Milola Meets - Interior Photographer Angharad Elliott from Haute'Xposure

At Milola, we love connecting with creatives who bring a unique perspective to the world of interiors. In this edition of Milola Meets, we had the pleasure of speaking with interior photographer Angharad Elliott, founder of Haute’Xposure. Based in the Swiss Alps, Angharad’s journey into photography is as layered as the interiors she captures - shaped by a rich background in art history, a global perspective on the meaning of home, and a passion for visual storytelling that goes far beyond aesthetics.

I guess my first conscious awareness of an architectural space and its interiors was John Nash’s Swiss Cottage in my grandparents’ village in Ireland. This cottage orné captured my curiosity from a very young age, not only for the whole Swissness thing but also for its beautifully decorative interiors. It was so pretty, but it would take another 40 years before I would build my own Swiss chalet. 

All throughout school, I was fascinated with visuals, art, and, of course, art history. So when I got around to building my own home, I did what I always do: I visually documented the construction process. These photographs will never see the light of day; they were dreadful!! However, this did lead to the opportunity of photographing other properties; Verbier is filled with apartments and chalets. I fine-tuned my eye and my photography skills as well as my understanding of angles and light. I will admit many of these initial properties were not the stunning, elegantly designed, and carefully staged interiors that I am now fortunate enough to photograph with Haute’Xposure.

As I learnt more about the pitching process, I saw some of my clients’ projects were placed as home tours in national and international publications as well as in round-ups such as these kitchens (Sofia Clara Interiors in Good Housekeeping and L’Agencerie in The Spruce).

This is a growing facet of Haute’Xposure. Interior photography is not just about taking a couple of photos of a space; it is about building on a strong marketing agenda using great images to increase interior designers’ exposure. 

I am now focused on getting back to my key activity of interior photography but also all the other elements of running a business: marketing, client relationships and development. With new projects in the pipeline, I am excited to reconnect with old clients and get to know new clients and their work; and of course, seeing their work promoted on websites, social platforms and even in publications.

I saw my first Vermeer as a very young child, only to tell its owner that the story in one of his other paintings was better. 

To this day, visual storytelling captures not only my eye but also my attention. I want to create and share the story of the space, the interior designer, and their client with the viewer. 

Tellingly, both of these Dutch Old Master paintings were of interiors with that archetypal soft Dutch lighting, with a strong perspective and a rich attention to detail. From the outset, these were the features that I unknowingly focused on capturing when composing an interior photograph.

More than a decade ago, I was very fortunate to build my own Swiss chalet. Since that time, much has changed in the Swiss architectural and design space. 

These days, the combination of sustainability with smart homes filled with discerning fittings and elegantly designed furniture inspires me daily, not only to create beautiful images but also to one day go through the insane process of building my own home again!

I think the first time I returned to photograph in London was pretty special. The buildings and their interiors are so different, as is the light. I had worked with MALA Interior in Switzerland, and then to work in London with them was an opportunity to photograph a different aspect of their work. Also, I was working on my home turf; this was where I had gone to high school and university!

I think another special project was photographing for an old school friend who had returned to Europe after spending 20+ years in the US. She had just bought a chateau dating from the 11th century in the Armagnac region of France. Honestly, I am not a morning person, but when you have the beautiful dawn light capturing the morning mist as it crept up the chateau walls, I was totally in my element. It was so amazing to catch up with my friend, but also to stop off in Bordeaux, where I had also gone to school.

Travelling for work is not only about working with new and old clients but also visiting new and old places, and of course, creating lots of new stories.

Without a doubt, it is the VELVET Wooden Sideboard.

With its curved ends and repeated curved ribbing, it has a softness which is not usual in sideboards. At home, the furniture in my dining room is 18th century Chippendale. The darkness of the wood is similar, but the VELVET has a lightness, a femininity to its shape, a touch of modernity crossed with mid-century. Also, there’s the hidden end cabinet that can perfectly hold your favourite liqueurs as you can see in this Localia Interiors design.

All the photographs shown in this article are captured by Angharad at Haute’Xposure, so if you have been inspired by these images or her philosophy and want to work with her on a project, then all of her details are below!