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Award-winning production company. We craft high-profile films that move people.
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31/05/2024

*ANNOUNCEMENT* - Our next Mill Road Collective event will be in conversation with NETFLIX documentary director Dominic Streeter on Wednesday 26th June 7pm at the Ritzy Brixton and this promises to be another fascinating conversation on storytelling to change the world.

Dom’s work has led to extensive research in the areas of addiction, drug policy and mental health; areas that he is considered to now be a leading journalistic voice.

His latest title, Ten Dollar Death Trip: Inside The Fentanyl Crisis is currently available on Netflix and his 2020 his Australian film, Half A Million Steps, triggered a AUD $305 million dollar funding pledge into treatment and harm reduction by the New South Wales government.

Tickets for the event will go live on Monday 3rd June at 9am so please set your alarms and follow for updates!

24/05/2024

Our FIRST ever Mill Road Collective event last week kicked off with better feedback than I ever could have imagined and this I really want to celebrate this brilliant conversation and let you know that this is the first of many more to come!

I am hugely passionate about creative and strategic minds joining forces to use the power of filmmaking for social impact. This is exactly what did with their trailer for and speaking to their Associate Creative Director about the research, strategy, scripting and ex*****on of this production was fascinating and humanity-affirming on many levels.

Our next event at the end of June invites a Netflix documentary director to discuss his work’s incredible contribution to research into addiction, drug policy and mental health. More details and ticket info to come...!

Photos by the brilliant 📸

02/05/2024

Someone told me recently that I’m doing “a job that really matters”.

In my early film industry days I would have laughed back at this.

I have friends who are doctors, nurses, humanitarian workers, campaigners.
Jobs that really do matter.

But what I’ve come to realise, through all of the social impact films has produced, is that there is nothing better than using a creative skill for the good of humanity.

Film is a powerful medium. It has the potential to sway opinion, to change behaviour, to disrupt the status quo. I wish more filmmakers would consider harnessing this immense power to help causes rather than the box office alone.

If you know London-based filmmakers who want to do this - please signpost our upcoming screening and interview of ‘Before Our Eyes’ in partnership with and . The piece draws together high-end cinematography and A-list talent to land a message that quite simply, really matters.

Tickets here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/millroad/1232464? 🙏

20/02/2024

“Never mix the personal with the professional.”

I’ve always found that a difficult piece of advice to follow.

You see, I started my business for personal reasons – Mill Road exists because of life circumstances and lived experience. Adversity, unexpected pitfalls and feeling deeply misunderstood all led to the founding of a production company for causes, movements and brands who also know that getting people to listen is hard. It requires thought and preparation.

Our clients are often at the helm of campaigns and messages that could literally change the world – so whilst our process of making films for them is highly professional, the desire to get it right and to land that message with impact goes to the heart of why Mill Road exists, and that - is truly personal.

Does your profession cross over with your personal beliefs? I think the best ones do.

05/02/2024

I’m going to say something controversial.

Filmmaking is not rocket science.

It is creative and complex, requiring passion, strength of character and persistence - yes. But it is not - and should not be the exclusive club that it is often perceived to be.

For years and years this gatekept industry has tried to imply that the art of filmmaking is only for a select few. That it really is a bit too difficult for certain demographics, certain groups, to master.

Sometimes it feels as though things are shifting in the right direction but I believe we are still a way off. Since the first Academy Awards in 1929, only 8 women have ever been nominated for Best Director.

I often have clients say to me (and to crew members) “I don’t know how you do that, I just couldn’t do that” and I think – you could, under the right instruction.

With this in mind, we are launching Mill Road Insiders – for clients who want to shoot and edit something special themselves, in-house, and perhaps are not ready to commit to a full production budget.

This is a full power-hour of production expertise, video call support whilst you shoot and a detailed document to guide you through tips and tricks for the edit.

If this sounds like something you and your team could benefit from – book a call with us for more details at the link in my bio or comment INSIDERS below and I’ll send you further info.

📸 of fellow keep-it-real filmmaker

31/01/2024

As we return to the world of Instagram, here are some testimonials from clients that I think really reflect what we’re trying to do as a production company.

Mill Road know that carefully storyboarded, properly planned and cinematically beautiful pieces are much more likely to create actual, tangible results for our clients. The vacuous world of promotional video with whizz bang, noise and colour probably has its place, but it will only achieve short-lived attention.

