A Small notion
High Tea
I first connected with Isabella and Isaac, the duo behind High Tea, back in 2023. They had just begun performing with my client and dear friend, Heather Maloney, and I initially photographed them during their shows together. From there, our creative relationship naturally grew. I captured portraits of them with Heather at BOMBYX Center for Arts & Equity, a church-turned-music venue, while they were filming a music video. I went on to photograph more High Tea shows, including performances at Iron Horse Music Hall, and just last week, I had the pleasure of reuniting with them again at the Iron Horse while photographing a wedding they performed at, and even wrote an original song for.
Most recently, I had the joy of capturing a portrait session for their new album, A Small Notion: a deeply personal project rooted in themes of ancestry, aging, and loss. We met at Isabella’s grandparents’ house, the perfect setting to match the album’s intimate and nostalgic tone. The home, quiet and mostly empty, became our canvas. We worked with soft natural light filtering through the windows, candlelight in the basement, and wandered outdoors into snowy fields and around backyard sheds and such. Each space offered a unique mood and we let the shoot unfold organically...exploring hidden corners, lingering in thoughtful silence, and following inspiration wherever it led.
One of the most special scenes came from Isabella and Isaac styling a cozy, flora-and-fauna-inspired scene in the living room: plants, old furniture, skulls, paintings, and more. Every room in the house told a story as well though...the old lamps, worn bookshelves, quirky architecture, even the bathroom invited us in with its big window letting in light over the old sink. I found myself wanting to photograph every nook and cranny. The images we created were truly a collaborative effort. We were all brimming with ideas, and together, we brought them to life.
If you haven’t already, give their new album, A Small Notion, a listen: it’s as thoughtful and textured as the day we spent capturing images for it.
