about
Alison McKenny
Hi, My name is Alison and I’m a professional Portrait Photographer and the owner/artist behind the lens at Alison McKenny Photography. I have recently been awarded ‘Master Photographer’ Status by the Internationally acclaimed Portrait Masters in 2020 and won ‘2021 Image of the Year’ for my images entered into the Newborn and Baby, and Children’s Portraiture categories with the Guild of Photographers.
I work from my home based studio and family farm in Stoke By Clare, Suffolk.
PHOTOGRAPHY
that is Authentically you!
I specialise in photographing families, newborns, children, and even pets, as well as Personal Branding Portraits and School Marketing Photography across Suffolk, Cambridge, Essex, and Norfolk.
Whether you love elegant, posed portraits or relaxed, candid moments, I’ll gently guide you throughout. If you’re feeling a bit nervous—that’s completely normal. Most people do. But with over 14 years’ experience, I know how to help you feel comfortable, confident, and completely yourself in front of the camera.
My style ranges from bright and airy to dark and moody, always using soft, flattering light—whether in my cosy Suffolk studio or out on location.
However we work together, my aim is simple: to help you feel seen, celebrated, and proud of the images we create.
01.
WHERE I LIKE TO WORK
MY STUDIO & FAMILY FARM
A Unique Studio & Beautiful Outdoor Locations
My cosy home studio is set at one end of our house with its own entrance and bathroom, making it a comfortable and private space for your shoot. Over the past 14 years, I’ve built an extensive collection of backdrops, props, and outfits, giving you plenty of choice when planning your session.
We’re based on a stunning family farm in rural Suffolk, right on the Essex and Cambridgeshire borders—just 25 to 50 minutes from towns like Cambridge, Newmarket, Sudbury, Colchester, Braintree, Bury St Edmunds, and Saffron Walden.
Many of my favourite photos (including our own family portraits!) are taken right here. The farm offers open fields, big skies, trees, a reservoir, rustic barns, and even a wildflower meadow—perfect for natural, seasonal portraits all year round.
Because it’s our land, I have full access and know the best spots and when the light is just right.
If you have a special location in mind, I’m always happy to travel—just let me know what you’re thinking!
02.
MY LOCATION
I’m located in Stoke by Clare, in Suffolk, UK, which is a small village near Clare (funnily enough!) and Haverhill. It’s only 30 mins from Sudbury and Bury St Edmunds, and 50 mins from Cambridge, Saffron Walden, Colchester and Braintree, so although we are rurally based, it’s the ideal location as it’s so accessible to so many local towns!
THE FARM
MY STUDIO
03.
SUFFOLK AWARD WINNING PHOTOGRAPHER
My photography skills and style have definitely developed over the past 11 years and the main reasons for that is my passion for learning and therefore investment in training with top Photographers from all over the world, buying quality equipment that doesn’t let me down, and regularly entering competitions.
Competitions keep me striving for perfection from my images, learning from my mistakes and constantly improving my work. I often get models in for specific shoots as it allows me to be more creative and take my time to get the shot perfect, but sometimes I can get a strong enough image from a client shoot too.
When I first started photography, I joined ‘The Guild of Professional Photographers’ which is based in the UK and has been a huge help and support to me over the years. They have monthly competitions and I usually enter images twice or three times a year. In Dec 2021, I heard the exciting news that 4 of my images were selected as Finalists in their annual Image of the Year competition. In February 2022, I heard that I had amazingly won 2 of the categories: Baby’s and Toddlers, and Children’s Portraiture which was definitely a highlight in my career and something I’m very proud of.
In recent years I have also been entering images into ‘The Portrait Masters’ which is an International group of Portrait Photographers and after entering the competitions twice a year over 3 years, I was in the top 20 x6 times which has been exciting enough as there are thousands of entrants and each image is scored by 5 individual judges, but in 2021 I came 2nd in the Newborn category with the same image that won at the Guild, which was amazing!
Through the Portrait Masters, I first qualified as an Associate Photographer, and in 2020, I won enough points and awards at a high enough level to achieve ‘Master Photographer’ status!
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