This time, we'd simply like to see you.
Throughout Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Cherish Studios is partnering with Future Dreams to offer 10 Reconnect & Empower Portrait Experiences for women affected by breast cancer.
Because when you've spent so much time being seen through the lens of appointments, treatment, recovery and everything that comes with breast cancer, it can be rather lovely to spend a day where none of that has to define you.
This isn't about being photographed as a patient.
It isn't about being a survivor.
And you certainly don't have to show us how strong you are.
It's simply an opportunity to be you.
"This feels like me" -->
THE EXPERIENCE - A day that's about you
Your Reconnect & Empower experience begins long before we pick up a camera.
We'll spend time getting to know you, what has brought you to us and what you'd like the experience to feel like.
Then, when you arrive at our North London studio, there's no expectation of how you should look, what you should wear or which parts of your story you should want to tell.
You might want photographs that feel joyful and full of life.
You might want something quiet and beautiful.
You might want to dress up, laugh, celebrate your body, or simply enjoy being looked after for a change.
And if there are parts of your breast cancer experience that you want your photographs to acknowledge, we can do that too.
You decide what belongs in your photographs.
We'll gently guide you throughout, so you don't need to know how to pose or arrive feeling confident.
You just need to come as you are.
THE FUNDRAISING - Your £100 becomes something more
There are 10 Reconnect & Empower experiences available as part of this campaign.
Your £100 Commitment Fee secures your experience — and Cherish Studios will donate 100% of that £100 directly to Future Dreams.
10 women × £100 = £1,000 for Future Dreams.
Following your portrait experience, you'll see your photographs for the first time during your Design Consultation and can choose the portraits you'd like to live with at home.
Any portraits you choose to purchase are entirely separate from the fundraising donation.
There is never any obligation to buy photographs you don't love.
OUR CONNECTION WITH FUTURE DREAMS -
A relationship that goes back much further than this campaign
Cherish Studios' relationship with Future Dreams didn't begin with this campaign.
For around a decade, Paul has had the privilege of photographing some of the charity's fundraising events — documenting extraordinary evenings, remarkable people and a community brought together by a shared determination to support women affected by breast cancer.
Today, Paul is proud to be a Future Dreams Ambassador.
So when we began thinking about how Reconnect & Empower could contribute during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we wanted to do something tangible.
Not simply talk about supporting women.
But create something women could genuinely enjoy — while raising money to support the work Future Dreams does every day.
That's how 10 Women. 10 Experiences. £1,000 for Future Dreams began.
YOUR PORTRAITS - What happens afterwards?
Later that same day, we'll sit down together for your Design Consultation and you'll see your portraits for the first time.
There may be one that simply makes you stop.
Perhaps one makes you laugh.
Perhaps another shows you something you weren't expecting.
You'll choose only the photographs that mean something to you, and we'll help you decide how you'd like to enjoy and live with your favourites in your home.
Because although this experience may have begun with Future Dreams, the photographs are about you.
PERHAPS THIS ONE'S FOR YOU
You don't need to feel brave.
You don't need to feel inspirational.
And you don't need to arrive with a story about overcoming anything.
Perhaps you'd simply like a day that isn't about breast cancer.
A day to dress up.
To laugh.
To be looked after.
To enjoy being photographed.
And to see yourself without all the other labels for a while.
This time, we'd simply like to see you.
10 WOMEN. 10 EXPERIENCES. £1,000 FOR FUTURE DREAMS.
£100 Commitment Fee — 100% donated to Future Dreams
"This feels like me" -->
FAQ
What if I don't feel confident enough to do this?
You don't need to arrive at Cherish feeling confident. In fact, many of the women we meet tell us confidence is one of the very reasons they've come. This experience isn't a reward for already feeling good about yourself. It's simply an opportunity to give yourself some time, enjoy being looked after and perhaps see yourself a little differently.
What if I hate having my photograph taken?
We hear this one a lot.
Often, what someone really means is: “I don't like photographs of myself.”
And we understand the difference. You won't be expected to suddenly become comfortable in front of a camera.
Paul will guide you gently throughout, and before long we hope you'll be far too busy talking, laughing and enjoying yourself to worry quite so much about the photographs.
But I have absolutely no idea how to pose.
Perfect.
Because you don't need to.
Knowing how to stand, where to look or what to do with your hands is our responsibility — not yours.
There are no posing lessons to learn and nothing to practise before you arrive.
Just come as you are.
Am I too old for something like this?
No. This experience isn't about trying to look younger. The years you've lived are part of your story. The laughter, experiences, relationships, challenges and achievements that brought you here are part of the woman we're photographing. We're interested in who you are now.
What if doing something entirely for myself feels a little self-indulgent?
It might.
Especially if you've spent years being the person who instinctively puts everybody else first.
But perhaps that's precisely why it matters.
Making some space for yourself doesn't diminish everything you've given to the people you love.
It simply means remembering that you're one of the people worth looking after too.
What if I don't like the photographs?
You won't be asked to choose anything until you've seen your portraits.
Later on the same day, we'll look through them together and find the ones that genuinely mean something to you.
There is no expectation that you should love every photograph — and certainly no pressure to choose portraits simply because we've created them.
We're looking for the ones that make you feel something.
The ones that make you think:
“Yes. That's me.”