A Penrith photographer has been helping beat the lockdown blues in the town by celebrating the best of its independent businesses.
Trudie Smith has been taking photos of business owners outside their premises and posting them on social media in a bid to spread some happiness.
She began posting her images while he was furloughed from work and so far she has captured 76 businesses.
She is now back at work and plans to continue to take photos of Penrith businesses in her spare time, and has had requests pouring in from firms.
Trudie, aged 46, said: “I just thought it would be nice to promote the local businesses as they have had such a bad time of it with COVID-19 then the roads being closed and the dreadful signage.
“It was a spur of the moment decision and was met with such positive feedback.”
Trudie, who works full-time in the mail order department at John Norris of Penrith, took up photography as a hobby around five years ago.
The mother-of-one added: “I don’t want it to be a business as I love my full-time job. The photography is great for escapism and helps me cope with normal stresses of life.
“My favourite part of taking these images is speaking to all these lovely people and hearing their stories.”
