Miriam’s Kitchen Table at Darkwood’s

Saturday evening, I was invited to photograph Miriam’s Kitchen Table at Darkwood’s Coffee Roastery. One of my favourite locations, and one of those invitations that felt like being let in on something.

I’ve met Miriam a couple of times before, and photographed one of her events. So when she got in touch to ask if I’d shoot this one, I was delighted.

I wanted everything to feel warm and friendly. Not staged, not stiff. I wanted to capture the environment as it actually was, people arriving, finding their feet, and the sheer effort that had gone into the tables themselves. Because that was the whole point of the evening: strangers sitting down together, meant to meet, meant to make new friends.

Miriam had been preparing the day before in some of the hottest temperatures we’ve had this summer. When I arrived, though, none of that showed. The space itself, an open kitchen, was calm and generous. I took a friend along with me, and we got to just mill around for a bit before things properly started, watching people arrive, watching the evening take shape.

It was a beautiful summer’s evening. Everyone was welcoming from the moment we walked in. There was an amazing singer, David, playing as people settled at the tables. The tasting menu was gorgeous. And honestly, everyone just had a brilliant time.

Evenings like this are exactly why I love this part of the work. Not the polished, performative side of events, but the human bit, people arriving a little unsure, and leaving having made a connection they didn’t have a few hours before. That’s the thing worth photographing - Jo