Editorial Assignment: Pessebres in Catalonia

This shoot was for the December issue of a magazine, focused on Pessebres, the traditional nativity scenes celebrated throughout Catalonia. While this particular story didn’t include Caganers—the famously cheeky figurines often tucked into these scenes—they deserve a mention. If you’re unfamiliar, do yourself a favour and look them up. Yes, it’s outrageous. Yes, it’s completely normal here

The Workshop: Building Christmas by Hand

The first shoot took place at a local workshop where people build the landscapes and scenery for Pessebres. They’ll be exhibiting their work in December, but when I visited, things were still very much in progress. That didn’t matter—it was a warm, welcoming evening, and the people were generous with their time.

As is often the case in Catalonia, it was a multi-generational affair, which I always find refreshing. In the UK, events like this often skew older. Here, teenagers were working alongside pensioners, all deep in papier-mâché and miniature moss.

Reixach-Campanyà: A Family Business with a Legacy

The second shoot was at Reixach-Campanyà, a family-run business that’s been making nativity figures for decades. Their shop and studio are full of figurines ranging from thimble-sized to practically life-size.

Photographing the larger figures felt like doing studio portraits—with the added advantage that these subjects don’t blink or complain. The main challenge was isolating them from the busy shop background. I had to drop the ambient exposure significantly and use flash strategically to avoid spill. For one figure, I lucked out with some dark fabric. For the others, it was all careful positioning and a shoot-through brolly.

A Seasonal Story That’s Still Surprisingly Fun

Despite being a Christmas-themed assignment, this was one of the more enjoyable shoots I’ve done recently. Friendly people, quirky subjects, and a reminder that tradition—especially here—can still surprise you.