Seamus Ryan

Such a fun photo shoot session. The wind machine makes it worthwhile… The ladies were lovely and the photography/​studio hosts Emily & Noël were very professional and a pleasure to be around. The photography mounted upon the walls was clever, artistic and a bit awe-​inspiring! I had a nice chat with the photographer discussing his creative vision behind the photographs mounted on the walls of the studio.

I first came across Seamus Ryan when I hired his glitter booth for a party last year — an instant success!
If you haven’t got the patience to wait your turn, or are to shy to have a professional photo taken in front of the whole gallery, you can sneak into a little side room, buy a token (£3 or 2 for £5) and get the best passport pictures you have ever owned.
I did both and now have a wonderful memory of my friend’s visit and a great day at Columbia Road. Can’t wait for the proper pictures to appear on the website on Wednesday.
An absolute highlight — and what an honour to be part of such a beautiful project.

I came here to interview the photographer yesterday, but I want to write a review because it’s a really interesting place. The gallery itself is very tucked away, if you think you’re walking down the wrong street (past the Royal Oak pub on the corner of the flower market), you aren’t you just haven’t walked far enough yet.
Every Sunday, Seamus Ryan opens up his studio. Which isn’t a hugely novel thing to do at first glance. But then you realise that he takes photos of everyone passing through. Tourists and nosy people can then buy the prints after seeing them on the website later in the week. Brilliant. Yesterday he took photos of the contents of my handbag. Random.
The portraits in the gallery are gorgeous. His print of Tom Stoppard (who popped in with his grandkids) is now in the National Portrait Gallery.
The gallery is light and airy and interesting. It’s also well air conditioned which is very handy to escape the sunshine for a little while and recover from flowery sneezes you’ll get wlaking through the market.
So go and be nosy and be in a photo project. They change every week so you know you’ll be doing something new each time. Much more interesting than Smallville reruns on the telly.