If you have something important to say, something that needs and deserves the full attention of your target audience, we have the tools and experience to land that message with impact.

Our films will stay with people, we promise.

Thank you for your much appreciated words.

20/11/2023

Thought for the week!
Pick the people you work with carefully…
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And I say this with kindness and good will. In an industry that can be incredibly competitive, in a world of freelancers where reputation matters and is the difference between consistent work and no work at all… there are sometimes behaviours and power plays that make the whole thing feel very ‘dog eat dog’.⁣
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When the focus is on those actions, and how to get ahead of the competition (or anyone in your way) – it totally detracts from the creativity needed to make good films.⁣ It takes the energy away from the heart of the piece (and I guarantee you’ll see it lacks something when you watch it).
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So I pick our crews not only for their expertise and technical abilities – but for their attitude, their respect, their own creative ideas and very often – their absence of ego. The interactions we have on set - and in debrief - are productive, collaborative and really rewarding.

They know what we’re doing is important, they know their skills are valued. They’re not looking over their shoulder or planning their next sly move. They’re free to focus on their job, they’re free to create.

07/11/2023

Have you ever thought about the ethics of film and video editing?⁣
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Editing is an incredibly powerful tool of persuasion. Omitting footage and audio that does not suit the tone or the agenda of the story you are telling and manipulating what remains - is what editing essentially is.⁣
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But this has to be done ethically. Blindly follow the formula above and you could literally make anyone say or imply anything, twist words, incite hate. You only have to look online to see that this is already taken advantage of.⁣
The power is literally in the hands of the editor, the cuts of the film and the way what sits each side of them is pieced together.⁣
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Ethical editing, to us, means ensuring the intended meaning of something someone says is never changed. It means being hugely conscious of the influence an edited piece can have on someone’s thinking and ultimately it means making sure this immense power is used for good. Because it's worth saying again: editing is powerful. At Mill Road, we use it to shock people, to move people, to bring emotion to the surface, to make them take action.⁣
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How do ethics come in to what you do? I’m interested 😊⁣
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30/10/2023

For a company whose purpose it is to challenge the ‘us vs them’ narrative in our world, current devastating events and the polarised reaction to them within society can make our mission feel insurmountable. If we are lacking such humanity and compassion and pause for thought already, what hope do our films have of drawing upon these things to make a tangible difference?⁣
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It could break my heart (which it does), and I could wallow in helplessness and despair at the needless loss of innocent life (which I have done), but you only need to read the comments sections on any post to see that there is an energy that desperately needs to be directed away from ‘us vs them’ and towards ‘us, as humans’.⁣
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We seem to be actively denying the existence of nuance, complexity and layers. Quicker to judge, quicker to pick a side, quicker to be silent for fear of offending or saying the wrong thing. Less and less willing or able to listen to one another, to understand another perception, another lived experience, another point of view.⁣
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So I’ll take the broken heart and the despair, which are probably the source of most real movements for positive change, and continue to challenge the ‘us vs them’ narrative. There is so much that connects us, and so many ways to persuasively show that. If we can make those whose energy is fully directed at the ‘other’, at least pause for a second, perhaps we can start to bring people, one by one, back to ‘us’ the collective.⁣ And although it might never stop wars, it might never erase hate… it will do something. Something is better than nothing.
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06/10/2023

Would you believe that empathetic filmmaking can also be disruptive?⁣
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In Mill Road’s case, we intend it to be.⁣
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In order to challenge the status quo, you first need to understand it – why things are the way they are, why audiences hold certain opinions and beliefs, what will they relate to, what is going to make them listen, what will draw them in.⁣
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Empathy allows you to do that, it allows you to fully grasp the perspective of others – so that when you make the film that urges them to think a little bit more carefully, that makes them question what they already know, that starts to shift their mindset, you are fully armed to hammer that message home so that it lands with force and impact.⁣
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Empathy is not weak. It can disrupt, it can act intelligently, it can make change.⁣
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22/09/2023

