CASE STUDY
Waste Less Shop: Jessica
A brand photography session capturing the calm, sustainable heart of an independent, waste less shop on Chilwell High Road in Nottingham.
Beeston · Shoot · 9th September 2026
Meet Jessica
Jessica runs Waste Less Shop, an independent, sustainability-focused shop in the Beeston (NG9) area of Nottingham. From vegan, gluten-free and organic food to laundry refills and handmade jewellery from independent makers, every item is chosen with care and intention. Jessica's mission comes from her own personal journey to make sustainable, low-waste living feel accessible, considered and calm.
More than a shop, it's become a community space for those local to Beeston and Nottingham somewhere which is pressure-free and relaxed, built for a slow, gentle browse rather than the rush of a typical chain retailer.
The Brief
As a local brand photographer working with independent and small business owners, having visited the shop over the years, I was very excited for this shoot. Jessica needed imagery that captured the atmosphere of her shop as much as the products in it. Sustainable and zero-waste brands often get photographed in a way that feels product-first vs person-first. Jessica needed personal brand photography that reflected the calm, inviting feel of actually stepping inside Waste Less Shop with her at the forefront of her story.
The images needed to bring her social channels to life with the refill stations and product displays, the handmade treasures from local makers, and Jessica herself showcased in her space with welcoming headshots that let customers put a face to the shop they love.
The Approach
Rather than a styled, staged shoot, we worked directly in Jessica's shop on Chilwell High Road, photographing her in her natural environment. As her brand photographer, my job was to capture the shop as it really is with the shelves of refill jars, the handmade jewellery displays, the considered detail in how everything is laid out. Soft, natural light became a consistent thread, echoing the calm Jessica wants every visitor to feel.
I captured relaxed personal brand headshots of Jessica, showing her warmth and approachability as the face of an independent, community-minded business. We also took some time to photograph her with a local maker Becky from Snuggles and Kisses.
This variety of images gives Jessica a versatile library of content for Instagram and other social channels, letting her promote products, share the shop's story, and build trust with customers who want to shop independent.
The Outcome
Jessica now has a flexible, on-brand image library: headshots for her social bios and about sections, product and interior shots for everyday posts, and imagery that captures the genuine, calm feel of Waste Less Shop. All of it reflects the same sustainable, community-focused values the shop is built on.
The real brief behind every shoot like this isn't to make a shop look staged, it's to bring out the authenticity already there, so the right customer feels drawn in before they've even walked through the door.
I found working with Kelly to be very easy and relaxed. She was very personable and had a very clear vision for the type of shots that would work well to promote my business. I highly recommend working with her if, like me, you are not the most comfortable or confident in front of a camera.
If you're a Nottingham business owner who'd love photos that actually feel like you, I'd love to hear about your shop. Get in touch, and let's talk about what a personal brand photography session could look like for your business.