In the words of Leslie Caddy writing for Westside Magazine:
Shakespeare is to photography what Dior is to dressmaking… Simon Shakespeare, that is. He has taken the craft of portraiture and turned it into haute couture, in a way that marks him out as a pioneer in his field.

This is the designer approach to photography. it’s fresh, it’s contemporary, and it’s now available in Brandon with the launch of Shake Portraits.

Walk through the doors and you are left in no doubt that this is cutting edge lifestyle art.

This is the
designer
approach to
photography,
fresh and
contemporary.

This un assuming building has been transformed into a space that wouldn’t look out of place on the pages of Homes & Gardens, never mind behind the lens.

It oozes class: clean white walls, stylish red leather couches, a curving wooden reception desk and pools of light picking out tasteful examples of the studio’s work – eye-catching portraits that make the subjects look vibrant and interesting, as though they’re actually enjoying the experience.

It’s all about imagery and Simon knows exactly the image she wants his work to project: “Very punchy, very clear and very good quality,” he says. “Getting away from the production line and offering the kind of service and value that will make people want to come back again and again.”

Simon is certainly not the stereotypical photographer. He may be artistic, but he lacks the narcissistic temperament that so often goes with it. He may be at the top of his field – sought out by society and aristocracy – but he’s as down-to-earth as the guy next door. Simon started out as a wedding photographer. Well, actually he started out as a vintage car enthusiast who ran a wedding car hire business. Then he got the photography bug and the rest as they say is history.

He built up a successful business – and a reputation for the kind of candid shots that stand out from the ubiquitous line-up of beaming brides and their doting relatives.

He became secretary of the Master Photographers’ Association of Yorkshire, England and spent six years working from premises near his Rotherham home, building up his portfolio and traveling the world at the expense of high-end clients.

But Simon’s ambition was to set up a cutting-edge studio which would attract the kind of people he wanted to work for:

“We want to
give people
an experience”

people who appreciate a photograph as a piece of art, rather than a desktop snapshot, as he puts it. And when he spotted the empty unit on Oakfield Drive Brandon, he knew he had found what he was looking for.

His next step was to recruit staff – studio manager and photographer Nicola proved a lucky find and between them they auditioned dozens of would-be photographers, receptionists and graphic artists until they had completed their team.

Approach is the key ingredient, says Simon. “We want to provide people with something really different, so our photographers are young and vibrant and understand what we’re doing; even the receptionists are people who will buy into the whole concept.

“We want to give people an experience, some good service and, at the end, a fantastic product,” he says.

The nerve center of Shake Portraits is a bright white room where the lighting is carefully adjusted to create the perfect studio ambiance. Subjects are encouraged to wear bright clothing,

“It’s about
expressions,
capturing
the moment.
That’s the
power of
photography.”

to bring accessories, props – even the family dog! Then the interaction begins.

“Its a negative of what photography used to be,” says Becky. “We don’t put people into poses. We’ve created a space where we know the lighting is right, so the clients can relax, move round and respond to the photographer. It gets some great results.

“It’s about expressions – capturing a moment. That’s the power of photography and this approach is very natural; not too staged. It brings out the fun and the real personality of the subjects.”

Shake Portrait’s specializes in various aspects of portraiture, from family groups and new baby shots to fashion and boudoir sessions and commercial work. Client and photographer discuss what is wanted, building up a rapport. Then dozens of photos are taken during an hour-long shoot, exploring up to ten different scenarios.

A few days later the clients return for the moment of truth. The results are presented as a slide show, complete with background music, in the studio’s viewing lounge, which is like a mini cinema. Chosen pictures are printed to order and mounted in hand made frames. A truly bespoke service followed by a bespoke product. There is even the option for clients to just buy the digital files to use for Christmas cards or even print themselves should they wish.