Mill Road is expanding. In size, in ambition, in vision for what we want to achieve.⁣
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We are a collective of film makers, optimists and change-makers.⁣
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Our world has never been more divided. Personal beliefs, opinions and vulnerabilities are being weaponised and we are forced to ‘pick a side’, even when that decision is loaded and at times feels unsafe.⁣
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The space to really listen, learn and openly consider what we think is ever narrowing and this stands in the way of the positive social change that we believe in.⁣
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We use the power of film and beautifully-crafted human stories, to crack open that space.⁣
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We’re narrative-obsessives, ever curious observers of people, sensitive tellers of real stories and brave tacklers of the thorniest social issues that need facing.⁣
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We work collectively with fellow film-makers, brands, social movements, coalitions, change-makers and philanthropists to move the world forward, one conversation at a time.⁣
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Do you know a story that matters? A brand, a cause, a charity or movement that wants to invest in film in a way that that will change the way people interact with them forever?⁣
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Contact us if so.

31/08/2023

So I received a DM recently from someone asking if Mill Road only make ‘emotional’ films.⁣
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The answer to that is yes.⁣ We make films that matter, and therefore the emotion of the subject or the audience will generally always play a part in what you see.
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We live in a world overrun with content and distraction. And where opinion has never been so divided and absolute. Important stories can be weaponised or lost altogether in today's reality of algorithms and mindless scrolling.⁣
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Nuance, compassion and moments of connection seem increasingly rare.⁣
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We're therefore living at a time when it's never been more challenging, nor more vital, to remind ourselves of our humanity and what binds us all together.

It’s for this very reason that I’m driven by the power of film to affect people, their mindsets and their behaviours. And to harness that power, to influence everything from social causes to the success and direction of high profile brands, emotion is key. It brings us back to ourselves, it makes us think, it provokes a reaction, it creates change.⁣
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So yes, lovely follower. Our films will always feature emotion, whether visually obvious or not. And that is why you won’t forget them in a hurry ♥️.

21/08/2023

My heart and soul have gone into this. Our film for the Early Education and Childcare Coalition launches with a special screening in Westminster on 7th September. This was an extensive project that required significant research and was filmed across 4 days with a brilliant production team who were all highly invested in the subject matter. Please share the trailer below and huge thanks go to the team who made this happen.

Production company: Mill Road Creative
Director: Carly Claydon-Davies
Producers: Carly Claydon-Davies and Petra von Schalien
Director of Photography: Ethan Russell
Camera Assistant : Siôn Roe
Sound: Sam Walker
Editor: Carly Claydon-Davies
Colourist: Jamie Dickinson - Editor / Colourist

02/05/2023

To the woman who told me I would never be able to direct anything because I hadn’t been to film school: Yes I can. ⁣
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To the girls who bullied me relentlessly at high school and told me to disappear: No I won’t.⁣
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To myself, and all the self-doubt and imposter syndrome that I fight on a daily basis: You can do it. ⁣
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You are doing it, you are doing it, you are doing it 💛

22/03/2023

WE WON!!! And on such a phenomenal evening full of extraordinary stories and worthy causes. To win the People’s Choice Award(!) at the Charity Film Awards for Pregnant Then Screwed is so special for many reasons.⁣
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To acknowledge and tell the story of what women giving birth during the pandemic experienced, and the lasting effect on their mental health, was vitally important. Enabling people to feel seen and heard is (I believe) an crucial part of any future healing process and also brings the reality of a situation to people who may not have otherwise thought about it. ⁣
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This film resonated with the very people that PTS supports, and for them to have felt this film was worthy of an award is the highest compliment to a non-fiction filmmaker. It gives me hope, determination and motivation for all the shorts and documentary pieces I have in the pipeline.⁣
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Thank you Pregnant Then Screwed for trusting me to make this piece, and for being a true supporter of women.⁣
Thank you ShoutyBear Communications for being a wonderful awards date and for always spurring me on.⁣
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24/06/2022

I wrote a caption about struggles and life and lessons etc but apparently everyone has upped sticks and moved to T*kT*k (I’ve also had a glass of rosé so it all seems irrelevant). Thank you for the head shots. I look way more successful than I actually am 😂

13/04/2022

Full length video for Pregnant Then Screwed

23/03/2022

TRIGGER WARNING - Birth in the pandemic.

