Great Portraits
Made Simple
Our 'Short & Sweet Sessions' - A little taste of the Musselwhite Experience
20 minutes. One finished print. £45.
Fancy a lovely new portrait without committing to a full photoshoot? Perhaps it's time for an updated family photo, a portrait for someone special, or simply a chance to see what we can create together.
Our Short & Sweet sessions are a quick, easy way to pop into the studio, enjoy being in front of the camera and leave with a finished portrait in your hands.
Choose your Special Shoot, book your slot online and you're all set.
Special Shoot Sessions
View Our Current Special Shoots
A little shoot. A lovely portrait. Just £45.
Our Special Shoots are all 'Short & Sweet', themed studio sessions with different reasons to pop in throughout the year. Choose your session type, book your slot online and you're all set!
Every £45 Special Shoot includes:
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Your studio photoshoot
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One printed portrait — chosen, printed and mounted in the studio, ready to take home that day
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Private online gallery — browse your portraits at home and purchase more if you wish
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Download Digital Portrait - Your Printed portrait is available to download from your gallery too.
Choose your shoot. Book online. Come and enjoy it.
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A little Christmas magic, without the faff.
For: Small Family & Friend Groups
When: Starts October Half Term
A little taste of our dedicated showcase shoots.
For: Individual Superstars
When: October Half Term
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Themes For 2027
A variety of themed Short & Sweet shoot sessions coming to you
For: A plethora of people
When: 2027
The Secret Santa
Christmas portraits, made simple.
Our signature Short & Sweet sessions to set you up for the festive season. Whether it's a Christmas card, a portrait for the folks, your first Christmas together, the family's annual update or two besties in Christmas jumpers, it's a lovely excuse to pop into the studio.
20 minutes · £45 · Printed portrait to take home
October Half term - Tues 27th & Weds 28th
November - Sat 15th & Sat 28th
December - Sun 6th, Sat 12th & Sun 13th
Looking for a gift with a little more to it?
Give someone an experience to look forward to, with a portrait shoot that's all about them. Explore our gift experiences for something a little different to unwrap.
A Short & Sweet Gift Experience
Gifting something to look forward to.
A portrait experience to unwrap now and enjoy in the New Year.
The Short & Sweet Gift Experience · £144
A complete portrait experience, including their session, printed portrait and three additional digital portraits. Redeemable in January, February or March against Short & Sweet Special Shoots.
A fully gifted experience.
Gift experiences are not just limited to short & Sweet Shoots - Check out all available gift experiences.
Simple Showcase
A Showcase Taster Session
A chance to have a session that's all about them — their individuality, personality, their passions and the things that make them who they are.
Music? Dance? Fashion? Sport? Something completely different?
Bring it. We'll shoot it.
These are fast-paced, creative sessions for an individual with a lot packed into 20 minutes. Dramatic lighting, movement, colour, smoke, wind... whatever helps us create something that feels like them.
And if they've ever wondered what it would be like to have a proper Showcase shoot, this is a great place to start.
This October Half Term Break
Tues 27th & Weds 28th
These sessions are for individuals. If you'd like siblings or friends to take part, simply book sessions back-to-back so we can create something for each of them.
20 minutes · £45 · Printed portrait to take home
A little taste of the full Showcase experience — without the commitment of a two-hour shoot.
Paws Portrait
For Waggy Tails & Big Personalities
We’re lucky to have welcomed plenty of your beloved furry family members through our doors over the years.
And no, we don't mean Grandad...
This one is for the doggies. 🐾
There's time for a good roam around the studio, a sniff of all the new smells and a little exploration before we start shooting. Once those tails are wagging and everyone is settled, we'll get to work creating some lovely portraits of your best mate.
And the beauty of a Short & Sweet? It doesn't need to take over your day.
Working from home? Perfect. Take a proper break, bring your dog along and make the most of a little paws-and-portraits time together.
20 minutes · £45 · Printed portrait to take home
A little Short & Sweet for the dog who deserves their own place on the wall.
Don't forget the treats!
Coming Soon
Short & Sweet Shoots 2027
We have a fabulous line up of themes planned for next year
We are still busy planning but here's a taste of what's in store...
Valentines & Palentines - For love & friendship
Mum's The Word - Secret squirrel sessions and gifts
Cosplay cos... Why Not - Get dressed up...with somewhere to go
Any ideas for a feature - we would love to hear them.
Positive Ripples
Thank you
This October, James is taking on the Great South Run to raise money for Leukaemia Care.
We hosted Short & Sweet sessions to help us raise money...so a huge than you to all thoe that took part.
A portion of every Short & Sweet session fee booked is being put towards James' fundraising, and we're hoping to raise as much as we can.
We appreciate every booking.
Thank you for helping us make these sessions do a little more good.
Lets Get Into The Nitty Gritty...
So...How do the Sessions Work?
Your Shoot is just 20 minutes, but appointments are booked in 30-minute slots, with a little buffer between bookings to keep everything running smoothly.
Choose your date and time, enjoy your session, and we'll take care of the rest. Check below if you'd like to read more
Printed In Person
£45 includes your session and a beautiful mounted portrait to take home.
An Extra 'Special' Feature For You
Pick Your Portrait
We Print for you to take home
We wanted to make this as easy as possible.
Your photography takes around 20 minutes, and we'll then sit down together to choose your favourite portrait.
Your included portrait is created in black & white — a signature Musselwhite style. We'll print and mount it there and then, ready to frame, so you can take it home with you on the day.
Please allow around 30–40 minutes overall for your booking to give us time for the photography, choosing your portrait and getting your print ready.
Your £45 includes:
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Around 20 minutes of professional photography
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Your Private Online Gallery
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A mounted black & white Musselwhite portrait
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Your print, ready to frame and take home on the day
What To Expect
These are deliberately short, relaxed and straightforward sessions.
You'll arrive at the studio, we'll get you settled and your shoot with James will get to work. There's no need to spend ages posing or wondering what to do — he'll guide you through it.
We'll photograph a handful of different expressions and combinations during your 20 minutes, then you'll choose your favourite from our live screen.
We'll prepare your print while you're here, so you leave with it in your hands.
A quick note about group size
Because the photography is deliberately short, sessions are tailored to ensure everything runs smoothly. Some 'special sessions days' are suitable for small groups and couples whilst others may be just for individuals.
Just check the detail on your pick to be sure its the one you need.
These shorter sessions aren't suitable for large multi-generation or merged family groups, where we'd need more time manage the group & ages.
If that's what you're looking for, we'd be very happy to recommend one of our longer dedicated family sessions instead.
Love More Than One
When It's too tricky to Pick Just One
Additional portraits can be added before your session or afterwards via your private online gallery.
1 — £45 | 3 — £99 | 5 — £145 | 10 — £240
Additional portraits can be ordered in colour or black & white.
The mounted print included with your £45 session will be printed in black & white.
Making selections from the comfort of home online, no pitch, no pressure.
Finding Us
Musselwhite Photography
17 Fairway Business Centre
Portsmouth
PO3 5NU
Driving to us?
We're just off the main 'Eastern Road' in a small set of semi industrial units next to the golf course, With convenient parking available right outside the studio.
Coming via train?
Hilsea station is around a 15-minute walk away, and Fratton station is around a 10–15 minute taxi journey.
Arriving via Bus?
A Short walk from the 21 route drop offs at Morrisons ( & the 19, not available on Sundays) .
We're placed conveniently for families travelling in from across Hampshire, Dorset, West Sussex and beyond.
Please note that the studio is booking-only, so there isn't a waiting area for early arrivals.