5th December 2025 | 14 Cavendish Square, Mayfair
When Linda Lomelino and I started planning this day, we knew we wanted to create something different.
Not a technical workshop with checklists and rules, but a day where the space itself would guide us. Where we could follow the light, trust our instincts, and let creativity lead.
A nourishing and inspiring day to connect and grow together.
14 Cavendish Square gave us exactly that.
The Space
A 250-year-old Georgian mansion in the heart of Mayfair. Four floors of weathered walls, massive windows, and the kind of imperfect beauty you can’t manufacture. This is where Dior, Hermès and Netflix have shot their campaigns — and in 2026, it becomes private. We were among the last to create there.
We kept the styling simple. Paper stars. Beeswax candles. Wrapped gifts. Tulle skirts. A nod to Christmas without overwhelming the architecture. The space had enough story on its own.
The Light
December light in London is unpredictable. Soft and low in the morning, then suddenly bright and contrasted as the clouds shifted. It was erratic — and that turned out to be a gift.
We chased it through the rooms. We waited for it. We watched it paint shadows on the walls and used every mood it offered.
One of our students said it perfectly: “What drama it had the power to create.”
The Story
We followed the narrative of the night before Christmas. Linda and Catia became our models — sneaking down the staircase with presents like children who couldn’t wait until morning. We shot through windows, played with motion blur, captured silhouettes against the light.
The students explored slow shutter speeds to create dreamy movement. They photographed their first candle smoke. They experimented with angles they’d never tried before.
It wasn’t structured. It was guided. There’s a difference.
What We Explored
- Slow shutter speed and motion blur
- Shadow play and silhouettes
- Shooting through windows and doorways
- Working with movement and human elements
- Trusting your instinct — translating what you see into a frame
Students asked how we approach certain shots, and we talked through the thinking behind them. Not imposed, just the way we see explained through the rules.
What They Said
The we received feedbacks that brought tears to our eyes. Julia wrote:
“Dear Silvia, Linda and Catia, thank you for such a wonderful Christmas photography workshop. The mansion was gorgeous, but it was really the three of you — your creativity and encouragement — that made the day so magical. I loved trying new angles, adding movement, and just thinking a bit more outside the box. I left feeling inspired, more confident, and excited to keep experimenting. Thank you for being so approachable and for sharing your knowledge so generously — what a magical day. I really loved it.”
Another student shared:
“It was the perfect blend of instruction with letting us photograph what and how we wanted. I like that it wasn’t super structured and we could go where the inspiration led us. I also loved that the instructors became our models.”
The Point
This was my first non-technical workshop. A day focused on connection, inspiration, and the freedom to create without pressure.
Just us, moving between floors, following the light, finding what drew our eye. No rushing. Plenty of space to experiment, make mistakes, and discover something new.
The poetry of the space guided our shutters. And I think that’s exactly how it was meant to be.
Thank you to Linda Lomelino and Catia Bice Lemmi for making this day what it was. And to Andrea and Davinia for looking after everyone so beautifully.
Most of all, thank you to our twelve students. Your curiosity and creativity made the day.
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