It’s a rollercoaster of emotions in this job.⁣
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One minute I’m crying tears of laughter as I watch back footage, the next my heart is in my mouth and I’m literally psyching myself up to get through the rawness of what I’m about to cut together.⁣
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This was hard footage to edit. I was nearly one of these women. My daughter was born months before the first lockdown. 5 days in hospital - a long induction (my body seems to like to hold onto babies for as long as possible), antibiotics in labour a brief stint in NICU which triggered awful memories of my son’s longer stay there 4 and half years before that… I was on my knees.⁣
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Imagine all that, worse even… in the midst of a pandemic. I think about it a lot. I think about the women who endured unimaginable fear and uncertainty, many of them first time mums already going into the unpredictable journey that is childbirth, the babies whose care was severely compromised. I think about the midwives too, and all the healthcare workers wanting to do their jobs as usual but fearing for their own safety.⁣
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These experiences will stay with people. Mine certainly have - there was some pretty deep trauma to work through before I could even think about having a second baby. And for those who gave birth during the pandemic, the mental health stats are terrifying. I send so much love to anyone who relates to this video.

For Pregnant Then Screwed 🤰
⁣

31/12/2021

WHAT A YEAR 🤩🥰 ⁣
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Thank you to all the wonderful people I’ve had the pleasure of working with this year, despite being a difficult one (again) for so many of us, I am so privileged to tell these stories and gain insight into worlds of which I would otherwise be completely ignorant. ⁣
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Thank you to my clients for trusting me to listen and to deliver their messages as powerfully as I know how. I am constantly learning in this job - it’s the only way to keep getting better at it - and I am always grateful for the people I meet along the way.⁣
⁣
May 2022 bring you health and happiness ❤️⁣

04/09/2021

Alcons Audio Returns To PLASA 2021

After an eleven year absence, Dutch sound system manufacturer Alcons Audio returns to the PLASA show in London; Long time Pro-Ribbon Partner Mill Road Technology, will be exhibiting a selection of pro-ribbon based sound systems at the show floor.

Laurence Claydon, founder and director of Mill Road Technology says: “Mill Road Technology are delighted to be at Plasa 2021 after a tough 18 month for everyone in the industry. We’ve proudly represented Alcons Audio for over 12 years in the UK in the Studio, Post Production and Cinema markets and are excited to offer Alcons‘ unique solutions in the Pro Audio markets.”

Alcons offers a complete portfolio, from point-source, point-source array through line-source to line-array solutions, all based around proprietary and multiple-patented pro-ribbon transducer technology.

Tom Back: “through the years, Laurence has realized quite a number of projects in the UK with Alcons systems, generally focused on studios, cinemas and screening rooms.
With the vacancy of Alcons representation of the pro-audio line of solutions in the UK, Laurence decided the time was right to step into this void and widen his focus into this market. We fully support him through factory-direct communication, demo systems and more, to guarantee the best system performance and service to the end-user.”

Premiering at the PLASA 2021 is the QRP20: a full range 2-way point source column loudspeaker, to be used as vertical array sound system. It features the RBN401 4-in. pro-ribbon mid-high frequency driver, in a D’Appolito configuration with four 5” Active Coil™ woofers.

The system excels in clear and full-range intelligible sound reproduction in acoustically challenging rooms. To enable visitors to get an idea of the quality performance of Alcons sound systems, low-SPL demo’s will take place on the stand, with the QRP20 system, among others.

Or in the words of Laurence: “If you need Studio Monitor sound quality in even the largest venues come and visit us on Stand D22!”

More info on stand D22, or on: www.millroadtech.com / Mill Road Creative and www.alconsaudio.com

02/09/2021

Are we ‘just filmmakers’?⁣
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No. We are also specialists in the finest professional audio systems for post-production, cinema, live, touring, immersive and custom installation.⁣
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If you love sound and want to hear something seriously special, come and see us at The this weekend at Olympia where we’ll be exhibiting Alcons Audio 🤩
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You won’t have heard anything quite like it.⁣
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08/05/2021

