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Felix Dennis’ Dorsington Houses

Posted on May 11, 2015 by Admin under Charlotte Wright Photography, Warwickshire Photography

Felix Dennis’ Dorsington Houses

I thought it was high time I told you about one of my largest and certainly most influential clients. Over the next few days I shall share some of the various photographic jobs I have done for the late, great Felix Dennis​.

It began in the Summer of 2008 when Chris Wright Photography​ got a phone call from a lovely old lady called Mrs Sawyer. She had seen Dad’s name in the Yellow Pages and rang us up, mentioning no names but her own, saying the following…

“I am looking for a photographer to photograph my Son’s house being thatched. He has everything in the world he could possibly want, so I would like a photographer to take pictures of the re-thatching and make a book for him”.

Mum replied with “Of course, we have a photographer that can do that”, thinking of me and how sweet she sounded, and that we won’t charge her too much. Now Dad gets extremely busy in the summer photographing holiday lets all over the country and with me having recently turned 21 and become a director of the business (and just starting to go out photographing for Dad’s clients on my own) Mum thought this would be a nice little, summer job for me. Little did we know!

I got to Dorsington and having heard rumours of Mr Dennis I realised as soon as I got there exactly who I would be photographing for. I photographed throughout the summer, getting to know the properties and the people working there very well, without ever meeting the man himself. Once the project was finished, I created my first photographic, coffee table book and delivered it to Mrs Sawyer (who gave the one and only tip I have actually ever received!). Thinking no more about it, I went back to my main job in our office at the time, photoshopping Dad’s images and being general back up & filing Queen.

Four weeks later I got a phone call from a gentleman called Toby who told me that Felix was back in the country and would like to speak to me about the photographs I had taken for his Mother. Man I was nervous! I arrived with sweaty palms about 20 minutes early and had a chat with one of the gardeners over the hedge until I gingerly knocked on Toby & Catherine’s office door. I was made to wait as Felix was on a phone call and then was taken up the steps to the conservatory to meet the enigmatic, larger than life Felix Dennis.

He was sat at a table by the window with a cigarette in his hand and my book in front of him. He asked me where I was from, what I did, my background in photography but didn’t mention the photographs once. I don’t remember him actually mentioning the images at all, but one conversation has, and will forever stay in my (terrified at the time) mind.

“I want you to tell me exactly how much you quoted my Mother and how much you charged her.”
“Um, well, I don’t really want to do that. It was a present for you from Mrs Sawyer, and I don’t think it is my place to really say.”
“No. Tell me exactly. If someone was holding a gun to your head, tell me how much you quoted and how much you charged.”
“I can’t remember exactly I’m afraid”
Much scowling from him prompted a high pitched “But I can ring my Mother in the office and find out!”

Mum says she remembers the phone call very vividly; a panicking, high pitched version of me asking for the necessary information. From my end, all I remember is the sound of pieces of paper being thrown about the office and madness at their end. We found the quote and I told Felix the details.

“Good” he said “I may have more work for you…”

Since then I haven’t really looked back, I have worked closely with Felix and his many wonderful staff in both Dorsington and Mustique for 7 years now and whilst he may be sadly gone and missed, his legacy lives on, which you will see in the photographs over the next few days.

These are Felix Dennis’ Dorsington properties; I have never been able to use the images before because of his privacy. However, they are now for sale and Welshmans is a holiday let, so I can finally show them off.

I hope you enjoy looking at the amazing interiors and exteriors of some of the very best properties Dad and I have ever photographed….

P.S. I hadn’t charged more than I quoted, and I have never been allowed to put my prices up since!

Felix Dennis' Dorsington Houses

Felix Dennis’ Dorsington Houses

Felix Dennis' Dorsington Houses

Felix Dennis’ Dorsington Houses

Highfield 3

Highfield 7

Felix Dennis' Dorsington Houses

Felix Dennis’ Dorsington Houses

Felix Dennis' Dorsington Houses

Felix Dennis’ Dorsington Houses

Highfield 6

Highfield 9

Highfield 8

Felix Dennis' Dorsington Houses

Felix Dennis’ Dorsington Houses

Felix Dennis' Dorsington Houses

Felix Dennis’ Dorsington Houses

Felix Dennis' Dorsington Houses

Felix Dennis’ Dorsington Houses

Felix Dennis' Dorsington Houses

Felix Dennis’ Dorsington Houses

Felix Dennis' Dorsington Houses

Felix Dennis’ Dorsington Houses

The Old Manor 3

Felix Dennis' Dorsington Houses

Felix Dennis’ Dorsington Houses

The Old Manor 5

Felix Dennis' Dorsington Houses

Felix Dennis’ Dorsington Houses

Welshmans 2

Felix Dennis' Dorsington Houses

Felix Dennis’ Dorsington Houses

Felix Dennis' Dorsington Houses

Felix Dennis’ Dorsington Houses

Felix Dennis' Dorsington Houses

Felix Dennis’ Dorsington Houses

Felix Dennis' Dorsington Houses

Felix Dennis’ Dorsington Houses

 

All images Copyright of Felix Dennis. Photography by Charlotte Wright Photography. www.felixdennis.com www.charlottewrightphotography.com

One thought on “Felix Dennis’ Dorsington Houses”

  1. Christopher Pagello says:

    Really incredible pics. Exactly what I was looking for, thanks.

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