A family story spanning more than 50 years, and a very special return to Rugby School.

Bought while he was a student in the early 1970s, this 1931 MG F-Type has been part of the family for more than 50 years. Charles got in touch to arrange the shoot as a gift for his parents, wanting to create a collection of photographs to document the car and its history, as well as some images for them to cherish.

The MG has plenty of personal history of its own. His mum and dad used the car when they were courting, and during the shoot they shared some great stories and memories from their time with it. It's these personal connections that make photographing classic cars so interesting — every car has a story, but some have a particularly special one.

We photographed the car at Rugby School, where Charles's father was once a pupil. It was a great setting for the MG, with the historic buildings and grounds providing plenty of character without distracting from the car itself. Hearing the stories about both the car and the school made the day feel much more personal than a typical car shoot.

The aim was to create a collection of photographs for a personal coffee-table book, documenting the MG F-Type as it is today following some recent cosmetic restoration. Alongside the wider photographs, we spent time capturing the smaller details, mechanical character and features that make an old MG so interesting.

As an automotive photographer, I enjoy finding a balance between detailed photographs of the car itself and images that show it within its surroundings. With a classic car like the MG F-Type, the setting, light and sense of history are just as important as the details of the car.

For me, this was about photographing more than just a classic car. The stories and memories that came with it were a big part of what made the shoot so enjoyable, and hopefully the photographs will help preserve some of those memories for years to come.