I set about it, setting up the garden furniture, spreading props far and wide, doing my best to make the place look great. 

And then I set about photographing it.

But the pictures just weren't coming.  It truly was just 'another villa'.  Time for a pause and a think.

The more villas I've shot, the more I've strived for technical perfection.  Balanced light indoors and out.  Controlled converging verticals.  No blown highlights.  Accurate colour balance.  Night shots with blue in the sky.

Time to put the rules back in the box and enjoy myself. 

For two hours I let rip, just shooting shapes, colours and light. 

If it stopped me, even for a moment, I shot it.

Really good fun.

As I looked at the images on the back of the camera, I knew I'd got some stunners.  Even though it was, just 'another villa'. 

When I got home and had a download and review, it was fascinating.

The pictures I'd made for fun were great and I loved them.

But also the pictures I'd made for the client for great too.

They made "just another villa" like exactly the sort of place you'd want to go on holiday.  Result.

Shooting from the heart always works.

If the pictures aren't coming, stop. 

Think hard.  What do I like about this?  And then crack on...