We Love Local: Neverland Photography

Tell us a little bit about Neverland Photography

Neverland Photography is a bespoke portrait and wedding photography company based in Southfields. Linda, the owner, is a recognized member of SWPP Society and travels around Europe to photograph weddings and families.

The name of the company, Neverland Photography, comes from Linda’s favourite story when she was a kid, Peter Pan, and the fact that she always believed in feelings, emotions and relationships that last forever, like in Neverland.  Neverland Photography loves telling stories and portrays people in the most natural and relaxed way, to create memories that last forever.

Linda started photographing weddings and portraits when she was 17 years old back in 1998, moved to England in 2007 and started her business in 2008. The studio has been open in Southfields since last October.

At Neverland Photography we make it personal, we care very much about each single family or couple or baby, as each of us is different. Our sessions, portraits or weddings, are about you, not about us. We always ask what clients expect to have from the session, and all useful information about the members of the family that will take part. As for weddings, we also ask for the names of family members and friends who are important to the couple to make sure of not missing anything out on the day. We are friendly and relaxed and our clients all feel at ease with our team around.

What services do you offer?

We offer both studio and location sessions: family portraits, baby portraits, pet portraits, business portraits and head shots for commercial use.  We also photograph weddings internationally (last year we shot in the UK, Scotland, Jersey, France, Italy, Portugal) .

What do you enjoy most about working as a portrait photographer and how did you get started?

I started playing with my mum’s automatic camera when I was 12 years old, then got my first professional film reflex when I was 13. I have learnt the old fashioned way, shooting with films and developing my own pictures in the dark room - it was such a great feeling to see those images appearing from the white sheet of photographic paper into a proper image; it was magic.

I have always been fascinated by people of all ages, all nationalities, and their stories. Due to my Italian background, I find it very easy to talk to everyone in a very friendly and open way, and I have always been very enthusiastic about photography. I am so blessed that taking pictures, my passion, became my full time job.

What do you love most about photography?

When my clients see their portraits, or their wedding photographs, and they cry of happiness - this is the most beautiful gift I have ever received, to be able to give them something so unique that will last for generations.

Have you had any funny or memorable stories from your time at Neverland Photography?

I am not to be classified as a standard photographer -  for me, this is not just a job, I really make an effort all the time I do a shoot to get the best out of it. I often run, jump, climb trees or ladders or anything that I can use around me to get the best shot possible, and people often talk and laugh about it for while. At a friend’s wedding last year, to get her the best shot ever, I got undressed and went into the lake to catch her and her husband in the boat with the bridge in the background. I won the Gold award for that shot so it was worth it!

If you had to choose, what are you favourite kinds of portraits to take and why?

My favourite portraits are the ones where I can see pure love, from an old couple holding hands, to a couple that just got married, to a lady cuddling her dog, to a father holding his baby daughter. Real love makes me feel really emotional!

At Douglas & Gordon, we love local. Why do you love Southfields?

Southfields to me is the best place to live and work in London; it has that feeling of being in a village even though you are only 20 minutes from Westminster or Notting Hill. There are lots of green spaces and by the time I leave home near Boots Pharmacy and walk to my shop down at the bottom of Replingham Road I can bump into people I know, which is very Italian in a way and makes me feel at home.

I just love sitting at the edge of Wimbledon Park Lake at sunset, with a red velvet cupcake from Cakes by Robin, best cupcakes and cakes you can ever dream of in London. Salt & Pepper is my favourite place to get an intimate bite to eat; Sue and John are amazing cooks. Transform Studios is where I have my hair done -there is nobody like Gwen to have the perfect restyle and a laugh!

I feel really lucky to be one of the independent shops in Southfields, even though I am new in the area I always felt welcomed; I hope those who live in Southfields will keep shopping at their local businesses to support the community.

Neverland Photography is collaborating with Douglas & Gordon for the love of all things local and is kindly giving away a free photography session with 2 prints 10x8 included valued up to £155! To enter, head on over to our Facebook page and tell us what your favourite spot in Southfields is. To find out more about Neverland Photography, visit their website at http://www.neverlandphotography.com/