Chichester photographer captures family moments for NHS workers

A Chichester photographer has found family portraits to be high in demand this year, as the pandemic brings people closer to their loved ones.
Fiona, Christopher and Clara Mckeown. Photo by Peter Flude/Flude FotoFiona, Christopher and Clara Mckeown. Photo by Peter Flude/Flude Foto
Fiona, Christopher and Clara Mckeown. Photo by Peter Flude/Flude Foto

With weddings and other events cancelled, Peter Flude has focused his photography business – Flude Foto – on family portraits.

During the first lockdown, he decided to offer free shoots to three NHS workers.

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The 23-year-old said it had been ‘an interesting time’ for many families, with some spending lots more time together and others unable to see eachother at all.

Peter Flude. Photo: Peter Flude/Flude FotoPeter Flude. Photo: Peter Flude/Flude Foto
Peter Flude. Photo: Peter Flude/Flude Foto

For those that could meet, he said: “It’s inspired people to want to capture memories with their families.”

Peter returned to Chichester, where he grew up, last year after graduating from university in Cornwall, and launched his photography business in November 2019.

With the outbreak of the virus coming just a few months later, he said it had been a ‘hectic start’ for the business.

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For the free NHS photoshoots, he met families outdoors in a natural setting, aiming to capture the ‘natural relationship between people, the natural bond’ – avoiding anything too posed or forced.

Fiona, Christopher and Clara Mckeown. Photo by Peter Flude/Flude FotoFiona, Christopher and Clara Mckeown. Photo by Peter Flude/Flude Foto
Fiona, Christopher and Clara Mckeown. Photo by Peter Flude/Flude Foto

“It was really nice, everyone was really grateful and really happy with the photos,” he said.

One of the families who won a photoshoot were Fiona and Christopher Mckeown, and their daughter Clara, from Chichester.

Christopher has worked in the NHS estates department for 10 years, while Fiona is an Occupational Therapist at St Richard’s and has been working to rehabilitate Covid-19 patients, including starting therapy in ICU when patients have still been ventilated.

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Fiona said Peter had ‘captured the essence of us as a family completely and the beauty of our little girl’.

A family from Worthing, including Netce - a Senior Clinical Educator at Worthing Hospital. Photo by Peter Flude/Flude FotoA family from Worthing, including Netce - a Senior Clinical Educator at Worthing Hospital. Photo by Peter Flude/Flude Foto
A family from Worthing, including Netce - a Senior Clinical Educator at Worthing Hospital. Photo by Peter Flude/Flude Foto

“This lovely young man just got it right in so many ways,” she said. “To say he captured the energy and style of Clara and us as a family is a complete understatement.”

She said the photos would be ‘a positive memory from a difficult few months’.

Peter is currently offering a 20 per cent discount on all family shoots for NHS workers – find out more at www.fludefoto.co.uk/offers

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