Headshot & Portrait Reviews
“A superb eye and made me feel so welcome and comfortable in her home studio.”
Anna is a fantastic photographer who I would highly recommend to anybody looking for actor or professional headshots and portraits. She has a superb eye and made me feel so welcome and comfortable in her home studio. She really goes above and beyond to capture the perfect images.
Harry Jefferies, Actor
“She made me feel like an actor collaborator.”
Anna was the best to work with. She has a very perceptive eye for personality and atmosphere and she made me feel like an active collaborator (as opposed to a problem to solve, or worse, a target). And I am not a relaxed subject, to say the least. I would recommend her to anyone. What's more her rates are very reasonable, especially given the level of skill and attention she provides.
Andrea Gates, Writer & Graphic Designer
“The experience and results exceeded my expectations.”
I arranged a session of corporate headshots with Anna in March 2023. The experience and results exceeded my expectations and I now have a great set of images to use for websites, social media and formal presentations as we build the company brand. Anna is friendly, professional and understands how to get the best out of her subjects. The session was enjoyable, relaxing and interactive and the edit process offers a great in-person opportunity to work with Anna to select the right images for you.
Corporate Headshot session with Rob
“She truly understood the brief in order for me to use the images for my website.”
Anna is so brilliant at what she does and made me feel completely at ease during our session. The outcome of the photos turned out amazing and she truly understood the brief in order for me to use the images for my website. It was a great experience working with her and I would recommend booking a session for anyone seeking superb photos.
Mia Chaar, Screenwriter & Director
“On both occasions, she was absolutely brilliant.”
Anna has helped me with two separate shoots, and on both occasions, she was absolutely brilliant. She is incredibly professional, and will be sure to get the best out of you!
Thank you, Anna. It was a real pleasure and the black and whites are amazing. You made it a very comfortable experience and I will certainly recommend you to friends.
“You actually made me look as if I have a brain in there - quite how you did it I don't know.”
I’m really thrilled Anna, better than I could possibly have imagined!
You actually made me look as if I have a brain in there - quite how you did it I don't know. Really amazing results, very very chuffed with your work.
Ed Davey, Investigative Journalist & Novelist
“Anna has great patience and talent in getting the right shots”
Excellent photoshoot with the very lovely Anna McCarthy today. Anna has great patience and talent in getting the right shots, and her post-production skills are awesome. Thank you, Anna!
Portrait session with Chris for modelling agencies
“This is such a boost as I start out in the business and I'm so glad I came to you”
I can't tell you how delighted I am with the results and grateful for your care and effort. Despite my nerves about being in front of the camera, you reassured me from the get-go, really taking the time to understand what I was looking for and helping me to prepare.
The shoot was a lovely surprise as your approach and warmth and unhurried atmosphere made me completely unflustered and I even began to feel good about myself as you photographed me and to enjoy it. Amazing!
I have come away with some flattering relevant images that feel like 'me' and I'm very confident in putting 'out there'. Thank you, Anna. This is such a boost as I start out in the business and I'm so glad I came to you.
Jane Reavley, Psychotherapist and Counsellor, new business/website
“I would highly recommend Anna to any other young singers and actors in the London area”
From the moment I arrived Anna made me feel at home and prepared. Everything was covid-secure but very hospitable, and she was ready to nail the vibe we wanted to convey.
Anna went the extra mile to get me into the right mindset. A prog-rock playlist let me channel a Bond energy I certainly don't deserve, and her well-trained eye produced a range of fantastic shots for me to select from. Anna captured a dangerous but elegant quality that I aim to embody in many characters of the baritone repertoire.
The best shoot I have ever done, and I would highly recommend her to any other young singers, actors and public figures in the London area.
“Thrilled with the results”
The photos are amazing. Anna has caught the spirit of every shot, I am thrilled with the results.
Georgina Noakes, Performance Coach
“Extremely professional, she is also an extraordinary artist, who I truly recommend”
I’ve worked with Anna on two occasions, to promote my new novels. Anna’s sensibility, intelligence and field experience made the photoshoot remarkably easy. She was able to capture the exact feeling that I was looking for, improving it with her creativity and unique eye. Extremely professional, she is also an extraordinary artist, who I truly recommend.
Nuno Nepomuceno, thriller writer Book jacket, headshots & publicity images
“Anna makes you feel totally comfortable and yourself”
Anna makes you feel totally comfortable and yourself and it shows in her amazing work
Pilar Ordovas, Gallery owner and Art Dealer
“This was such an amazing day”
You have created such a wonderful series of images. This was such an amazing day with you. We truly created our own Fantasia in spontaneous creativity spearheaded by you! I adore them.
Lyndell Mansfield, Artist & Stylist to the Stars
“The pictures are not just beautiful but totally honest. Exactly what I wanted”
Anna came to my house in Oxford on a beautiful sunny day to take some photos for my first EP. I was nervous because I had not been photographed much before, but straight away, before the camera was even out of its bag, Anna made me feel totally comfortable. She is such an interesting and fun person to be with, I felt completely unembarrassed. We went a little out of Oxford into the countryside, first to a field of flowers and then onto a ruined abbey, chatting and stopping every now and then for Anna to take pictures.
