Portrait
Portraits that capture energy, mood and personality, whether it's your first shoot or your thousandth.
- At Neon Dreams Studio, Hook
- Guided posing throughout
- Agreed number of final edits
Collections
My portfolio
A selection of looks from recent shoots, grouped by mood. There’s no limit on ideas, so bring your own concept and we’ll build it together.
Sessions
Ways to work with me
Shoots for models and clients, album art and band shoots for musicians, plus lighting and editing tuition, group workshops and image feedback for photographers. Every shoot starts with a conversation and a shared mood board, so we plan the look, the light, props and outfits before the day.
Fashion & model portfolio
Editorial looks and portfolio sets for models building their book, lit with bold colour and contrast.
- Concept and mood board
- Multiple looks and set-ups
- Portfolio-ready selects
Creative & dreamlike
Themed, whimsical shoots with symbolic elements, built into finished images with Photoshop compositing.
- Story and theme developed together
- Props, costume and colour planned
- Composite edits
Shoot with me: 1-to-1 lighting
For photographers who want to learn the look. Spend a session with me on a real set at Neon Dreams, working hands-on with the kit you see in my images, then shoot it yourself with a model.
- Gels, colour theory and Rotolight RGB
- Light painting, motion echoes and slow shutter
- Projection, LaserCube, optical spot and in-camera prism effects
- Your camera, my lights, honest feedback on every frame
Editing tuition
Learn how I finish an image, from raw file to final edit, working on your own photos side by side or online.
- Lightroom colour grading and selects
- Photoshop retouching and composites
- Boris FX Optics for light, flare and film effects
- A repeatable workflow you can take home
Image feedback
Send me a set of your images and get honest, practical notes on lighting, posing, composition and edit, with clear next steps.
- Up to 10 images reviewed
- Written or recorded video feedback
- What's working, and what to try next
- Ideal before a portfolio refresh
Neon lighting workshop
A hands-on workshop at Neon Dreams for a small group of 4 to 6 photographers, with a model on set. We build the signature looks together, then everyone shoots them.
- Gel and RGB colour set-ups
- Light painting and long exposures
- Lasers, projection and haze
- Time to shoot each set-up with the model
Album art & band shoots
Cover art, singles artwork and press shots for bands and solo artists, with the same bold light, smoke, lasers and composites you see in my Rebel and Cinematic work. We build a look that matches the sound.
- Album, EP and single cover artwork
- Press and promo shots for the band or artist
- Composites and effects built around the music
- Square cover crops and social-ready versions
About
Behind the lens
I'm Chris Thomas, a portrait and fashion photographer based in West London. Every shoot takes place at Neon Dreams Studio in Hook, Hampshire.
I want people to leave a shoot feeling good about themselves, so I keep things relaxed, guide posing as we go and always make room for your ideas.
A lot of my inspiration comes from cinema and album art: moody light, bold colour and a sense of story in a single frame. I use strong lighting and themes like identity, change and self-expression.
Lately I've been working in a more dreamlike style, using symbolic elements and composites. I'm always learning and always happy to try something new.
Influences
- CinemaFilm stills, moody light and stories in a single frame
- Album artBold, iconic covers you could pin on a wall
- Jake HicksBold gel lighting and colour
- Lindsay AdlerSculpted, shaped light
- Anya AntiFantasy composites and digital art
- Brooke ShadenSurreal storytelling and metaphor
- Bella KotakDreamlike, fairy-tale portraiture
Neon Dreams Studio, Hook
Where every shoot happens. A fully equipped Hampshire studio with an infinity cove and themed sets from retro and boho to urban, cyberpunk and futuristic, plus a big stock of props and costumes. Minutes from Basingstoke, Fleet and Farnham.
Shooting with me
Relaxed, creative, safe
I keep shoots relaxed, professional and enjoyable, with a vibe that feels easy and collaborative.
What to expect
- Open idea-sharing and mood boards
- A chill, judgement-free atmosphere
- Clear communication and creative freedom
- A balance of fun and focus
Good to know
- Testimonials
- I always leave a testimonial and ask the same in return.
- Before the shoot
- A chat beforehand lets me plan the mood board and sort any props or outfits.
- TFP and edits
- Ask about my TFP plan in advance. We agree the number of final edits up front, and I don't supply raw files.
- Feeling unwell?
- Please tell me and we'll simply reschedule. It's really important to me.
The kit
What I shoot with
Full-frame Sony with fast G Master glass, strobes and LEDs from Pixapro, Godox, Rotolight and Nanlite, a full range of modifiers, optical spots and a LaserCube for shaped light and beams, a bag of filters and prisms for effects made in camera, and backdrops that can be lit to any colour.
