I recently had the pleasure of photographing author and social psychologist Jonathan Haidt for The Guardian’s Saturday Magazine, published on 7th June 2025. The shoot took place at the stunning Corinthia Hotel in central London — an elegant, light-filled setting that made a perfect backdrop for our 30-minute portrait session.

The article, written to coincide with the release of Haidt’s latest book The Anxious Generation, explores the sharp rise in anxiety and mental health challenges among teenagers. Haidt makes a compelling case that a combination of smartphone overuse and increasingly overprotective parenting is at the heart of this crisis. It’s a timely and thought-provoking read — you can check it out here.

I always enjoy the challenge of capturing portraits under time pressure, and this was no exception — Jonathan was warm and generous with his time, and I’m really pleased with the images we made together.

A big thank you to the brilliant Ayesha Kazim for assisting on this shoot.

—

Published: 7 June 2025

Commissioned by: The Guardian Saturday Magazine

Location: Corinthia Hotel, London

Assisted by: Ayesha Kazim

I’m excited to share this recent portrait I shot for The Observer Magazine of the wonderful Holly Dawson and her beloved hens, marking the launch of her new book All of Us Atoms, published by Canongate.

This shoot was an absolute joy. When Holly mentioned her treehouse and chooks in the garden, I knew we had to make the most of her beautiful, personal setting—it felt like a perfect reflection of her story.

This assignment also served as a reminder of one of my go-to pieces of advice when people ask how to build a career in photography: aside from knowing how to take a good photo, being available and saying “yes” goes a long way.

The call from Alex at The Observer came in the night before the shoot. She had a story she needed covered in Lewes the very next day, and wanted a fast turnaround (as is often the case with editorial work). I was free, said yes immediately, and soon found myself on the phone with Holly, planning the shoot. As soon as she described her garden and treehouse, I knew we were in for something special.

Not long after that call, I received another request from a different publication for a shoot in London—also the next day. I knew I could make it work. I booked my train to Lewes for the early morning and set off at 7am. By 9:30am I was on the ground, meeting Holly and her hens at 10am. We mapped out the shoot and were wrapped by noon.

From there, I jumped on a 1pm train back to London, edited the shoot en route, delivered final images to The Observer by 3pm, and headed out for the second portrait session at 4pm—just in time for a 4:45 start. Both sets of edits were wrapped and delivered before 10am the next morning.

A busy day, but one I’ll remember fondly. I’m so proud of the resulting images and grateful to have been trusted with this story. Huge thanks to Alex at The Observer, and of course to Holly (and her hens!) for such a warm welcome.

Keep an eye out—I’ll share more about the second shoot soon, once it’s published.

I’m incredibly proud to share this still I captured of Genevieve O’Reilly as Mon Mothma on the set of Andor Season 2.

Having the opportunity to work on a production of this scale and significance has been a true career milestone.

Ten-year-old me, twenty-one-year-old me, thirty-six-year-old me — none of them could’ve imagined this moment. I genuinely feel so lucky to have contributed to such an extraordinary project.

If you’ve seen Andor Season 2 on Disney+, you’ll know just how much heart, talent, and dedication went into every frame.

It’s been wonderful to see the incredible response and recognition this series continues to receive.

A huge thank you to my amazing team and to every single person who brought this production to life.

I’m so excited for the release of Andor Season 2 tomorrow — and even more thrilled to finally share that I had the honour of photographing Faye Marsay, Kyle Soller, Forest Whitaker, and the Stormtroopers featured in the official poster!

It’s been a real privilege to work with such incredible talent and to contribute to the visual campaign for a series as iconic as Star Wars: Andor.

A huge thank you to my brilliant team and everyone involved in bringing this project to life. I’m incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to collaborate with Lucasfilm and Disney+ on this one!

In December 2024, I was commissioned by Faber and Faber to shoot a portrait of the brilliant author Jess Kidd for the launch of her new book, Murder at Gull’s Nest. 

The shoot took place at Faber’s headquarters in London. Special thanks to my lovely assistant, Fikayo Adebajo.

In December, I was commissioned by Faber and Faber to shoot Sue Roe for the launch of her new book, Hidden Portraits: The Untold Stories of Six Women Who Loved Picasso (Faber and Faber).

When shooting portraits, I often include music in my sessions to help my subject feel relaxed and to create the best environment for capturing the perfect shot.

