Denice Hough Collaborates with Ana Foster-Adams

BY 12 January 2023

It is remarkable how much design and ornamentation can alter a room. A person’s mood can change purely on a room’s symmetry, balance, rhythm, details, and color. Consequently, interior design is a unique opportunity to tell a compelling story and act as an extension of an individual’s personality through the décor and arrangement of a space.

South Yorkshire, UK-based photographer Denice Hough specializes in architecture and interiors. When her loyal client, high-end interior designer Ana Foster-Adams came to her with the proposal to photograph her latest property for her website and help attract future clients, Denice knew she was an ideal candidate thanks to her insightful past experiences working in the architecture industry (she majored in architecture in college) and her virulent love of design.

I met Ana through another client who recommended me to her. I’ve done three projects with her over the last two years. I have about 22 years of experience shooting and 11 years of primary architecture. I worked a lot with other designers, so I understand how particular they are about how things look.

The property was a family home on “Headland Road,” a sought-after cul-de-sac on the south side of Hong Kong island. Denice found herself in a serene, modern apartment enveloped by spectacular mountain and ocean views, the perfect environment to let her creative juices flow.

We shot for about eight hours. The apartment has stunning views, so it was a lovely place to work for the day.

Seaview from apartment shot by Denice Hough

Table with seaview backdrop shot by Denice Hough

The ability to photograph the interior of a home is a complex task. One must possess a powerful aptitude and deep understanding of the consequences of interior design in order to capture the essence and ambiance of a place, something Denice excels at. The resulting images capture the modernist style, as well as the architectural airiness and dramatic nature of the apartment.

The pair couldn’t do any real pre-planning since they were actual clients of Anna’s, meaning they only met when the owners were out of the house, with no time to prepare beforehand. But this worked in their favor, empowering an authentic and uninhibited shoot.

Ana prefers to shoot into the computer so she can see the frame and shift things, so it’s perfect for her.

On the day of the shoot, it was just Denice and Ana on set, with the owners of the property making sure they were out all day so that the set wasn’t cluttered. Although Denice and Ana held different roles, they formed a cooperative relationship to showcase the property’s best features and acquaint viewers with it.

We worked well together, and we became friends. So it was a nice productive day with lots of chatter.

Ana’s ethos for every project is a design experience that is tailored to the client’s lifestyle and reflects their personalities or brand. The soft light in Denice’s imagery showcases the interior’s disposition, illustrating a feeling of affability and comfort throughout the home. Bringing to life Ana’s vision.

No two days are ever the same in the world of photography, with oddities invariably occurring, something Denice takes in stride.

The owners have two toddlers, who were playing with kinetic sand a few days before. I think we both slipped on it about four times. That stuff is impossible to clean off hardwood floors!

The combination of Denice’s meticulous attention to her craft and Ana’s flourishing collaboration instantly transports us to this luxurious apartment in one of Hong Kong’s most prestigious districts.