A creative photographer is opening a new studio at Derby's Derwent Business Centre.

Rei Bennett, who launched her business a year and a half ago, will join a community of creative businesses in the converted Victorian warehouse, managed by specialist property developer Blueprint.

It was love at first sight for Rei when she first saw the Derwent building. "It is stunning," she said. "As soon as I stepped inside, it just screamed out to me. It really has character."

Rei branched out on her own with a special mission to help people build self-esteem through photography after working as a wedding photographer for three years. Her motto is: "Love the Real You." 

Rei said: "I particularly love to help those with low self esteem to see how beautiful they are, and how they don't need things like surgery, dramatic weight loss or heavy Photoshop work on their pictures. "

Rei survived cervical cancer, which was diagnosed in her third year at Derby University where she was studying Fine Art Photography. 

She said: "I now focus a lot of my photography on helping those with issues surrounding the disease. In my current project, I'm working with physically and mentally disabled ladies, those with eating disorders and also those with body-altering diseases like cancer. I show how imperfections make us beautiful, as perfection is dull."

On top of this, Rei also provides confidence-building portrait sessions for those with low self-esteem, modelling makeovers, family portraits, event coverage and weddings. 

She said: "I'm very excited to be able to hold photo shoots in the Derwent Business Centre, and can't wait to meet the rest of the businesses."

Blueprint has invested continually in the converted railway warehouse since it acquired the premises five years ago. The Victorian building is part of the company's £19 million investment portfolio, which includes properties across Derby and Derbyshire.

A public-private partnership, Blueprint is best known for major urban regeneration projects such as Nottingham Science Park and Phoenix Square digital media centre in Leicester, but it also owns property across the East Midlands, much of it in the Derby area.