The photographer
A life spent in beautiful rooms
Passing Places is an independent photography practice focused on the atmosphere and details that make a stay memorable. Through thoughtful imagery, and a documentary inspired approach, I capture the character of destinations, and the moments that bring them to life.
5+
Years shooting
50+
Hotels photographed
30+
Countries visited
About Passing Places
Passing Places is an independent photography practice founded by photographer Charlie Tomlinson, who specialises in bringing life to unforgettable moments through her lens. With a BA (Hons) degree in Photography from Manchester Metropolitan University, my practice is rooted in a facination for observation and the beauty found in everyday moments. I am drawn to the subtle details that give a place its identity, from colours and textures to people and interactions. It's the little things that make a place feel full of life.
Having travelled from a young age, I have always been drawn to discovering new places and experiencing different ways of life. Growing up, my Grandparents would constantly be capturing these precious moments, creating a 20 year old collection of memories that I can always relive as time passes. This has shaped the way I see photography, not simply as a way to document a place, but as a way to preserve the feelings and experiences that make a moment meaningful. Through Passing Places, I aim to work with boutique hotels, independent stays and destinations to create intentional, storytelling-led imagery that captures how a place looks and feels. Based in the UK, and available for projects across the world.
The approach
Every shoot begins with a conversation about what makes a place worth staying in. Not the thread count or the star rating, but the quality of light through a particular window, the way a corridor smells of woodsmoke, the view from the bath. These are the things that make a hotel memorable, and they're what I try to photograph.
I work in natural light wherever possible, with a small team and a quiet presence. The aim is always to make images that feel lived-in rather than staged — photographs that a guest might recognise from their own stay.
Selected clients
The Pig Hotels · Soho House · Mr & Mrs Smith · Condé Nast Traveller · Wilderness Safaris · Firmdale Hotels · Heckfield Place