Before photography, Saph’s focus was theatre. Acting at first, then more experimental and physical forms of performance. She was interested in how people move, how they hold themselves, and what happens when words fall away. In 2012, she moved to Canterbury to study theatre at the University of Kent. Somewhere alongside rehearsals and coursework, she started taking photographs, without much intention at first, simply as another way of paying attention.
At university she began learning about classic street photography, particularly the French and American traditions. What appealed to her was how ordinary moments were treated with care — how something brief or easily overlooked could be given time and weight. That way of seeing stayed with her. She is drawn to small, accidental moments, the kind that might otherwise be forgotten, and enjoys the process of turning them into something meaningful through photography.
When she photographs people, Saph works carefully. She wants those in front of her camera to feel at ease, and is conscious of how quickly being photographed can start to feel uncomfortable. She avoids shooting the same person repeatedly, preferring to give space rather than apply pressure. Her wedding work is largely candid, with very little posing. When she does offer direction, it’s gentle, aimed at helping people settle into themselves rather than perform.
She finds that this approach leads to images that feel more honest and emotionally close. Moments unfold naturally, without being pushed. For Saph, the aim isn’t to create something impressive, but to notice what’s already there — and to record it in a way that feels true to the people involved.
Michael became interested in filmmaking as a young kid, initially through acting, before realising he was more drawn to the process behind films than to performing in them. As a teenager, watching the work of filmmakers from across the world helped clarify that he wanted to make films himself, and to focus on how stories are constructed rather than on-screen performance.
He went to university with a fairly practical aim: to find ways to make films, whatever resources were available. That usually meant working around other commitments and saying yes to anything that gave him a reason to shoot. Through the theatre society he started making short films and trailers for productions — quick, scrappy projects that taught him a lot about planning, pace and working with people who weren’t “actors” in the conventional sense.
It was at university that he met Saph. Both were making things in the same environment, figuring out their taste and building confidence through doing, rather than waiting for ideal conditions.
Saph and Michael also share a passion for Paris, Tim Allen and good music played loud. They have a dog called Bonnie.