Anna totally understood the brief and what I wanted the pictures to say about me. We talked about my music and my life, rather than my ‘image’ or ‘style’. It felt natural and easy.
Lydia Baylis, Singer-Songwriter. EP Cover session
“The session helped me to understand how I come across to others”
I just wanted to let you know how much difference those photos have made to my own image of myself at work. The session helped me to understand how I come across to others, and boosted my confidence when it comes to handling public events.
Siobhan Peters, Chief Executive for the Mayor’s Office of Policing and Crime, London
“Creative and adaptable”
Anna’s warmth and enthusiasm made me feel immediately at ease. She suggested ways to stand and move to capture the best pose and made me smile naturally.
She was creative and adaptable about finding the most suitable areas with the best light and backdrop. I thoroughly enjoyed the session and I’m delighted with the pictures.
Ellen, business headshot outside with social distancing
“When Anna photographs me, I relax”
A good portrait has more to do with how you feel than how you look.
When Anna photographs me, I relax – and it shows.
Michael Palin, actor, writer, comedian, television presenter
“I’ve used the images extensively on my site, as publicity material and to adorn the cover of my new book.”
My portrait session with Anna just felt like I was hanging out chatting with a mate - barely noticed the photography bit – and that takes a lot of skill. The best set of photos I’ve ever had done because I was relaxed.
I’ve used the images extensively on my site, as publicity material and to adorn the cover of my new book.
Elvis McGonagall, stand-up poet, comedian and broadcaster
“The best I’ve ever had”
The Photographs Anna has taken of me are the best I have ever had.
Jill Stein, Interior Designer and co-founder of The Seafood Restaurant, Padstow. Portrait session
“I can confidently report that she works wonders”
My pleasure at having a book accepted for publication was (almost) dimmed by a follow-up request from the publisher for a photo. I reckon I am somewhat elderly for a photoshoot. However, it was needs must, and Anna had taken such gorgeous photos of our young grandchildren a few years ago that I naturally turned to her with my problem.
All doubts were dispelled. I felt completely at ease and ended up with a terrific choice of photos. I can confidently report that she works wonders – especially with the potentially problematic age groups of the very young and rather old!
Gillian Perrin, pianist and author
“Lovely, calm and professional”
Like most writers, I don’t feel at all comfortable in front of a camera and it usually shows, but you were so professional, friendly and reassuring, I had complete confidence that I was in safe hands – and I was right. The whole experience was much more enjoyable and the results far better than I could have dared to hope. You were lovely, calm and professional and I would recommend you without reservation.
Clare Chambers, novelist
“A true gift for making people shine”
Anna - What a day! What a joy it was to spend it with you doing what you do so brilliantly. You have brought out faces and personalities that I knew I had but wasn’t sure I could show. You have a true gift for making people shine and be who they are without them knowing it and an amazing eye.
It was like being in a playground with you. I had so much fun.
Sinead Madden, Graphic Designer, portraits and images for a new website
“My memory of the experience is more ‘girls afternoon’ than ‘dreaded publicity shoot’”
Anna is without a doubt an exceptional photographer. I’d recommend her for her warmth, lightness of touch, and straight-talking humour. I’ve never enjoyed having my picture taken but Anna managed to do her job almost without me noticing. My memory of the experience is more ‘girls afternoon’ than ‘dreaded publicity shoot’.
Shelagh Fogarty, radio and television presenter and journalist
“A very talented photographer who I have no hesitation in recommending”
Anna came highly recommended to me – and she didn’t disappoint. Her professional but relaxed, friendly and interested manner immediately put me at ease and I soon realized I was actually having a good time having my portrait taken which is something I could not have imagined possible!
Anna made me feel my absolute best, and I was utterly delighted with the resulting pictures. She provided me with the classic portraits I wanted as well as some more unusual but equally flattering options so that I had really good alternatives for different purposes. I will definitely use Anna again. A very talented photographer who I have no hesitation in recommending.
Dr Lynda Shaw, Neuroscientist and Business Strategist
“wonderful experience”
Thank you for the wonderful experience. I love the results.
Mark Oldfield, Baritone
“Her talent and expertise have resulted in photos that look relatable, realistic and authentic and like the best version of me.”
Truly delightful day. Having decided to take the time and invest in myself and business, it was really a joy to have such a positive experience. Anna has the enviable combination of genuine talent, passion, and ability to make her subjects feel completely relaxed.
Her talent and expertise have resulted in photos that look relatable, realistic and authentic and like the best version of me. That is all things photographic allocated to her from now on!
Nicola Grant, Business Portraits
“Her secret weapon is that she is also a delight to spend time with”
Anna is creative and professional, and the results she produces are a testament to that. Her secret weapon is that she is also a delight to spend time with, making even the most reluctant of subjects completely at ease.
Geraldine Woods, Director, Yellow Poppy Media