Client Spotlight: Eira — Dark, Magical, and Wonderfully Creative

Person in dark gray sweater covers their face with both hands in a series of moody, dark photographs. Author headshots london
Artistic black and white portrait series showing a person in dark sweater against black background . Author headshots Hampshire
A person wearing a dark knit sweater sits in moody lighting while laughing and looking down in a series of artistic shots. headshot author

Some sessions stay with you long after the camera is packed away, and Eira’s author shoot is one of them.


If you’ve followed my work for a while, you may already recognise her. We’re not strangers. Eira and I first met back in 2018, when she was a bridesmaid at a wedding I was both photographing and attending. We bonded instantly over our love of The Lord of the Rings (both of us have dogs named after hobbits , my little floof is Pippin, and hers are Merry and Ivy).


From that day, I knew she was someone special. Smart, funny, wildly creative, and full of ideas. So when we started planning her first official author photographs ahead of her debut novel, I was already excited.


Her book, a YA dystopian fantasy that will be published by Graffeg in May 2026, and if the story is anything like the world she wanted to create visually, readers are in for something incredible.

A person in a black sweater stands among bare autumn trees near a lake on an overcast day. Fantasy writer headshots
Moody autumn landscape photos showing trees reflected in still water under an overcast sky. fiction and fantasy writer

A Session Built on Collaboration


Before the shoot, we spent time brainstorming and shaping the mood. Eira wanted something dark, moody, magical, dystopian. Not polished perfection, but atmosphere, grit, texture, and a sense of world-building.


This is the part of photography I love most: the collaboration.


When a client brings ideas, energy, and trust into the space, everything opens up.


That’s exactly what happened here.


Because we planned, played, and experimented together, we got so much out of just one hour.


We moved through different setups, leaned into shadows, tested shapes and expressions, and allowed the brief to evolve naturally. It was easy, intuitive, and full of creativity, the kind of session that reminds me why I do what I do.

A series of photos showing someone wearing a gray sweater holding a book while standing in an autumn park setting at dusk.
A sequence of portrait shots showing someone in a gray sweater with changing expressions against a neutral background.
Woman in a dark wool peacoat poses thoughtfully against an autumn forest background.
Portrait of someone wearing a dark sweater with soft lighting and natural makeup against a blurred background.

“I had my first proper author photo shoot recently in readiness for my novel coming out next year and, hopefully without sounding like a raging narcissist, I am so chuffed with the pictures! I can't for the life of me make up my mind which to use for what though, I feel like I need to redesign my website just to make the best use of them.”

Meet the Author

You can visit Eira’s website here:

www.eiramorganjones.com


Her debut novel is set to release May 2026 with Graffeg, and I honestly cannot wait to get my hands on it.

Vintage black and white photo showing people sitting on a bench in a park surrounded by trees and foliage.
A series of dark moody photos shows someone illuminated by the glow of a digital screen in low light.
Moody artistic portrait series showing a person in a dark sweater against black background making expressive poses.
Black and white portrait series showing joyful expressions and genuine laughter while wearing a cozy sweater.

Why This Session Matters

Every branding or headshot session feels different, but this one is the perfect example of what happens when:

  • You bring your full creative self
  • You trust the process
  • You collaborate rather than simply pose
  • You come prepared with a clear mood and direction


Author shoots are some of my favourites because they sit right on the edge of portrait and storytelling. You’re not just capturing a face, you’re building the visual doorway into a world they’ve created.


With Eira, that world is dark, sharp, imaginative, and full of heart.


And I’m grateful I got to help shape the first glimpse readers will see.

A Final Word

Eira, thank you for trusting me.

For the hobbit chatter.

For the laughter.

For letting your creativity lead the way.

You showed up fully, and the images reflect that.


I cannot wait to see your book sitting on shelves next spring, and to say, “I know her.”