Hi, I'm Celie
I'm Celie Nigoumi - a Personal Brand & Lifestyle Photographer. I'm based in Frome, Somerset and work all over the UK with people who are looking for soulful imagery to help share their story.
After graduating university with a First Class degree in Visual Communication in 2016, I worked as an In-House Photographer for multiple big brands before pursuing a career focusing on the style of Photography that I love.
My style has a relaxed, documentary approach and steers away from awkward smiles and white backgrounds. With your favourite music playing, I'll capture the real you in an environment that fits your brand, making the most of natural light - and adding a little extra when it's needed.
By far the best part of my job is seeing my clients confidence grow throughout our session. Everyone starts off by saying how nervous they are but are creating organic and beautiful poses and truly enjoying themselves before they know it.
Ok, now for the serious stuff...
I grew up on The Sound of Music and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang although my favourite film of all time has to be School of Rock, closely followed by About Time and The Place Beyond The Pines.
I'm always taking on new hobbies - as cheesy as it sounds I just love to learn! Crocheting and knitting are my new favourites, and my study walls are full of my more successful Lino prints. There's a ukulele in the corner...we won't talk about that one.
Reading menus and visiting pet shops both fill me with excitement.
You can usually find me listening to Frazey Ford, The Big Moon, Sudan Archives, Lizzo and David Gray or watching Grey's Anatomy when I'm in an editing cave!
THERE IS NO AUTHENTICITY WITHOUT TRUST
Asking to step in front of the camera can feel daunting and uncomfortable for a lot of people, which is why I have made the whole experience as easy as possible by:
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Meeting on Zoom to not only plan our session, but also to get to know each other and build a trustworthy and friendly relationship
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Providing you with a Brand Questionnaire so I can discover more about who you are and why you do what you do. I don't only ask the obvious questions, I want to delve into the deep stuff and really learn about your drives and passions
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All sessions include a bespoke, comprehensive Shoot Plan, Vision Board & Style Guide to help you prepare and build up your confidence
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My sessions are between 3 and 6 hours to give you time to settle into the shoot and discover that it's actually pretty fun!
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Providing gentle direction and being your biggest cheerleader before, during and after our session to make you feel like the awesome person you are
Core Values
Creativity
We'll plan our session with passion and inspiration so the images reflect exactly the type of person you are. With creative lighting and styling we really can make anything happen.
Empowerment
My biggest goal is for you to feel strong, centred and at peace throughout our time working together.
Before the shoot, you'll have space to open up about any insecurities you may have, and during the shoot I offer guidance to find the most flattering lighting and angles.
Support
From your first email to after the final gallery delivery, I'm here to make you feel as excited, grounded and comfortable as possible so you feel confident and proud of this milestone. My inbox is always open to questions, no matter how huge or insignificant they may seem.
Intention
Our final images will be consistent and beautiful and created with collaboration at heart.
Attention to detail and authenticity are at the forefront of my mind while I shoot, and with our plan and vision board to hand, we'll be sure to produce images that are an extension of you.
Connection
I take time to get to know all of my clients on a more personal level, rather than just being someone you hire. The vulnerability we introduce into our relationship will influence the authenticity we are able to capture.
Equality
My books are open to everyone.
Whatever your background, lifestyle, work or talents, I would love to hear from you.
I am fully Neurodivergent friendly as I have recently found out I have ADHD, so understand the processes that work for our brains!
My clients say...
"Celie is amazing!
I'd seen pictures she'd taken of my daughter, but my daughter is young and beautiful so I had no confidence my pictures would be anything like.
But I was wrong! Celie brought out the best in me. I felt graceful and confident and it completely shows. She helped me with some clothing and hair choices and helped get me into settings that complimented each look. I now have some professional photographs that capture my character and my surroundings absolutely beautifully.
Not only was I delighted with the results, I really enjoyed the experience. Celie is very easy to be with and for people not totally comfortable in front of a lens (and frankly that's most of us), her down-to-earth direction is a wonderful asset."
"Celie brings expertise, passion for her work and a calm presence to a shoot.
I wanted some new branding images for my business and Celie took her time to understand me, my business and what I was looking for in some photos.
The shoot itself was a LOT of fun and way more enjoyable than I would have forseen.
I'm really happy with the results and have some amazing images to work with now. Thanks Celie."
Sophie Lang
Founder of leisurely
"I came to Celie for some headshots for my business (I'm extremely camera shy!), and she went absolutely over and above creating a stunning range of headshots, lifestyle shots, product shots, and video which perfectly capture my brand's purpose and identity.
I now have a huge bank of content to use across social media, website, and even a video for my Kickstarter launch!
Celie is an absolute joy to work with. Relaxed, professional, and so much fun.
She's got something special for sure!"
"Oh what a super star this lady is! I needed some photos for my website rebrand and had quite a clear vision for the style of work I wanted. True colours in a documentary style, atmospheric but simple. God did she nail it!
Clearly not only a brilliant artist and visual worker, but she also made the whole process super easy and relaxing.
I passionately hate being photographed so it was a tall order for me to 1. not hate the process of being photographed 2. like the final photos... and I am absolutely overjoyed with the MANY photos she took!! Seriously bravo, I can't recommend Celie enough. Incredible value for money."
Two of my images have been shortlisted in The British Journal of Photography's Portrait of Britain 2021 award, with my portrait of Beth (an image from my personal project 'Shaved Heads') being a Winner! Both images will be featured in a book published by Hoxton Press, with the winning images shown on JCDecaux screens across the country!
