Kris Hallenga, founder of breast cancer awareness charity CoppaFeel

As a portrait photographer in Cornwall, I’ve been fortunate to photograph some remarkable people. One of those was Kris Hallenga, founder of the breast cancer awareness charity CoppaFeel!. It was a commission by the Independant Magazine and I was asked to take a portrait of Kris and her twin sister, Maren.

I arrived at their home on a beautiful Cornishs pring day. We began, as I often do, with a cup of tea and some relaxed conversation about all sorts of things, including photography, as they were genuinely interested in what I do. That initial time together is incredibly important. It allows us to settle into each other’s company and gives me space to quietly consider how I want to approach the portrait session and how receptive they may be to ideas that I may have.

I decided to keep the photograph as simple as possible and focus on their relationship. I wanted to capture a moment of intimacy between them, easier said than done.

It was a bright, sunny day, so I needed to use off camera flash to soften the shadows falling under their eyes and noses. I set up two lights in their lovely garden beside a hammock, which I thought would be a natural and playful way to encourage connection between them.

Once I had worked out the lighting and sat them down, I immediately sensed they had stiffened up. The relaxed atmosphere I’d been hoping for had disappeared, replaced by a slight awkwardness and it was myjob to fix it.

I remember putting down my camera and telling them a story about being in Costa Rica, sitting in a hammock watching the sunset while drinking a mojito. It was a perfect moment in the early evening sun until the rope snapped, sending us crashing to the ground and spilling mojito everywhere. That small break in the shoot did the trick. They laughed, relaxed, and the stiffness melted away. From there, I was able to capture the connection I’d been looking for.

But what about the portrait of Kris that this post is really about?

The shoot had officially finished, and I was just about to pack up when Kris suddenly began playfully performing for the camera. It was a fleeting moment where she completely let go and made a funny gesture. I instinctively lifted the camera and managed to capture a single frame.

That was the moment.

Very sadly, Kris passed away in 2024 at just 38 years old.She was not only a beautiful soul but an incredibly brave one. She campaigned tirelessly to raise awareness about breast cancer right until the end of her life.

It was a privilege to have met her and to have taken her portrait. I like to think that, in that single frame, I captured her true, fun spirit.

‍

‍