Sometimes it’s the song that makes all the difference—ours on the day was “A Girl Like You” by Edwyn Collins.

The shoot took place at Faber’s headquarters in London. Special thanks to my lovely assistant, Fikayo Adebajo.

Pleased to share this portrait of the incredibly talented Joe Dunthorne for The Guardian Saturday Magazine!

The feature was published over the weekend to celebrate the release of his new book, Children of Radium: A Buried Inheritance.

It was so lovely shooting at Joe’s house in East London. It was a beautifully sunny day, and we captured some gorgeous shots of him in his home, as well as this portrait in front of a seamless backdrop.

In December last year, I had the pleasure of working on a short film titled “THE DONOR,” working as their Unit Stills Photographer.

It was an incredible project led by a talented and passionate team, and I’m excited to finally share a little preview image of Genesis Lynea here.

Directed by:

• Nana Duncan
  

Produced by:

• Danielle Goff
  
• Martha Nakintu (Co-Producer)
  

Production Team:

• Lisa Leach – Production Manager
  
• Dami Onamusi – 1st Runner
  
• Jarah Koonsom – 2nd Runner
  
• Jameela Iman – 3rd Runner
  

Art Department:

• Ayanna Blair-Ford – Production Designer
  
• Amara Cooke – Production Design Assistant
  
• Nana Quartey – Production Design Assistant
  

Assistant Directors:

• Yasmin Evans – 1st AD
  
• Brianna Leslie – 2nd/3rd AD
  

Camera Department:

• Ndrika Anyinka – Director of Photography (DOP)
  
• Gareth Young – 1st Assistant Camera
  
• Eden Bokrezion – 2nd Assistant Camera
  
• Mo Abdi – Grip
  
• Tamas Simon – DIT
  

Continuity:

• Rashida Seriki – Script Supervisor
  
• Katie-Ann McDonough – Script Supervisor 2
  

Lighting Team:

• Joe Nkadi – Gaffer
  
• Dragos Czinjepolschi – Gaffer
  
• Joseph Luk – Spark
  
• Fredericka Lathbridge – Spark
  

EPK (Electronic Press Kit) – Stills:

• Hayley Benoit (myself)
  
• Seye Isikalu
  

Hair and Makeup:

• Dominique Desveaux – Makeup Artist
  
• Regina Meessen – Makeup Artist
  

Costume:

• Chloe Nezianya – Costume Designer
  
• Grace Priem – Costume Assistant
  

Sound:

• Clement Jack Harper – Sound Mixer
  
• Joe Day – 1st Assistant Sound
  

Wellbeing Services:

• Richard McIver – Intimacy Coordinator
  

I’m so grateful to have been part of such an inspiring production alongside so many talented individuals. Can’t wait to share more images soon. 

Last month, I had the incredible opportunity to be commissioned by The New York Times to photograph a story on London’s very own ‘Philadelphia dive bar,’ Passyunk Avenue. As the city geared up for the Super Bowl, I was briefed with capturing the authentic Philly spirit that this hidden gem brings to the heart of London. And let me tell you—it was such a fun experience!

Passyunk Avenue is a piece of Philadelphia transplanted into London. From the food to the atmosphere, it genuinely transports you to the East Coast, making it a must-visit spot for anyone craving a taste of Philly while in the UK. It was amazing to see how the bar has become a hub for Philadelphia Eagles fans, especially as they geared up for the big game!

This shoot was especially nostalgic for me, as I haven’t shot food in a while. It took me back to my days in Melbourne shooting for Broadsheet, where I would run around the city capturing everything from local cafes and bars to major events. There’s something so dynamic about shooting food and the vibrant energy that comes with it—whether it’s the perfect burger or the excitement of a game-day crowd.

The whole experience was a blend of creativity, nostalgia, and excitement, and I’m thrilled with how the photos turned out. Be sure to check out the full story in The New York Times and get a closer look at the Philly vibe in London: Read the full story here.

#Photography #SuperBowl #PassyunkAvenue #London #PhiladelphiaEagles #NYT #PhillyInLondon #travel #travelphotography #foodie

I’m thrilled to share that I’ll be one of the judges for this year’s National Geographic Travel UK Photography Competition!

It’s such an honour to be part of this prestigious event, and I’m really looking forward to seeing all the incredible submissions from talented photographers around the world. 🌍📸