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A studio is only ever as good as the people in it. The lighting, the backdrops, the kit list as long as your arm — all of it matters, but none of it is what people actually remember. What they remember is how the shoot felt. And a big part of why a shoot at Dock Street feels relaxed, unhurried and a little bit fun is Nicole.
So we thought it was about time you met her.
The person who makes the awkward bit less awkward
Let's be honest: standing in front of a camera lens can feel a teeny bit awkward, especially if it's your first time getting headshots done. That's exactly where Nicole comes in. She directs, she styles, she chats, and she quietly distracts you out of your own head until — somewhere between two takes — you forget to be nervous and we get the shot.
Mark Wheelwright is still the captain of the ship behind the camera, but Nicole is the one reading the room: spotting the stray strand of hair, nudging your chin a half-inch, suggesting the angle that actually works for your face rather than a generic one from a pose chart. Newcomers and corporate teams tell us this is the bit that makes the difference, and we're inclined to agree.
A genuinely useful second pair of eyes
There's real value in having someone with a fresh, unbiased perspective on set — someone who'll set time aside to understand what you actually need and help shape a proper photo brief before we shoot a single frame. Nicole brings a modern eye and a stack of hands-on industry experience, whether she's:
- styling and directing an editorial shoot,
- perfecting business and corporate headshots one perfectly-placed strand at a time, or
- building the kind of clean, scroll-stopping content brands come to a content studio for.
Got a specific look in mind? Send a Pinterest board or a couple of reference shots and she'll get you as close as humanly possible. Working your angles is a team sport here.
Images that actually go to work
The point of all this isn't a nice afternoon (although it is that too). It's images that earn their keep. Once we've finished retouching, your files land in a secure online gallery, ready to use — polished business portraits and staff headshots, or casting-ready actor headshots for Spotlight, Mandy, StarNow and Backstage. We've had clients land some genuinely big roles off the back of shots taken in this room, and some great results from our portfolio work too.
And yes — they're yours. Take them home, put them on LinkedIn, send them to your agent. Just ask Nicole or one of the team to fire them over. She doesn't bite (usually).
Off the clock
When she's not directing shoots or crafting content for the studio's socials, Nicole is an actress, a card-carrying filmbro, and a Law student (very much taking notes from Elle Woods). She keeps a busy Letterboxd — current favourites include The Witch, Everything Everywhere All At Once, Babylon and Fresh — and she will absolutely take film recommendations off you mid-shoot.
That's rather the point of this place. Dock Street isn't just somewhere headshots happen; it's somewhere conversations happen. Pop in for a chat about your shoot, the latest blockbuster, or whatever's on at the theatre.
A quick word from Nicole
"Thanks for reading this silly little post about me! Mark's an absolute sweetie and a pleasure to work with — he's shown me the ropes and done wonders for my confidence, and I've made some lifelong friends on set. He shot my own actor headshots, the ones I use on Spotlight and Backstage, and honestly the value is unreal. Good headshots are usually pricey — London studios can run £500+ — so what we offer here feels like a bit of a secret. Pop in for a chat like I did and let Mark work his magic. Promise it's worth it."