Professional Business Headshots with Dawn

A couple of years ago, I photographed a lovely lady called Bev who was in need of some headshots.

She enjoyed her time with me and was pleased with the results, so much so that a year later she got in contact to purchase a Gift Certificate for her half-sister, Dawn, to have a makeover and photoshoot, too.

Bev told me that Dawn is a beautiful and warm person, as well as a fantastic sister. These traits must be in the family’s genes, as I’ve found both ladies to be all of these things and more.

Dawn tells me that Bev has been her biggest cheerleader as she has launched and grown her performance and wellbeing business, WinWell, over the last few years.

Dawn played competitive rugby right up to international level, so was already in the sports space when she needed to decide what steps to take next in her career.

She knew that physiotherapy or sports psychology were good options, but decided she wanted to so something more holistic that helped and supported athletes off the track, court or pitch as well as on it.

So she trained in performance coaching instead, with a particular interest in helping people find meaning and value in their lives outside of and after their athletic career.

Often, a lot of an athlete’s identity and self-worth is wrapped up in their sporting achievements.

Dawn’s role includes helping them recognise that all the traits that helped get them there – the resilience, determination and sheer hard work – are transferrable skills that are equally valuable in other spheres of life.

She also applies her skills and experience in the business world, speaking at corporate events and helping organisations to support staff to be better performers, develop them as people, reduce absenteeism and improve talent retention.

Dawn’s ambition and work ethic has clearly passed on to her daughter, Lily, who already has a well-thought-through plan for her career, despite being just 14.

Lily is looking to work as a nanny and travel for a year after she gets her qualifications, and then start work in social media marketing.

As a hobby, Lily enjoys applying makeup, from subtle but flattering shades right through to dramatic special FX prosthetics.

Dawn tells me that friends often queue up to benefit from Lily’s makeup skills, and she has been in that queue once or twice herself, too!

The family also have a dog, Blake, who they rescued from abandonment in Bosnia.

He has taught Dawn a lot about forgiveness, as Blake suffered incredible cruelty in Bosnia, yet still turns up each day with an open heart and big joyful eyes towards every human he encounters.

I imagine Blake is full of gratitude, for finally finding a place where he is safe, warm and well-fed.

Not only that, but he’s ended up in the warm embrace of a family who absolutely dote on him.

And while we can choose our pets, we can’t choose our family.

Luckily, Dawn has been just as lucky as Blake has been, to have a sibling as smart, approachable and personable as she is herself.

For more information about Dawn visit https://www.winwell.org.uk

Hair and makeup by Sam Bushell. https://sambushellmakeupandhair.com

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If you’re looking for professional headshots in the Oxfordshire area, please get in contact.

Sarah Plater AMPA is an award-winning qualified, certified professional portrait photographer based in Bicester, Oxfordshire.

She is the Master Photographers Association Young Families Portrait Photographer of the Year and Newborn Photographer of the Year for the Central Region (covering Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire) and achieved a Studio Portrait Finalist Award at the most recent National Competition.