Essay Photography - THE Portrait Professional

Essay Photography is a portrait specialist based in Shirley, Shirley (West Midlands), led by Sean O’Shaughnessy. Our philosophy is simple: our studio is the natural world – it’s your world. We make portraits that are about people, not just of people, using light, location and conversation to create images that feel honest, confident and genuinely you. With decades of experience in portraiture and a background in music and editorial photography, Sean brings a creative eye and technical confidence to every session. Whether you want a contemporary studio portrait, a relaxed lifestyle shoot on location, or a professional headshot for LinkedIn and business profiles, we focus first on who you are and what you want to say. Our images are crafted to become beautiful wall art and useful marketing assets, not throwaway files. How we work: sessions are friendly, unhurried and tailored to each client. We take the time to talk through styling, mood and purpose before we press the shutter. Many clients tell us they feel at ease quickly because we coach poses naturally and keep the atmosphere conversational rather than staged. For those wanting a deeper transformation, our Dream Xperience makeovers (hair & make-up with editorial styling) are available to create striking, confidence-boosting portraits. We specialise in studio and on-location portrait photography in and around Shirley and the West Midlands. Headshots and business portraits are offered with a clear understanding of personal branding — how a single image can become the new handshake for your professional profile. While portraiture remains our core expertise, we also support businesses with complementary imagery when needed, always prioritising authentic, on-brand results. Choosing Essay Photography means working with a photographer who values storytelling, composition and local craftsmanship. We aim to produce images that become part of your home or your professional presence — portraits you will admire for years. To discuss a session or to find out how we can create portraits that tell your story, drop us an email or call for a friendly chat.