Frequently Asked Questions

A Life Story Session is a relaxed, guided conversation - never an interview - designed to preserve a person's voice, presence, and essence.

We spend unhurried time together, talking naturally while I create intimate, documentary-style portraits and discreetly record our conversation. There's no script, no checklist, and no pressure to "perform". We follow the stories where they want to go.

The result is not content - it's connection. A beautifully crafted heirloom book and a private digital archive that holds your words, your expressions, and the way you are in the world, forever.

Not in the traditional sense.

There's no posing, no "say cheese", no artificial setup. This is documentary work. The photographs are quiet, honest moments - a pause, a smile, a tear, a shift in expression - captured as they naturally unfold within conversation.

The camera never leads. The person always does.

This is one of the most common concerns - and it's exactly why this works.

Having a story doesn't mean you've lived an extraordinary life. It means you've lived a human one. The moments that matter most are often the ones people think are too ordinary to mention.

My role is to create a space where those moments surface naturally, without pressure or expectation. We move at your pace. Nothing is forced. And almost without exception, people finish the session surprised by how much was there all along.

Very little - by design.

You don't need to rehearse, research, or dig out old photos. The best preparation is simply to arrive open. If you'd like, I'll send a gentle guide beforehand with reflective prompts, but it's entirely optional.

On the day, all we need is a comfortable space and the freedom to take our time.

Wherever you feel most comfortable and most yourself.

That's usually your home, your place of residence, or a special place that holds meaning for you. The environment can be important - it often becomes part of the story, quietly woven into the final work.

In almost all cases, no - and this is intentional.

The most honest, open, and profound conversations happen one-to-one. Without an audience, people speak more freely. They don't self-edit. They don't worry about embarrassment, interruption, or even gentle, well-meaning judgement.

If you'd like to capture a shared story - a couple, siblings, or a specific relationship - I offer dedicated joint sessions that are structured very differently to honour that dynamic. Just ask.

There is no stopwatch.

Most sessions fall somewhere between two and three hours, but that's only a guideline. Some deeply powerful sessions have been completed in under an hour. Others unfold slowly over four.

We take the time the story needs. We never rush. And the length of the session does not determine the quality of the outcome - the commitment is always the same: to create something exquisite, meaningful, and true.

You receive two interconnected heirlooms.

The Story Book: A beautifully crafted, bespoke presentation piece featuring curated portraits alongside carefully transcribed moments from our conversation. Designed to be held, revisited, and passed on.

The Digital Archive: Private, high-quality audio clips from the session, some dedicated filmed messages for loved ones if you wish, and a gallery of exquisite images. Delivered securely for long-term preservation.

Together, they preserve not just what was said - but how it felt to be there.

This is for anyone who values being remembered as more than a memory.

People book sessions for themselves - to capture who they are at a particular moment in life. Partners book them to honour shared history. Families commission them to hold onto a voice they love. Some people choose to do this while navigating illness or change, wanting to speak clearly and honestly, on their own terms.

It is not defined by age or circumstance - only by the value of the story.

The Life Story Session is £1,800.

This includes the consultation, the session itself, all editing and design, the bespoke presentation piece, and the complete professional digital archive. A £500 deposit secures your date, with the balance due one week before the session.

Everything is taken care of. You simply show up as yourself.

Your deposit is non-refundable, as it reserves time that cannot be rebooked. If illness or emergency means you need to reschedule, I will always do my best to accommodate a new date.

For cancellations made within one week of the session, the final balance is also non-refundable, as that time has been exclusively held for you.

Before It Fades is based in Pembrokeshire, where most sessions will take place. I'm also able to travel across Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion, and further afield where appropriate, depending on the nature of the session.

Because each Life Story Session is personal and time intensive, any travel outside the local area would be discussed clearly in advance, including any additional costs, so everything is agreed simply and transparently.

Because we all believe we have time - until one day, we don't.

This isn't urgency born of fear. It's authorship. Choosing to speak while you can, in your own voice, as yourself - not filtered through memory or loss.

We all have someone we wish we could sit with again. Someone whose voice we'd recognise instantly. Someone we'd give anything to hear say our name one more time. Imagine having that - their words, their expressions, their presence - held safely, forever, available when you need it.

Stories don't disappear because they lack importance. They disappear because they're postponed. Always something for tomorrow.

This is an act of care. For yourself, and for the people who will one day miss you more than they can explain. Do it now. Do it again in a few years. Capture the changes, the growth, the evolution. These aren't just keepsakes - they become anchors. Touchstones. Gifts that grow to become priceless, with real meaning for generations.

Some things are too precious to risk losing.

Good. Let it.

Emotion isn't something to avoid here - it's where the truth lives. Tears, laughter, long pauses, quiet moments of reflection - these are not interruptions. They're the point.

Those moments often produce the most powerful portraits and the most meaningful recordings. This is a safe, held space for all of it. Nothing needs to be edited out or held back.

I'm not just a photographer.

I'm a trained listener - a former Samaritan, a trainer of listening Samaritans, and a bereavement champion - and someone who understands how much weight a story can carry. This work sits at the exact intersection of my skills and my values: technical craft, emotional intelligence, and deep respect for the person in front of me.

You can read more about my background and approach on the About Me page.

Completely.

Your story is never shared, reused, or repurposed without your explicit, written permission. I work alone and treat every session with discretion, respect, and care.

The first step is a short, no-pressure connection call.

We'll talk about what you're hoping for, I'll answer any questions, and we'll see whether this feels right. There's no commitment and no obligation - just a conversation.

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