I love it when your work brings you so much more than just a pay cheque. ⁣
The further I go into this project, the more I’m reminded of the utter joy you feel when working with like-minded people. ⁣
The more stories and experiences I listen to during filming, the more humbled and inspired I am by the people involved. ⁣
Their strong desire to give back to people and their decisive action to create a better, fairer, more diverse and inclusive working world - for both individuals and businesses - is just incredible to be part of.⁣
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I come from an industry in which, sadly, kindness, fairness, encouragement and mentorship are not at all prevalent. It’s changing, I know but my own experience is one of ‘that’s your place, stay there’.⁣
And I’m white and middle-class. Think of the layers my black and ethnic minority counterparts have to wade through and battle against on a daily basis, just to get to the position I start from. (See link in my Instagram bio for Ted Sarandos’s refusal to work with the Golden Globes group).⁣
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The Career Masterclass team are levelling the playing field and offering everyone the opportunity to learn from the experience of some highly successful individuals and to equip themselves with skills for rapid career growth. ⁣
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This team and their amazing CEO Bukola Adisa have (literally) welcomed me with open arms and trusted me with the important task of telling each of these success stories, the trials, tribulations and lessons learned from years in the financial services sector. It’s FASCINATING to film and the fact they’re all ridiculously lovely people is my kind of bonus. ⁣
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So I was at a playground with my kids the other day and a woman was on her phone looking stressed and anguished as she quickly typed an email or text. An elderly man near me pointed at her and said “isn’t it awful when people can’t even watch their own children”. ⁣ ⁣ It got me thinking about the constant judgement we face as mothers - often from people who don’t know us or our circumstances at all.⁣ ⁣ In a world where much of our communication is done on phones, where they are deadlines to meet, employers chasing us, school forms to fill in and emails to reply to… don’t assume the one moment you witness represents the entire gamut of interactions with our children. ⁣ ⁣ We are doing our best.⁣ ⁣ #dontjudge

My heart and soul have gone into this. Our film for the Early Education and Childcare Coalition launches with a special screening in Westminster on 7th September. This was an extensive project that required significant research and was filmed across 4 days with a brilliant production team who were all highly invested in the subject matter. Please share the trailer below and huge thanks go to the team who made this happen. Production company: Mill Road Creative Director: Carly Claydon-Davies Producers: Carly Claydon-Davies and Petra von Schalien Director of Photography: Ethan Russell Camera Assistant : Siôn Roe Sound: Sam Walker Editor: Carly Claydon-Davies Colourist: Jamie Dickinson - Editor / Colourist #childcare #filmproduction #earlyyearseducation

TRIGGER WARNING - Birth in the pandemic. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions in this job.⁣ ⁣ One minute I’m crying tears of laughter as I watch back footage, the next my heart is in my mouth and I’m literally psyching myself up to get through the rawness of what I’m about to cut together.⁣ ⁣ This was hard footage to edit. I was nearly one of these women. My daughter was born months before the first lockdown. 5 days in hospital - a long induction (my body seems to like to hold onto babies for as long as possible), antibiotics in labour a brief stint in NICU which triggered awful memories of my son’s longer stay there 4 and half years before that… I was on my knees.⁣ ⁣ Imagine all that, worse even… in the midst of a pandemic. I think about it a lot. I think about the women who endured unimaginable fear and uncertainty, many of them first time mums already going into the unpredictable journey that is childbirth, the babies whose care was severely compromised. I think about the midwives too, and all the healthcare workers wanting to do their jobs as usual but fearing for their own safety.⁣ ⁣ These experiences will stay with people. Mine certainly have - there was some pretty deep trauma to work through before I could even think about having a second baby. And for those who gave birth during the pandemic, the mental health stats are terrifying. I send so much love to anyone who relates to this video. For Pregnant Then Screwed 🤰 ⁣ #birthinlockdown #butnotmaternity #postnataldepression

WHAT A YEAR 🤩🥰 ⁣ ⁣ Thank you to all the wonderful people I’ve had the pleasure of working with this year, despite being a difficult one (again) for so many of us, I am so privileged to tell these stories and gain insight into worlds of which I would otherwise be completely ignorant. ⁣ ⁣ Thank you to my clients for trusting me to listen and to deliver their messages as powerfully as I know how. I am constantly learning in this job - it’s the only way to keep getting better at it - and I am always grateful for the people I meet along the way.⁣ ⁣ May 2022 bring you health and happiness ❤️⁣

#flexappeal (subtitled) for Mother Pukka. Please share 🙏

Look At Us

Thought for the day...

You can go far in 1 minute...

Featuring Chloe Ward Laura Harm Jessica Clarke Hope you enjoy!

Mill Road Creative presents @jessturnerdesigns - wildly fanciful, silk-knit bridal wear for the unconventional bride. A behind the scenes look at how Jess works!

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