The Bluebells Are Ready For Your Photoshoot

Mother Nature has delivered the bluebells much earlier than usual this year!

Meaning it’s time to book your photoshoot in our magnificent ancient woodlands whilst they are in flower and at their best.

Today was my first photoshoot this season in the glorious sunshine amongst the bluebells –. they smelt divine too.

I have been photographing this lovely family every year in the same woodland for the past ten years. This blog from last year tells you more.

Simply message or call me on 07771810105 to book your photoshoot within the next ten days before they fade away until next year. Each shoot is approximately one hour. This link tells you more…

We always stick to the pathways and areas where there are no bluebells growing and tread carefully to ensure continued growth each year.

Thanks for reading

Keeley Cricket - Premium Handmade English Cricket Bats

Keeley Cricket Bat Factory where the magic happens.

On a beautiful sunny morning back in February I was thrilled to visit a cricket bat factory to learn how cricket bats are made. Not just any cricket bat factory but Keeley Cricket – where premium cricket bats are handmade for international pros and discerning club cricketers alike.

I have always been fascinated by how things are made – from the processes involved to the craftspeople and the skills they develop over time. As soon as I stepped into the factory I was greeted by the scent of raw timber and an array of bats in various stages of production surrounded by the coiled remnants of freshly cut willow bathed in the morning sunlight.

I knew this was going to be a fascinating day and I wasn’t disappointed. Let me tell you more…

The business is led by Tim Keeley – a master bat maker who began his journey as an apprentice at Gray-Nicolls in 1975. The passion Tim exudes for his craft and his customers is evident from the warmth of the stories he tells about his 50 year career for the craft of cricket bat making.

Few names carry the weight of heritage and hands-on expertise like Keeley. Based in the picturesque village of Ashburnham, East Sussex. Keeley Cricket is a family-run business that embodies the "workshop" tradition of English bat-making. The Keeley family has lived on this land for over 200 years – the last four generations worked on the family timber mill. Apparently wood is in their blood.

Keeley isn't just a brand, it’s a masterclass in longevity.

Ted Jolly & Tim Keeley - Master Bat Makers at Gray - Nicolls May 1975

Tim led my tour of the factory and told me he worked under the legendary John Newbery and has personally handcrafted over 500,000 bats throughout his career. The team includes Tim’s brothers, Nick (a willow specialist) and Fred (sawmill expert), and his children. Tim’s daughter Keira handles customer service, orders, and social media. Keira is very efficient and engaging and does a great job making sure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes and is the first point of contact for customers. Heston, Tim’s younger son assists with buffing, sanding, and preparing clefts, while also learning the art of bat shaping and finishing – following in his father’s footsteps.

While mass-produced bats often feel "dead" or require massive break-in periods, Keeley bats are known for their exceptional "ping" right out of the box.

Nick Keeley collecting from the kiln.

Nick Keeley hand-selects every cleft, drawing on 40 years of experience to identify wood with the best performance potential.

Whilst talking to Tim he explained a unique triple-pressing technique. This ensures the willow is condensed perfectly to provide maximum power without sacrificing the "feel" or longevity of the bat.

Every bat is sanded, buffed, and polished by hand to perfection. How neat is that!

Tim inspecting a bat he has shaped. Each one hand crafted to perfection.

Cricketer Darren Stevens calls in to see Tim and to commission a bat or two.

Timmy Bayne working on the finishing of a bat.

Timmy Bayne is the customer service man, having worked and managed many cricket shops in the UK over the last 45 years. Alongside working the shops he has been a highly recommended cricket coach for many years for Sussex, Surrey, Kent and numerous schools. If Timmy can't find your perfect bat, no one can.

Tim with younger brother Fred (right) who manages the saw mill and Tim’s eldest son Vincent (left) who helps out at the family saw mill posing in front of a prized tractor.

Tim is very proud of his family history and the business he has built. He is surrounded by people who are just as passionate about the industry and the willow they grow. He explained how they have to think years in advance to plant the willow trees as sapling for felling in years to come and how sometimes these can be wiped out by environmental changes. It’s not just a financial loss, it’s years of cultivation gone too.

The saw mill on the land where it all began.

A wonderful array of memorabilia.

Whilst I was hearing about the different stages of production the experience felt vibrant and alive with enthusiasm. As crazy as it might sound it was as if the bats were longing to be placed in a pair of loving hands. Each one tailor made for its recipient. How cool is that?

The smell of freshly sawn willow was divine.

Below a selection of images to share.

Tim’s passion for bikes and cars is evident within the factory as a number of his prized collection are interspersed around the cricketing memorabilia.

We spent time talking about this shared passion. Watch this space for a collaboration along the way!

Thank you so much to Tim and his team for a fascinating tour. I found it inspiring and educational. I have just loved taking the photographs and sharing my experience within this blog.

Keeley Cricket is open to the public Wednesday - Friday 9am - 4pm and Saturday 9am - 12pm. For enquiries contact Keira on info@keeleycricket.com

I hope you have enjoyed reading this blog about Keeley Cricket as much as I have writing it. This link takes you to their website.

Do you have a business or brand you would like photographed? I would love to hear from you – message or call on 07771810105.

Anyone for cricket?

A recreation of the photograph hanging behind Tim when he was just 16 years old.

Your Annual Invitation for a Photoshoot Amongst the Glorious Bluebells

Hello everyone,

It’s that time of year again! I’ve been scouting the woodlands, and I can already see the first signs of the bluebells waking up.

To those of you I’ve had the privilege of photographing in the past—and those I hope to meet this year—I wanted to keep you posted. As you know, these beautiful flowers only stay at their best for a very short window in April. I’m keeping an eye out to make sure we don’t miss the perfect time when they are most plentiful and fragrant.

If you’d like to update your family portraits amongst the bluebells this year, I’m officially opening my calendar. Let's capture some timeless photographs before the green takes over again!

During our photoshoots we leave no trace and only stick to the paths to protect the delicate bulbs to ensure they flower year on year. We really must protect our ancient woodlands!

This blog from a customer aged 2 years 8 months tells you more…

To book, message me on 0777 181 0105 or email here.

Once you’ve confirmed your booking I’ll be able to offer advice on what colours are best to wear.

Thanks very much and looking forward to my favourite time of year!

An Exciting Update for 2026 to Embrace Change

Welcome January 2026!

New Views, New Chapter, Same Passion
It's a new day, a new dawn and things are looking bright for 2026 and beyond. I've recently moved to a new location – still within the beautiful Tandridge area – now based in Warlingham. I've always loved a stunning view, and this one is every bit as inspiring as the one I enjoyed at Southlands below.

Over the coming month, I'll be updating my website to reflect my new location. Don't worry – I'm still very much around and still doing what I love most.

Can you believe I'm now in my 29th year of SMS Creative Photography, proudly known as Stella, and so grateful to continue photographing people and all the things they love in life.

Thank you for being such a vital part of my journey over the last three decades. I can't wait to see what we create together in the coming years!

If you are thinking about capturing something special – people, moments, milestones, special locations and collections – I'd love to hear from you. Please do get in touch to chat about your ideas or upcoming plans.