100 Strangers : Round 3 : No. 294 : Este and Lauren
Meet Este, a 47 year old French Renault Estafette van and Lauren, Este’s owner who uses Este as hub for her barista business, “Ginger and Blue” coffee.
I met Este and Lauren in the grounds of St. Mary’s church in Nottingham’s beautiful Lace Market. The church was a venue for a “craft makers fair” and Lauren had parked Este by the rear entrance to the church, which was the entry door for the market.
I initially started talking to Lauren's Mum who was outside the van. Laurens Mum giving me a history of Este, from it’s origins in France to its life in Notts. Este had been lovingly restored by several family members. Este is a left hand drive and Lauren had retained some of the original French vehicle tax / registration stickers in the windscreen. Este is front wheel drive and has a massive steering wheel, which takes some steering as power steering was not an option almost 50 years ago.
I initially asked Lauren’s Mum to be a stranger, but she said I should photograph “her beautiful daughter” as the business was Laurens.
Lauren was really lovely to talk to, her first barista job was as a sixteen year old, she told me she started her business in November 2019, just before we went into lockdown. Not put off by this, Lauren started doing coffee runs to houses in her home town of Bingham (a captive audience of potential customers “working from home”). Lauren told me she has used social media to promote her business, which really works well in her case. Lauren also has a pitch on Cotgrave park, attends markets and has also done festivals. Lauren recently got a licence to sell alcohol.
I shot quite a few images of Lauren, all of them with Este in the frame too. After I’d done the photos, Lauren asked me if I wanted a complimentary coffee. I had a cappuccino, which was really nice, so I can highly recommend Lauren’s barista skills.
We exchanged social media contacts and off I went into the Lace Market.
Thanks for being stranger 294 Lauren, it was lovely to meet you and your mother.
Oh, I love this so much. The portrait, the story, the business name - all of it! This project has made you such a witness to living Phil. A real treat.
Lauren is a very cute young lady and you captured all her beauty in this special shot. She looks very young and it is so nice to see a person with her initiative. The van is very interesting - the first time I ever saw one like it. Fav.
Great story about pluck and perseverance. I wish her well.
Sorry for the group reply, thanks everyone for your amazing comments and support, I really appreciate it