THE DAY HAUNT CAME ALIVE - BEHIND THE SCENES OF OUR FIRST SHOOT

A brand isn't real until it's lived in. Until it’s caught in motion, framed through a lens, worn with confidence. On one Tuesday in Bristol, Haunt became real.

Originally, our first shoot was planned with a close friend. Life threw some curveballs, and they couldn’t make it. But even with last-minute changes, the wheels had to keep turning. That’s when Dolly (@missdollymay) reached out.

She had the look. Then I saw her transformation post — a powerful personal journey through weight loss and mental health. That sealed it. She wasn’t just a model — she was the perfect first face of Haunt.

We also brought in Bristol photographer Ruth Garner (@ruthgarner_), who did more than show up with a camera. She brought vision. Ruth took every rough idea I threw at her and turned it into something beautiful — all with calm, confidence, and a creative edge that exceeded every expectation. She delivered the edited shots the very next day.

We started under the M32 underpass in Fishponds — brutalist and raw, layered in graffiti, with the motorway looming above. It was the perfect match for Haunt’s darker energy.

Then we switched gears and headed to Clifton Observatory, where the open sky and cliffs gave us another side of the story.

I’d visited the locations with a friend beforehand, scouting out where it would work. On the day, I took a back seat and watched Dolly and Ruth work their magic. I carried bags, found props, held clothing changes — assistant, runner, wardrobe guy, health & safety monitor also apparently. At one point I fell down a bank trying to retrieve a log for Dolly to stand on. So much for 'elf and safety. In all honesty I became the assistant to two real professionals.

There were surreal moments too — like capturing a close-up logo shot (positioned on Dolly's chest) just as a teenage boy walked by, locking eyes on Dolly with stunned disbelief. Safe to say he made a core memory that day. Bless him.