Photographing an Invisible Strength : a Personal Branding Session the amazing Umbreen David

Umbreen David

When I spent an afternoon capturing some portraits with Umbreen David, I didn’t know quite how much her story would stay with me. Such a lovely person, very unassuming and calmly spoken, but with a quiet strength  — a sense of wisdom, purpose, and deep integrity that makes you lean in and want to listen.

As the founder of Iden Manor Nursing Home, Umbreen is not only a leader in social care — she is someone who leads from lived experience. Living with muscular dystrophy and hearing loss, Umbreen understands on a deeply personal level the complexities and emotional impact that disability can have. It’s this insight that shapes the compassionate, dignified care experience her clients receive. She doesn’t just run a nursing home — she creates a space of understanding, trust, and humanity for those who need it most. And with this experience is now an industry leader, changing the way that care is provided from the inside out.

Umbreen first contacted me looking for some updated headshots, but as we talked, we realised that we could create something more than just a few simple headshots, with images that she could be use to elevate her own personal brand and tell her story. Images that allow people to truly connect with her and her values too, something that has since proven to be a very valuable investment.... More about that in a minute!

During our shoot, we kept things simple: Umbreen’s workspace, seeing her as her clients, colleagues and mentees would, and in the process I believe we have also captured her grounded confidence and her powerful sense of purpose. Not just “business headshots,” but images that told the story of someone who is showing up fully — for her team, her clients, her community, and herself. And of course, we just had to include Ossie, her amazing and wonderfully sweet sidekick!

What struck me most was how much heart and care Umbreen brings to everything she does. She’s a role model and mentor for others living with disability — showing that it’s not just possible to lead a fulfilling and successful life, but that disability can be the very source of insight, resilience, and strength. Umbreen leads not in spite of her challenges, but with them — and that is exactly what makes her leadership so authentic and inspiring.

Not long after our session, Umbreen was named the 2025 winner of the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation Award for Disabled Entrepreneurs — an incredible and well-deserved recognition of everything she’s built and all she continues to stand for. But even before the accolade, the impact was already there. And the icing on the cake was that she had these beautiful images all ready to go for the press releases!

And then, last week, Umbreen sent me these words that mean the world to me:

“I’ve never been particularly comfortable in front of the camera… What I didn’t realise until I started working with Rachel is how powerful and personal these images could be. Rachel has a way of drawing out not just your best angles, but the essence of your story… The result wasn’t just a set of photographs, it was a visual expression of my personal brand… Her warmth and professionalism made what could have been an awkward process into something unexpectedly enjoyable… The final images have genuinely elevated my personal branding for press features, speaking events and professional platforms.”

— Umbreen David, entrepreneur, author & social care leader umbreendavid.com | LinkedIn

Umbreen, thank you for sharing your story, your trust, and your light. It was an honour to capture this chapter of your journey — and I know it’s only just the beginning.

With love, Rachel xx

Read Umbreen’s announcement here: https://lnkd.in/eJTh9-s3

For more about my Branding sessions, head over to https://www.rachelthornhill.co.uk/corporate

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