It has been a long three year wait for great grandmother Maureen Finn to celebrate her 90th birthday with a special gift from her daughter.
But as she celebrated her 93rd birthday it was decided that it was the perfect opportunity to enjoy the professional makeover and modelling photo shoot her daughter Louise McKirkbride had surprised her with. It's a gift which the family say has become even more treasured after fears they might lose her during the Covid pandemic.
Louise said: "We worried she may not be the same if she came through the lockdowns. Since the pandemic and the various lockdowns, experiences with mum - especially in person - have become incredibly important for all of us."
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"Mum had to spend her 90th birthday alone, celebrating with us on an iPad screen that had been set up for her.", she added.
After a worrying time through the pandemic, Louise and Maureen, from Newcastle, enjoyed a day at Click Portrait Experiences, describing the experience as a "treat" to spend time together. Maureen, who is a mum-of-seven, had her hair and makeup professionally styled before being invited into the studio for a model-inspired photo shoot.
She looked beautiful in a blue satin shirt and although she said she would never have picked a photoshoot as a gift herself, she admitted she thoroughly enjoyed the day.
Maureen said: "I didn't know what to expect and, if I'm honest, if I'd been asked if I'd want a photo shoot beforehand I would have said no! I'm so pleased it was gifted to me, though, as I have talked about the whole experience so much since and it's been nice to hear people like the photographs as much as I do, even now – it's a gift that goes on and on!"
"I loved meeting Joe and his make-up artist who made plenty of time to get to know me.", she added.
Photographer Joe Laws said: "It was such an inspiration to meet Maureen. I loved having Maureen in the studio and listening to her life story."
"It was an absolute pleasure and privilege to photograph Maureen looking her beautiful best at 93 years young.", he added.
Click Portrait Experiences started from humble beginnings, supplying family portrait sessions via newspaper campaigns, the Watford based company now boasts a national network of over 60 studios specialising in six genres of portrait photography, including Maureen's makeover and modelling experience.
The company's CEO, Charlie Kaufman, said: "This is exactly the reason I set up Click nearly 30 years ago, to put the public in touch with the very best photographers local to them. How wonderful that Maureen choose a portrait experience of herself and now her whole family can enjoy the stunning portraits that Joe has created for generations to come."
