Filming for this year's John Lewis advert took place in July & August, and the big department stores are often working a year in advance designing their glittering shop windows. So when Sarah from Simply By Arrangement approached us to collaborate on the Live Ribble Valley magazine front cover, and being Christmassy folk anyway, October seemed to be a more than reasonable time to be working on it!
Sarah had the idea that the cover should showcase a big wreath, held by a small child, and that the feel should match the muted tones that the magazine favours for its covers. As we'd worked with Ethel before, we absolutely knew she had the perfect safe hands for the job!
So one October morning, we all gathered around Sarah's kitchen table for pre-shoot tea and crumpets. Ethel is a big fan of a nice cup of Yorkshire tea!
As we were choosing outfits downstairs, Sarah took Ethel on a little tour to show her the views.
Outfit decided, we ventured out.
Unfortunately the first outfit was a little on the itchy side, so we came back in for a rethink, and another cup of tea. I 'amazed' Ethel with my 'where's the top of my thumb gone' trick!
We tried a few more outfit and hat combinations.
And then rested on this, which was the shot chosen for the front cover.
Just before we left, Roger next door took us on a little tour of his barn (I had so many shoot ideas racing through my head!), and he also looked rather fetching holding the wreath too!
We're looking forward to making our own wreath under Sarah's expert guidance in a couple of weeks - we just might need to get a bigger door!
