You know when you find somewhere that makes your heart race? And somewhere that before you even walk in, you know you are going to love? Well that was me the second I laid eyes on the handwritten Dairy House Antiques sign.

Debs and Trix have curated the most incredible collection of sellers, showcasing vintage treasures, antique finds and rolls of old maps and prints just waiting to be thumbed by excited fingertips. Fabrics, soft furnishings, quilts, pictures and everything in between, from a miniature figurine to a French armoire. 

The Dairy House is somewhere to get lost in.

There are no less than 3 floors full to bursting with antiques from all periods, sports memorabilia, kitchenalia, crockery, furniture, you name it, you'll find it here. There are 23 different sellers, who each have their little corner of the Dairy House, which result in the most eclectic displays and variety for shoppers. From whole rooms to a shelf in a glass cabinet, there is a wonderful feeling of collaboration when you potter around.

With the festive season looming there is a feeling of romance at the Dairy House, twinkling fairy lights draped over dressers and jars and metal stars and vintage baubles hanging ready to go from the shop to your tree this Christmas. 

Pop in for present ideas or for a piece of cake at their "Tea Shed". The only trouble is you'll want to buy the table and chairs whist you eat your cake!

Top of my Christmas wish list are a couple of these enormous glass jars for the ends of our console table. They look wonderful as vases or simply filled with leaves or baubles. 

The Dairy House is a find so if you are ever near Shaftesbury, follow the signs to Semley! They are open Monday to Friday 10am - 4.30pm, Saturday 10am - 5pm and Sundays 11am - 4pm.

You can find them on Facebook too. 

I get lots of lovely emails asking about how I started my photography business and how I go about finding my photography work. 

So I thought I would share a little story from this week about my trip to London to work for Leon Restaurants.

Leon are a dream client. Their style is dynamic, colourful and the team spirit ethos shines through their staff. Working with them doesn't feel like work. Their Marketing Manager had read my blog and contacted me about taking some photos last year and I was delighted to be asked back again this year to photograph a new restaurant that has just opened at Victoria Place and focus on their healthy, fast food at their restaurant at Bankside.

As I walked down the bustling street towards the Bankside restaurant on Tuesday, I passed several other eateries, one who had set up for a photo shoot. I slowed down a little to take it all in.

The giant reflector screens on a perfectly overcast Autumn day, the models in co-ordinated "casual outfits" who were being told to look at the laptop in front of them naturally and smile. 

For a second it made me feel a little nervous, that I was heading next door to capture exactly the same sort of shots but in a totally different way, without the set up, the "customers" being paid to look happy, but any nerves evaporated as I was met by the Marketing Manager with a huge hug.

She had noticed the set up as well and when I said "Goodness have you seen what's going on down the street?!" she replied, "Yes, and that's why we hire you." 

That's quite possibly the most wonderful compliment I have had as a photographer and I got behind my lens and started snapping.

Capturing restaurant customers is tricky. We don't tend to smile when we eat, no one looks good chewing or about to eat a forkful (It always looks like you are shovelling your food in like a greedy beast). Just think of all the terrible celebrity pictures magazines roll out of skinny celebrities eating a burger, you know the sort, which are always the most unflattering! And people in London are busy. They tend to eat and go. 

So I lie in wait, trying to capture a natural moment. A first date, with coy smiles, nervous giggling and twitchy legs under the table, colleagues wishing to be more, groups of friends, and my favourite is people on their own.

I love thinking about what they do next, after they've finished their paper or crossword, or wonder what they are listening to on their earphones. People watching is such a lovely past time and even nicer when it's for work!

And people were watching me, sometimes they'd see me out of the corner of their eye and give me a thumbs up or a big grin. Others, often women, would look embarrassed but then I silently mouth, you look beautiful, and head over to show them the photo on the camera display. It's lovely when they say "Oh that's a really nice one." I can tell the people who don't want their photo taken and I steer clear, a successful British comedienne was in the queue at Bankside and I made it obvious I wouldn't take her picture. She came over and thanked me and we both carried on our days.

I am lucky that I have clicked with Leon. I understand what they are trying to convey in their photography and hopefully they are happy with the results. When you are developing your portfolio, whether as a brand new business or as an established photographer, I think it's important to build relationships so that you have a set of clients who can rely on you. My biggest tip is to spend time appreciating their brand, their identity to ensure that the photography reflects them. That it is distinctive as both their and your style of photography.

My blog is my living CV. I get approached by new clients through my website and by sharing peeks from other shoots, it enables me to have a constantly changing online portfolio.

I have ear marked a post in my #backtobasics series dedicated to 'How to start a photography business' but if you have any questions before then, as that post is a little way off, just leave a comment or email me mama@capturebylucy.com.

Now who is hungry after this post? Can you imagine how peckish you get shooting delicious food all day?!

When we were younger we always celebrated Christmas with my cousins. On Boxing Day or on Christmas Day itself, we would either head to Oxford, or impatiently wait for them to arrive at our house and welcome them, and my Granny and Grandpa, with a rousing "Compliments of the Season!"

My Auntie and Mum took it in turns to host, with my Granny putting together a beautiful hamper, mostly full of goodies that she'd collected in her larder (some of which may have been past their sell by dates), as their contribution to Christmas. I thought this was such a lovely gesture and there is something about a hamper that feels so luxurious and special. 

So it was a complete treat to find one of Harrods Christmas Hampers arrive at our door.

Even the unveiling to discover what's inside made my husband ooh and aah like we were watching a firework's display. I love that the lid explains exactly how you feel. Like lifting the lid, is akin to opening the doors to the Harrods Food Hall.

There is everything you could need for a pre Christmas afternoon tea party or a perfect sweet round off to Christmas Day.

Tea, coffee, wine and Champagne to serve with 2 delicious cakes, biscuits and the most sumptuous box of chocolates I have ever eaten. 

There's sweet chutney and jam to drizzle over the essential cheese and biscuits as well as Apple and Damson jelly and mustard for the Christmas table. 

You feel spoilt.

This was a serious after school treat! I have saved a few of the goodies for Christmas Day as I am hosting for my family! 

Thank you so much Harrods, your hampers are the ultimate Christmas present!