more clinical setting.
I’m now on my fourth studio in six years. I’m hoping 2024 will afford me time to make a fair bit of work in my current studio and I’m curious to see how this latest space will influence my work. Yet, amidst the changes and evolution, the several studio moves, I do hold onto the memories and lessons learned from my time in each one, even that crazy back room in the old tattoo shop. It was a place where creativity flourished and where I developed.
Will my current space be my forever studio? Well, what I have also learned is that studio’s don’t always stay the same, things change and buildings evolve. So will I be posting about a studio move at some point in the future? I wouldn’t rule it out.
Karen is a stylist specialising in vintage clothing. You can view her website here
To chat with me about commissions or make general enquiries, suggest ideas on how we can work together, feel free to email me hello@kerrycurl.com . Follow me over on instagram
Last summer I shot on Finn Doherty’s music video and I cannot tell you how much I LOVED it. I took some stills from each scene but also some behind the scenes which really let my documentary loving heart fly free.
What I always loved about being backstage at fashion week was being able to observe, document and hopefully capture the energy of the moment - so transferring those skills to going behind the scenes on a music video honestly felt like ‘home’ to me really.
I’ve got so much to share from this project but to start off here’s some BW shots documenting some of the moments that might otherwise have gotten lost.
Please also check out Finn’s video, I’ll link further down and as I sit here on a Sunday night, planning, dreaming and hoping how I’d like my 2024 to look, I’d like to raise a glass to all of you and everyone who is also out there trying to make their creative thing a reality, because its hard work and I’m with you.
Finn’s video
Team credits
Directed by: Atkin and Finn Doherty
Produced by: Finn Doherty and Paolo Tuveri
Director of Photography: Samuel Robinson
Editing and Colour Grading: Elif Gonen
Gaffer: Ray Njoku
1st AC: Isaac Stanley
Hair & Makeup: Olivia Birch
Stills: Kerry Curl
‘Figure It Out’ written by: Finn Doherty
Produced by: Evin Durkin & Finn Doherty
Mixed and mastered by: Lavar Bullard
If you’re a creative and want your behind the scenes captured get in touch. hello@kerrycurl.com . Follow me over on instagram
I just stumbled across this one on my hard drive. Although I edited this as part of my Acid Landscapes series I didn’t include it in the finals. I’m not sure why. Although it’s sometimes so hard to know what to leave in and what to leave out. This is why I started this journal really as a way to show more work. There’s only so much you can have in your portfolio be it digital or physical and even though instagram acts as a way to document work - it’s gone in a scroll and it’s not even easy to get your followers to see your uploads these days anyway. So this journal acts as a place for the images to ‘be.’
I’ve now written up this project and added it to the ‘selected projects’ tab. I might revisit the wording, but you can read about here
I’ll be adding some of these for sale later in 2024.
To chat about commissions, make general enquiries or suggest ideas on how we can work together, feel free to email me hello@kerrycurl.com . Follow me over on instagram