Camera and lenses
- 2 × Sony A150 megapixels, full frame
- Sony A7 III24 megapixels, full frame
- Sony 35mm G MasterEnvironmental and full-length
- Sony 50mm G MasterEveryday portrait and fashion
- Sony 85mm G MasterClose portraits and beauty
- Sony 70-200mm G MasterCompression, tight crops and creamy backgrounds
- Lensbaby Sweet 50 and Sweet 80A sharp sweet spot that melts into blur
- Lensbaby Edge 50 and Edge 80A thin, tilted slice of focus
Flash
Studio strobes fire a short, powerful burst: they freeze movement and give crisp, punchy light.
- 2 × Pixapro Storm 600 III600Ws for power and freezing motion
- 3 × Godox DP400Key, fill and rim
Constant light
Continuous LEDs stay on, so you see the light as it falls. They make the motion echoes and colour washes, and power the slow-shutter work.
- 4 × Rotolight AEOS 2 ProMain lights and colour washes, with a flash mode too
- 5 × Rotolight NEO 3Accents, rims and handheld effects
- Nanlite FC-120CFull-colour key light, Bowens mount
- Godox FS300CFull-colour LED
- 2 × Neewer RGB LED panelsColour, with barn doors
- Neewer RGB LED ring lightEven, glowing beauty light
Projection and lasers
Hard-edged shapes, beams and patterns thrown onto the set or the model.
- LaserCube III 2.5WLaser beams, lines and animated patterns through haze
- Nanlite FM Mount Projection AttachmentShapes, gobos and spotlights
- Westcott Optical Spot by Lindsay AdlerPrecise beams, patterns and dramatic shadows
- Optical snootWith slides and colour gels
- Epson projectorProjected images, textures and colour onto the set or the model
- Rear projection screenImages, colour and silhouettes thrown from behind the model
In front of the lens
- Tiffen Black Pro-MistSoft highlights, cinematic glow
- Moment CineBloomDreamy bloom around the lights
- Prism Lens FXKaleido, Fractal, Split Diopter and Rainbow Flare
- Kaleidoscope filtersMirrored, multiplied images
- Black Hole filterWarped, otherworldly frames
- A big collection of handheld prismsTriangular, rainbow and dichroic, for colour fractals and reflections
Finishing
- Adobe LightroomColour and selects
- Adobe PhotoshopRetouching and composites
- Boris FX OpticsLight, flare and film effects
- Luminar NeoAtmosphere and finishing touches
Modifiers and on-set kit
- Large octaboxWith diffuser and grid
- 2 × large strip boxesWith diffusers and grids, for rims and edges
- LanternSoft, wraparound light
- 2 × extra-large parabolic reflectorsDeep, focused, cinematic light
- 3 × beauty dishesVarious sizes, with grids and diffusers
- Reflectors, barn doors and gridsTo shape and control every source
- Eye lighterClean catchlights for close portraits
- 2 × fansMovement in hair and fabric
- Smoke machineBillowing smoke for drama and mood
- Haze machineA fine atmosphere that makes light beams and lasers visible
Backdrops
Any of these can be lit to any colour with the Rotolights, so the backdrop is never a limit.
- White infinity cove
- Any colour in light
- Black
- Pink
- Orange
- Blue
- Red
- Beige
Where we shoot
Find the studio
Every shoot takes place at Neon Dreams Studio in Hook, Hampshire.
Address
Neon Dreams Studio
Ground floor, Unit 39
Murrell Green Business Park
London Road, Hook
RG27 9GR
Ground floor, Unit 39
Murrell Green Business Park
London Road, Hook
RG27 9GR
Studio email
neon-dreams-studio@outlook.com
- By car
Set your sat-nav to RG27 9GR. The business park is on London Road (A30) just outside Hook, a short drive from M3 Junction 5. The studio is on the ground floor of Unit 39.
- By train
The nearest station is Hook, on the London Waterloo line. Coming by train? Ask me about a lift from the station.
- On arrival
Look for Unit 39 inside Murrell Green Business Park. Give me a call if you can’t find it and I’ll come out to meet you.
Testimonials
In their words
From testimonials left by the models, make-up artists and studio I work with.
- 141
- Testimonials received
- 100%
- Recommended
- 0
- No-shows or late cancellations
Chris is constantly bringing fresh ideas to the table, along with an incredible selection of clothes and sometimes even set design props that really take the shoot in a new direction. He’s also a true professional, always treating the models with respect, which creates such a positive atmosphere in the studio. It’s no surprise that he’s been named Customer of the Year for the past two years! Chris has become a vital part of our creative community.
- Mood boards before every shoot
- Wardrobe, props and styling provided
- Lighting that leads every set
- Models looked after, start to finish
One of the most organised and reliable photographers I’ve worked with. He plans everything thoroughly and always comes very well prepared, with props, outfits, and a clear vision for the shoot. What I really appreciate about Chris is how open he is. He’s always happy to try my ideas, improvise, and mix his concepts with mine. Photographers like him, who combine talent, organisation, and genuine care, are truly rare.
