ABOUT US
IT’S A FAMILY THING
Studio Westlake begins and ends with family. We are a family-run creative studio built on shared values, trust, and a deep belief in what we do. This foundation gives us a rare insight into how we serve the couples and clients who invite us into their stories.
Tucked among the rolling green hills of Devon, our converted shed studio is where the magic happens. Here we balance creative enterprise with something we hold deeply important: a healthy work and life rhythm. In an age of speed and instant gratification, we choose to slow down, to create with intention, and to let craft lead the way.
We are a collective of artists and storytellers, always refining our craft. Creativity is not simply our work but our way of living. We are writers, musicians, dreamers, and the kind of people who still get excited about a new lens at the local camera club.
Many organisations like to say they operate like a “dysfunctional family.” We are the real thing. We argue, we laugh, we cry, and we probably spend more time together than is strictly healthy. But we believe that closeness is what makes us effective.
Like a well-oiled machine, we often know what the other is thinking; sometimes a glance is enough. What makes Studio Westlake truly unique is the way we operate as one whole. There is no outsourcing and no fragmentation. Every part of what we do connects into one seamless creative process.
Our philosophy follows the same principles that shape our family: intentional, human, and deeply personal.
CREATIVE VISION
Uniquely crafted and uniquely inspired. We are not interested in painting by numbers. True portraiture is about far more than flattering angles or beautiful backdrops. It begins with understanding people, who they are, and what makes them come alive. Every small nuance matters.
From that understanding, we shape how we tell their story. We look for ways to refine and draw out what naturally unfolds in front of our lens. The first thing you will notice about the work of Studio Westlake is our fascination with narrative, with the quiet uniqueness of a moment and the emotion it carries.
The power of cinema lies in its ability to hold a fleeting instant that can never truly be recreated. That idea guides everything we do, from the way we frame a shot to the way we edit and finish our films.
Our aim is simple: that every image and every film we create stirs something genuine; a feeling, an emotion, a story that lingers long after the moment has passed.
THE TEAM
-
Charlie Westlake
LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
Husband to Beth and Father to Sienna, Judah and Amaya. For the past 4 years Charlie has been navigating the world of photography under our previous name Westlake Photography. A self-taught photographer, Charlie began his love affair with light as a young child when he was gifted his first digital camera from his Grandfather. Picking up photography properly whilst living in Kailua Kona, Hawaii.
When Charlie is not behind the lens or playing Dad you’ll likely find him reading some obscure historical novel or listening to a political podcast.
-
Tim Westlake
LEAD VIDEOGRAPHER
Husband to Lisa, Father to Charlie, Lowri & Bella. Not forgetting his most important role as Papi (Grandfather) to Sienna and Judah. Tim is a jack of all trades. Cut him open and he bleeds creativity. Graphic designer of 30 years, musician of countless instruments. You name it he can play it. - Yep, he’s one of those!
In recent years the old man has taken up video as his latest conquest. If he’s not behind the lens or at the desk you’ll likely find him down a local pub with a border collie (Keziah) at his feet and a pint of real ale in his hand.
-
Beth Westlake
LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
Mother to Sienna, Judah, Amaya and wife to Charlie, Beth is an extremely accomplished photographer in her own right.
Not only is she one of our lead photographers at Studio Westlake but she is quite the entrepreneur. Running two businesses (one of which is her own photography company). Beth is the beauty, the brains and guiding eye of Studio Westlake.
-
Joanna Murphy
CONTENT CREATOR
Joanna joins Studio Westlake as one of our content creators, bringing with her a natural eye for detail, atmosphere and the little moments that often pass by too quickly.
Our connection with Joanna is a deeply personal one. We are family through marriage, she is one of Beth’s closest friends, and our families go back three generations, with a long history of working alongside one another in different ways over the years.
Alongside her work with Studio Westlake, Joanna runs her own commercial content page and also manages the social media for Elements Boutique Spa. She has a calm, thoughtful way of noticing the finer details, from the tablescape coming together, to the artistry behind a setup, to the finished look once everything is in place.
Joanna’s approach feels natural, discreet and quietly intentional. She brings a warmth and steadiness to the day, capturing honest, behind-the-scenes moments in a way that sits beautifully alongside the photography and film work of Studio Westlake.
-
Joe Land-Jones
SECOND & ASSOCIATE PHOTOGRAPHER
Joe is a close friend of Studio Westlake and has been part of the team in an associate capacity since autumn 2023. His work carries a naturally understated simplicity that we have always loved, with a calmness and ease that allows the day to unfold without ever feeling over-directed.
Married to Izzy, Joe is genuine, sincere and wonderfully easy company. He has a warmth about him that makes people feel quickly at ease, and his laid-back manner often leaves couples feeling as though they have known him for years.
Joe has a real eye for the fun, joy and natural energy of a wedding day. He notices the laughter, the movement, the people and the small in-between moments that often say the most, capturing them with honesty and a lightness of touch.
Whether working alongside us as a second photographer or leading coverage in an associate role, Joe brings a relaxed, thoughtful presence and a beautifully honest eye to the day.
His approach sits very naturally alongside the way we love to work at Studio Westlake: unobtrusive, sincere and quietly attentive to the moments that matter.
-
Joe Farrar
SECOND PHOTOGRAPHER & VIDEOGRAPHER
Joe is a good friend of Studio Westlake and joins us as both a second photographer and videographer. Charlie and Joe grew up together, and in a past life Joe also worked for Tim.
Joe runs his own photography and filmmaking business, telling the stories of people, their businesses and their craft.
Married to Amy and father to Forest, Joe and his family have become firm friends of ours. We regularly find ourselves spending time together, usually with children running around somewhere in the background and a conversation about cameras, family life or food never far away.
When he’s not behind the camera, Joe can often be found smoking meat low and slow on the barbecue, which, if you’ve met him, probably won’t come as much of a surprise.
His work carries an honesty and rawness that we have always admired, with a strong sense of feeling and place. It sits beautifully alongside the way we love to work at Studio Westlake.