In Good Company : Gemma McKell

Welcome to this edition of In Good Company, where we love to meet and celebrate the people who inspire us. This month, we meet Gemma McKell @folkandkin— a photographer based in Cumbria, living with her husband, their two younger daughters and their dog, Ned. Her style is relaxed, eclectic and a little oversized, built from good knitwear, denim and second hand finds she's loved for years. Outside work she's happiest with a book on the go, a record playing or pottering at home - finding joy in the everyday and making space for the things that matter, even when life is busy.

Can you tell is a little about yourself and what a typical day looks like for you?

I'm Gemma, a photographer based in Cumbria. I live here with my husband, our two younger daughters and Ned, our dog, while our eldest is away at university. Outside of photography I'm into book, films, music, interiors and clothes. I buy far too many books, we go to the cinema a lot and there's nearly always music on in my house. I love old things and finding something brilliant second-hand. There isn't really a typical day. Most days are a mix of family life, work, photography, and the usual stuff. If I get a bit of time to myself I will read, have a wander around bookshops or second-hand shops, or just stay at home and potter.

 Can you describe your personal style in three words?

Relaxed, eclectic, oversized.

I like clothes to feel comfortable but still interesting, I wear a lot of oversized things, good knitwear, denim, second-hand pieces and things I've had for years. I'm not particularly trend-led and i don't really think about having one set style. I just know when something feels like me.

What are some small things that bring you joy day-to day?

I get a lot of enjoyment out of quite ordinary things. A pot of coffee in the morning, music on in the house, fresh bedding, lighting the fire and candles, a good book, putting on an outfit I really love. A rainy Sunday, playing records with the house all clean and peaceful, is hard to beat.

Weekdays can be pretty hectic, so I really love weekends at home. Pottering around, painting or making something, playing my ukulele, reading and hanging out with my family. I also love the random little updates from my eldest while she's away at Uni.

I think i'm quite good at finding little bits of joy in everyday life, especially at home.

What does "slow living" or "taking time for yourself" mean to you?

I do like to slow down, but my life is so busy, so for me it's less about living slowly all the time and more about making space for it where I can. That might be reading for a couple of hours, walking Ned, watching a good film, taking my camera out or just having a wander around the shops. Pottering is my favourite thing to do.

A book, film or song you always come back to?

This is a hard one because books, films and music are all a really big part of my life.

I buy books much faster than I can read them and always have a pile waiting. Rebecca is one I've loved for years and I really enjoyed Piranesi recently. I read quite widely but tend to like fiction that's a bit darker or unusual and I read a lot of non-fiction too, especially books about the sea and maritime history.

Films are a big thing in our house. We have movie night with the girls every Friday and we spend a lot of time at the cinema. I love films that are beautifully shot or have a really strong atmosphere and i'm strangely particular about when I watch certain ones. Some films just belong to a certain season, kind of weather or even a particular day and I love that ritual around watching them.

With Music I tend to go back to the same albums rather than one particular song. I have a few that I've played for years and they've become comfort listens. I listen to The Smiths and Agnes Obel a lot, and I love going to gigs too.

Tea or Coffee?

Coffee with oat milk in the morning, sweet tea in the afternoon, and I love a herbal tea before bed.

If you could spend a weekend anywhere, where would you go and what would you do?

I don't think I have one dream place. I romanticise places quite a lot before I go, so they're rarely how I imagined them once I'm actually there. 

What I really enjoy is having time to explore somewhere properly. I love history, museums and art galleries, old buildings, beautiful lifestyle and interior shops, bookshops, second-hand places and good cafes. I like walking around without too much of a plan, taking photos and finding things as I go. Edinburgh and Reykjavik both felt strangely familiar to me when I visited, even though i'd never been to either before, and I love that feeling in a place.

Any words or advise that you live by?

I think for me it's about being yourself and not worrying too much about being everyone's cup of tea. Staying curious, being open to new ideas and different ways of seeing things, spending time with people you love, and making room for the things that genuinely bring you joy. That feels more important to me now than it ever was.

Special thanks to Gemma for taking part this series of In Good Company. We hope you loved hearing about her as much as we did.