You Give Me Butterflies’ began simply. It was a photography project intended for Valentine’s Day a little over a year ago with a single model, but predictably, as with all of my projects, it spiraled and evolved. Over twelve months and over fifty sessions, one model became three, which became five, which turned into fifty willing participants and the book you are holding in your hands is the culmination of those sessions.
I loved the idea of covering somebody with butterflies as a visual representation of what happens inside our bodies when we meet somebody who catches our eyes, or indeed our hearts. I liked the idea of a person essentially embodying two worlds – one where absolute pandemonium exists on the inside whilst a facade of calm and poise exists on the outside.

Further, I never wanted to create a book purely filled with pretty pictures, but rather, I wanted to create something with deeper meaning and substance; something that forced the reader slow down and take their time. This is why I collaborated with my good friend and very talented poet David Green to provide poems, sonnets, and psalms – to break up the book and give the viewer something to deeper to consider.

Creating this book was the perfect way conclude a series that I have carried for twelve months and I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed photographing it.