Before our shoots, we discuss the kind of imagery and overall styling we want to achieve, and Chris always brings some incredible pieces that really help bring those ideas to life. Chris’s creativity, combined with his talent for lighting and photography, allows him to produce beautiful pieces of art rather than simply photographs. He has a great eye for creating atmosphere, composition and imagery that really stands out.
I’m always so excited when someone is as enthusiastic as I am about creative looks! I’m a prosthetic makeup artist for film and Chris was eager to bring this in on one of our shoots. Nothing was too much trouble, and he would always ask if there was anything we could add or anything else I needed. Communication and kindness are impeccable. Chris’s lighting set-ups are just phenomenal. Definitely one of my favourite photographers to work with, it’s just so easy and fun!
Chris is a master of lighting, especially with gels and unique setups that elevate every look into something artistic and eye-catching. It’s always a real collaboration with him: he shares his ideas and gives me the freedom to style and pose in my own way, which makes the whole process feel natural, relaxed, and full of fun.
I’ve been a big fan of Chris’s colourful photography for a while now. He really knew his way around the studio and was proficient when it came to setting up all of the lighting. He’s a real wizard at it. His editing skills are like witchcraft. I don’t know how he makes the photos look so stunning.
He brought along so many incredible outfits, ideas and set-up plans: chainmail, armour, swords, headdresses, masks. We shot a mix of incredible gelled lighting, fantasy knight and warrior style, priestess vibes with halo lighting, and strong, expressive portraits. The images are AMAZING! Chris is a fabulous soul, very artistic, brilliant, respectful, pro-active and creative.
Chris’s lighting skills are next-level. The futuristic laser set we did felt like actual magic! He gave super helpful direction, and the shoot was an absolute blast. He’s a total professional and a joy to work with.
He was polite, professional and friendly and it felt very comfortable. Chris’s ability at finding light and envisioning what he wanted to create was phenomenal, and he was open to my ideas too. Chris is one of those photographers that you just gel with instantly and you know the shoot is gonna be epic.
I cannot recommend Chris enough. He’s always so passionate about each shoot and never wants to do the same thing twice, which is amazing! He sends designs for the make-up he has in mind and always replies quickly and professionally. A very talented photographer with a clear passion for the art, who loves experimenting with different creative options on the shoots.
Pre-shoot communications were superb and I knew the style and vibe of the shoot. We managed to fit in SO many different sets and looks in the time we had, and Chris set up his lights perfectly for each and every one. He was brilliant at giving me direction but also allowed me to pose freely too. He provided amazing props such as huge feathered angel wings and giant keys to hold.
He experimented with many different colour gel lighting combinations. He pays attention to detail and adjusts the colour shades meticulously until he gets the exact effect. He gives me room to pose as I please but is good at giving direction when necessary.
Chris provided a brilliant mood board, which always makes my job easier. This time he took a lot of time and care planning some amazing backdrops: a hotel-themed set with a projector, curtain and a very cool lamp, and another with lots of LED rods we experimented with. He absolutely smashed it! Stunning images, creative themes and a lovely guy.
A fun, colourful, wacky and creative shoot. We worked our way through loads of ideas, from light painting to smoke machine goddess. Chris has so many gadgets, props and huge amounts of styling, so shooting with him is fun as you know you will always shoot something different!
A wonderfully creative shoot. Chris put out a casting call for a cyberpunk shoot at Neon Dreams Studio, got an MUA on board to create a cyberpunk fantasy, and had a bunch of outfits (and prop guns!) for me to try. His eye for colour is amazing and makes the photographs really pop.
Chris was lovely to work with! He came in with very clear ideas about what concepts he wanted to do, even making rendered images for inspiration on the lighting. I was very impressed with his professionalism! 100% would work with him again!
Professional, friendly and super easy to talk to. He set up some amazing lighting and created this rainbow effect which worked perfectly with my make-up. Absolutely 100% recommended!
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve shot with Chris at Neon Dreams now. He always has cool inspiration and ideas, and he’s always open to creative ideas, which makes for a great shoot. We always try funky lighting ideas that look amazing with the outfits. Always a fun and creative shoot.
His communication prior to shooting was fantastic, completely sure of what he wanted, and he sent mood boards before the shoot. In person, he was just as professional. He’s a friendly guy and a great photographer to work with, so I would highly recommend him to anyone.
Contact
Book a shoot or get in touch
Tell me what you have in mind and when you’d like to shoot at Neon Dreams. I'm always looking to collaborate with creative models who bring ideas, energy or a unique aesthetic, so if you're curious about a collab, say hi. Use the same form for lighting or editing tuition, image feedback, or any question at all.
