The Woolton Hall Location Shoot Event, 2018

Pictured above from left to right: Helen, Georgina, Maddy, Tanya, Shelly, Paul, Lisa, Jaimie and Alexia

This was the first of a kind event for Born at Woolton Hall in Liverpool. Eight people booked to come with us to this fantastic semi abandoned venue for a location shoot.

About Woolton Hall

Woolton Hall is a former country house located in Woolton, a suburb of Liverpool, England. Built in 1704 and extensively renovated in 1772 by the influential architect Robert Adam the building is praised as the finest example of Robert Adam?s work in Northern England. Throughout its 300-year history the building has been the residence of a number of notable figures, including the Earl of Sefton and Liverpool shipowner Frederick Richards Leyland.

Passing through the front entrance is a large lobby flanked by two main halls. The lobby has marble flooring and an imposing oak fireplace which is one of the buildings original features, having been designed by Robert Adams. Adjacent to the fireplace are three doors with the leftmost allowing access to a kitchen area and a stairwell. The door directly to the fireplace’s left leads to an octagonal shaped turquoise room with and a decorated ceiling that contains a circular painting of Frederic Leighton’s The Garden of the Hesperides. The door on the right leads to the building’s main staircase.

The principal staircase which ascends to the second floor is another of Robert Adam’s original features consisting of wrought iron baluster and a molded mahogany handrail. The upper floors boast large opens rooms with original Robert Adams ceilings as well many smaller rooms which have acted as bedrooms and classrooms throughout the building’s history.

Pictured: Georgina

The Woolton Hall photo shoot was a unique experience. I wasn’t sure what to expect as I hadn’t done anything like this before but I needn’t have worried. We were very well looked after! The whole team from Born were very attentive to everyone and did a fantastic job, both with our looks and our photos. The venue was well picked, and added so much to a special day. Not only was it very professional but also a great atmosphere and friendships have been formed as well. So much credit has to go to the for creating that atmosphere. It has given me the the confidence to try new things and I would definitely do it again. I can highly recommend it to anyone The memories of the day are wonderful ones and if you get the chance to do it, you should! Georgina

Pictured: Jaimie

I?m?not quite sure where to start. I’m a person in my mid 50s, somewhere on the transgender spectrum, born male but have always experimented with my female side from a very young age. I’ve only been leaving the safety of my home dressed as Helen for less than two years.

When I saw the Born Woolton Hall experience advertised on Facebook, I registered immediately and paid via PayPal. I arrived early, dressed enfemme as Helen. It was the first time I’d met Paul, Nick and the team. What lovely, lovely people. I was immediately at ease and within a few minutes was in the chair. Paul removed the makeup applied by myself at home and he asked me what look I’d like him to achieve and he started to work his magic. Paul is a true artist and over the following 75 minutes or so, created what you see in my pictures. I particularly loved how he did my eyes.

We chatted through the whole process and I can’t enthuse enough what a lovely, genuine person Paul is. In the meantime, Nick had created a number of settings with elaborate lighting rigs and proceeded to take the pictures occasionally giving guidance as we moved from set to set. Nick is just lovely and he made me feel relaxed, happy and confident. I then sat for Trish who was equally as professional, chatty and genuine, just brilliant. I had three outfit changes through the day, with slightly different photos being taken with each change. I had a wonderful, wonderful time and I didn’t want it to end. I left Woolton Hall on an all-time high and can’t wait for the next event to be announced. I’d just like to say a huge, massive thank you to Paul, Nick, Trish and Adalind for just a wonderful day, a day I’ll remember forever. Helen

Pictured: Helen

Pictured: Lisa

I have already visited Paul once (and will do so again), when I saw the advertisement for a location shoot at Woolton Hall, given the price coupled with Paul’s makeover abilities naturally I handed over my money!

Enjoyable day (which was also attended by my partner Claire) the makeover and the photos were a side show… it was a real pleasure to be in the company of kind hearted people with similar motivations and outlooks on life, based on this I’d do it again… like a shot! Lisa

The shoot at Woolton Hall, to me, was something of history! Paul and the Born team really excelled themselves and it was incredible to collaborate with a group of some wonderful ladies, during this auspicious occasion! The finished products are incredible and I will delight in using them as publicity shots for my album and one woman show! I sincerely hope this project will be picked up by wider mainstream media companies to bring our community out of the shadows! Alexia

Pictured: Alexia

Pictured: Maddy

Pictured: Shelley

If you ever wanted a true ‘Modelling on Location’ Experience, then this is it! The chance to look around the impressive historic and abandoned Woolton Hall Manor is a pure bonus and what a fantastic backdrop it makes. From the time you arrive, and settle in with a cup of tea, you can explore the Manor, before settling in for your makeover with the professional and friendly team from Born. Once made up, you get the opportunity for several locations to be photographed in, and you can change into different wardrobes as you desire. An awesome experience, and the day just flew by. The photos are a brilliant memoir, truly showing off the makeup artistry and photographers skills to take away to start your professional or amateur modelling career! Thoroughly recommended and a really unique opportunity. Shelley

My day at Woolton Hall was that of a most pleasant day. The morning started bad with heavy rain on the way there. But thanks to Maddy Smith whom made it feel better. Woolton Hall is very old and looked a bit off. But once inside and met some lovely people it felt so good especially with Paul doing my make over and Nick and Trish doing the photography it was a most memorable day and gave me a lot of confidence back 10 out of 10. Tanya

Pictured: Tanya

The Team

Paul Heaton
Makeup Artist

Paul is Born’s Managing Director and the feminisation specialist makeup artist. He honed these skills under the tutelage of a well-known trans feminisation makeup artist. Paul is fully committed to Born’s mission to improve the lives of trans and non-binary people by offering them practical help and advice, and working to boost their confidence and self-esteem. Paul and his team worked hard painting faces for the day.

Trish White
Photographer

Self-taught photographer Trish first got to grips with photography in and around Abu Dhabi, setting herself the challenge of having her photos published within 12 months of picking up the camera. This goal was quickly smashed with her photographs being used in newspapers, magazines and digital media across the world. Trish’s work also includes photography for architects, an international sports company, book covers for fiction and is proud to provide photography for the Victorian Society.

Nick Heaton
Photographer

Studied photography and Art at Bournemouth and Poole college of art and design in 1988. Currently working on urban exploring and candid shots of everyday people. Have a passion for street art, creative lighting and cinematography. Also like to paint on canvas and influenced by Picasso, Salvador Dali and Todd Schorr to name a few. Instagram: rasputins_poolcleaner

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