Two visits to The Partridge Inn, two very different photographic opportunities, and a working relationship that began with a little festive fun.
Our festive mini bobble hat challenge
Towards the end of the year, Sequoia Studios invited local hospitality businesses to take part in a festive mini Bobble Hat Challenge, offering professional photography shoots to the winning entries of our homemade bobble hats!
The Partridge Inn, in the West Sussex village of Singleton, was one of the winners.
What began as a light-hearted competition soon became an opportunity to photograph the food, drinks and welcoming interiors of this traditional country pub.
The first visit was all about the menu. From carefully presented main courses and freshly prepared pizzas to desserts, drinks and the warmth of a fireside whisky, the photography captured different sides of the pub's hospitality offering.
And, as it turned out, it wouldn't be our last visit.
A reason to return
A few months later, The Partridge Inn invited Sequoia Studios back, this time to photograph Partridge Fest 2026, the pub's annual music festival over the late May Bank Holiday weekend.
It was a very different brief.
Rather than carefully composed dishes and controlled lighting, the focus shifted to live performances, candid moments and the activity unfolding throughout the pub gardens.
The event brought together musicians, families, friends, food and outdoor entertainment, with the pub providing the setting for a weekend of local hospitality.
For Sequoia, it was an opportunity to photograph the same venue from an entirely different perspective.
When the weather has other ideas
Outdoor events rarely follow a perfectly predictable script, particularly over a British bank holiday.
Rain affected the opening day of Partridge Fest, keeping visitor numbers relatively low. Rather than trying to make a quiet afternoon look like a packed festival, the photography focused on the moments and activity that were there.
Returning for a second day brought more opportunities to capture the festival in full swing, with guests enjoying the gardens, food being prepared and musicians performing.
Working around changing conditions is part of photographing live events. Unlike a food shoot, there are no second takes when a moment passes.
The challenge is to recognise what's happening, anticipate what comes next and capture the occasion as it unfolds.
A different perspective
One of the advantages of photographing a festival in a countryside setting is the opportunity to show more than what's happening at ground level.
Alongside candid photographs of guests, performers and staff, aerial photography provided a wider view of Partridge Fest.
From above, the relationship between the pub, its gardens, the outdoor activities and the surrounding village became much clearer.
These photographs complemented the closer, more personal images, helping to communicate both the atmosphere and the scale of the event.
Together, they created a collection that could support the pub's future event promotion as well as documenting the weekend itself.
“He was so kind and professional both times and the quality is brilliant. Couldn’t recommend enough!!”
APRIL STOKER · THE PARTRIDGE INN
Two commissions, one relationship
The two visits to The Partridge Inn couldn't have been more different.
One focused on the food and hospitality enjoyed throughout the year. The other captured the music, people and atmosphere of a lively bank holiday weekend.
Together, they demonstrate how photography can support different aspects of a hospitality business, from everyday dining to the occasions that bring a community together.
Sometimes a working relationship begins with a detailed proposal or a carefully planned introduction.
And sometimes, it begins with a simple handmade festive bobble hat.
One venue, many stories.
From the food served every day to the events that bring people together, thoughtful photography captures the different experiences that define a hospitality business.
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