The Journal
This is a place for stories from the studio and beyond. Portrait sessions, collaborations, moments that sit somewhere between planned and accidental. Sometimes it’s about the person in front of the camera.Sometimes it’s about the process.Often it’s just a small reflection on what it feels like to make something together. No formulas. No hype. Just honest work and the thinking around it.
Angela Heenan | Studio Portraits with James Melia
A relaxed studio session with an old friend. Creative portraits made slowly, with room for humour and the occasional pause.
Adele Silva / Studio Portraits with James Melia
A quiet studio session in Manchester, working with an old friend on refreshed headshots that felt current, calm, and unforced.
Portrait Session with Lucy-Jo Hudson / photographed by James Melia
A calm studio session with someone I’ve known for years. Less about performance, more about presence, and letting the images arrive in their own time.
A Quiet Studio Afternoon with Amy James Kelly
A quiet studio session in Manchester with actor Amy James Kelly. It was less about poses and more about presence, noticing the small shifts that make a portrait feel honest.
Georgia May Foote // Studio Portrait Session with James Melia
A quiet studio portrait session in Manchester with Georgia May Foote. A first meeting, a calm working rhythm, and a mix of black and white and colour portraits.
Portrait Session with Sarah Jayne Dunn | James Melia
A calm, considered studio portrait session with Sarah Jayne Dunn, keeping the process simple and the focus on natural expression.
A Studio Portrait Session with Beth Nixon
A quiet studio session in Manchester, focused on stillness, collaboration, and letting the frame breathe. A portrait shoot without rush or performance.
Kelly Wenham, photographed by James Melia
A calm studio portrait session with Kelly Wenham, focused on stillness, collaboration, and letting the images unfold without pressure.
Bhavna Limbachia // Studio Portraits with James Melia
A quiet studio portrait session in Manchester, focusing on restraint, structure, and presence rather than performance.
