We are living through history – there is no doubt about it – and photographer Amy Murrell has been capturing what has been keeping us safe in these unprecedented times – our homes.

Amy, of Upper Brighton Road, Surbiton, has been taking pictures of local residents on their doorsteps – the place where we stood on a Thursday night to clap for carers and to wave at our neighbours from a safe distance.

The lifestyle-wedding photographer has captured striking images of individuals, couples and families on the threshold between a coronavirus world and the sanctuary of their particular castle to raise money for the mental health charity Mind in Kingston (COVID-19 Emergency Response). Amy has already raised £1,265 for the cause.

“I love meeting people and I love photographing them, so it felt completely natural to document this extraordinary time in the best way I know,” said Amy who has set up a JustGiving page so people can make a donation to the charity in exchange for having their doorstep portrait taken. “Providing people with a beautiful photograph, and also benefiting such a great charity felt like the right fit.”

Amy said she felt that local residents had really enjoyed meeting a new face in lockdown and having something to look forward to.

“I’ve loved it; I am fascinated by people so listening to lockdown experiences as well as stories of their lives has been great.”

Amy said she believed mental health was extremely important, especially at the moment “when more people than ever are suffering due to the huge impacts of COVID-19”.

To see more of Amy’s doorstep shots and to contact her about having your portrait taken visit her website at www.amymurrell.co.uk/album/doorstep-portraits 

To make a donation to Mind and find out more about Amy’s fundraiser visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/doorsteplockdownportraits