KATIE LEONARD / HELGI NEIGHBOURHOOD DIGITAL GUIDE

‘There are few better ways to spend a working day than wandering the streets of the Kent coast with a camera in hand, chasing pockets of beautiful natural light.

Recently I spent the day photographing a collection of brilliant local businesses in Margate and Westgate-on-Sea as part of a project I’m currently working on for a Kent-based landlord, Helgi. With around 80 homes across the area, the aim is to build a digital neighbourhood guide for residents - highlighting the independent businesses that make this little stretch of coastline such a special place to live.

The day was very much about following (and chasing) the light. When you’re working with natural light, it becomes a bit of a dance - stepping in and out of doorways, angling a table slightly closer to a window, waiting for the clouds to shift so a beam of soft sunshine lands exactly where you want it. Margate is brilliant for this. Its shopfronts, big windows and seaside brightness mean light spills beautifully into spaces, bouncing off tiled counters and wooden shelves.

The route took me through bakeries filled with trays of golden buns, the kind that catch the light just right, highlighting glossy glazes and perfectly browned crusts. Then onto the butcher’s, where deep reds, marbled textures and traditional shop displays told a completely different story through the lens. It was a real celebration of the variety of independent businesses that make the local high street feel alive.

What I love about shoots like this is that they’re not just about taking photographs - they’re about capturing a sense of place. The warm welcome from shop owners, the smell of fresh bread drifting out onto the pavement, the clatter of a busy shop in the middle of the afternoon. All those little details that make a neighbourhood feel like a community.

I’m really excited to see this project come together as a digital guide for residents. If you live in or around Margate or Westgate-on-Sea, you’ll soon have a curated list of brilliant local spots right on your doorstep - and hopefully a few photos to tempt you in too.’ Katie