Over the past few years, I’ve been lucky enough to work closely with the Cornwall Heritage Trust, photographing a wide range of their sites across Cornwall — and it’s been an experience I’ve genuinely loved. Every shoot feels a bit like being let in on a secret, even when it’s a place I’ve visited before.
Cornwall has a way of quietly showing off its history. Old engine houses standing firm against Atlantic winds, hidden corners of woodland with stories buried in the stonework, and buildings that seem to belong exactly where they are. Photographing these places isn’t about rushing in and ticking boxes — it’s about taking the time to notice how the landscape frames a structure, and how the place feels on the day.
Alongside photographing the sites themselves, I’ve also covered a number of events for the Trust. These are always great fun to shoot. Seeing historic places filled with people — families exploring, volunteers chatting, children discovering something new — adds a completely different energy. It’s about capturing real moments without interrupting them, and letting the day unfold naturally in front of the camera.
One piece of kit that’s become absolutely essential for their site photography is the drone. So many of these sites make sense only when you see them from above. From ground level, you might focus on a single feature, but from the air you suddenly understand its place in the landscape — how close it is to the coast, or how the land has shaped its history.
Used carefully and responsibly, drone photography adds something truly special. It’s not about flashy shots — it’s about revealing views people would never normally get to see. Those aerial perspectives often show details and relationships that would otherwise be missed entirely.
Working on these projects has been incredibly rewarding. It’s built on trust, shared enthusiasm, and a real respect for Cornwall’s heritage.
At the end of the day, photographing these sites doesn’t feel like a job. It feels like spending time in some of Cornwall’s most interesting places, camera in hand, doing my best to do them justice — whether that’s from ground level or a little higher up.
