Siobhan Strode - Campaign and Advocacy Consultant
Authentic brand portraits for a change-making speaker and mentor
There was so much personality but also vulnerability woven into this Portrait Session with Siobhan.
A mentor, advocacy consultant and facilitator, Siobhan’s work is rooted in helping people speak with more courage and purpose, whether that’s in business, leadership, campaigning or everyday life.
As she stepped into a new era of her work last year, she wanted updated portraits (her old ones were from 2020!) that reflected not only her experience and expertise, but also the warmth, silliness, big sister energy, and humanity people instantly connect with when they meet her.
Like many people I photograph, Siobhan arrived with understandable hesitations about being in front of the camera, particularly around her body image.
We began with a reminder that our bodies are the least interesting thing about us, and I helped her choose clothes where she feels fully herself.
I set about creating a relaxed, collaborative atmosphere where she could fully unmask and simply be herself - that was an important part of the process from the very beginning.
Together, we created a series of authentic personal brand portraits that felt thoughtful, expressive and grounded in her values. Rather than focusing on stiff poses or overly polished business photography, the aim was to document Siobhan naturally, capturing the energy, intelligence and character she brings to both her work and the people around her.
Through a documentary approach to portrait photography, we created imagery that feels aligned with her evolving personal brand and the powerful work she is now leading through mentoring, speaking and her group experience, This Sister Speaks.
When Siobhan received the final gallery, she sent me a voice note saying:
“I loved spending time with someone who really gets me, quirks and all. You understood my vision and my new brand and captured portraits that I actually really like, which is super rare.”
For me, this session was such a lovely reminder that portrait photography is all about creating enough trust and ease for someone’s real self to come forward. We can forget any perfection and performance.
"I hate having my photo taken, but Celie’s calm kindness, thoughtfulness, and brilliant location choices made me relax and even forget the camera was there.
Celie's incredible - just bloody book her already!"
– Siobhan Strode, speaker & mentor
