It’s understandable to feel that professional shoots are a disruption or that “staged” photos feel cringeworthy, but the reality is that your audience craves transparency. By investing in professional office lifestyle photography, you can transform your brand’s visual identity from a cold corporate facade into a relatable, human story. This guide will demonstrate how a reportage-style approach builds commercial trust, improves recruitment through a stronger employer brand, and provides a versatile library of assets for your website and social media. We’ll examine the logistical frameworks of a successful shoot and how to capture genuine collaborative energy without interrupting your team’s working day.

Key Takeaways

• Learn how to move beyond rigid corporate portraits toward a reportage-style approach that captures your team performing genuine tasks in their natural environment.
• Understand the commercial value of office lifestyle photography as a tool for humanising your brand and building deeper trust with your target audience.
• Discover how to prepare your workspace for a professional shoot to ensure high-quality results whilst minimising any disruption to your staff’s daily workflow.
• Identify the specific pitfalls of generic stock imagery and how to create bespoke assets that authentically represent your organisation’s culture.
• Establish a framework for managing your visual assets to ensure consistent and high-impact messaging across social media, recruitment portals, and corporate reports.

Table of Contents

• What is Office Lifestyle Photography? Defining the Authentic Look
• Why Humanising Your Brand Matters for Corporate Communications
• Planning an Unobtrusive Shoot: Minimising Workplace Disruption
• Authenticity vs Stock: Avoiding the ‘Cringe’ Factor in Business Imagery
• Strategic Asset Management: Maximising Your Visual Investment

What is Office Lifestyle Photography? Defining the Authentic Look

At its core, office lifestyle photography is a method of visual storytelling that captures real employees in their actual workspace performing genuine daily tasks. Unlike traditional corporate photography, which often relies on artificial lighting and rigid posing, this style prioritises the environment and the natural rhythm of the working day. It represents a significant shift from the sterile, “plastic” look of the past toward a more transparent and grounded brand identity. By showing your team in situ, you provide your audience with a realistic window into your organisation’s culture and values.

There is a common misconception that “lifestyle” imagery is too casual for the B2B sector. On the contrary, in a professional context, this approach demonstrates a high level of pragmatic confidence. It suggests that your business is secure enough in its operations to show the reality of its collaborative processes. The photographer’s role in this framework is that of an observer rather than a director. Instead of forcing staff into uncomfortable poses, the photographer identifies the best angles and light whilst the team continues their work, ensuring the final assets feel earned rather than manufactured.

Beyond the Traditional Corporate Headshot

The standard “smiling at the camera” headshot is becoming less effective for modern branding because it lacks context. Whilst a plain background is functional for an ID badge, it does little to communicate the energy or the scale of a London-based business. Lifestyle imagery solves this by incorporating the office environment, whether that’s a busy meeting room or a quiet corner of a creative studio. This creates a distinction between a standard environmental portrait, where the subject is still posed but in their setting, and true candid reportage. By moving away from static portraits, you allow your audience to see the human side of your expertise, which is a powerful tool for building commercial trust.

The Reportage Approach to Business Imagery

The most compelling corporate communications often feature the “in-between” moments that a director would usually overlook. These include a spontaneous discussion over a laptop, the focused silence of a deep-work session, or the collaborative energy of a team briefing. These interactions are where your company culture truly lives. Reportage photography is an unobtrusive method of documentation that allows subjects to remain focused on their work while the photographer captures genuine interactions. This documentary-style approach ensures that the resulting image library is bespoke and impossible for competitors to replicate with generic stock assets. It provides a level of visual honesty that resonates far more deeply with clients and potential recruits than any staged handshake ever could.

Why Humanising Your Brand Matters for Corporate Communications

Trust is the foundational currency of any business relationship. Whilst a logo represents a company’s legal identity, it is the people within the organisation who deliver value and manage risk. In the competitive London market, businesses often struggle to differentiate themselves when using the same generic visual language as their rivals. By opting for bespoke office lifestyle photography, you replace abstraction with reality. This shift allows you to project a corporate narrative that is grounded in transparency and intellectual honesty. It moves the conversation away from what you sell toward who you are as a collective entity.

The commercial impact of authentic imagery is measurable. Real photos of your team in action lead to higher engagement on corporate communications compared to stock alternatives. When clients see the faces behind the process, it reduces the perceived risk of engagement. It’s a logical progression: if a client can visualise who they will be working with, they are more likely to initiate a conversation. This visual storytelling supports your corporate narrative by providing proof of your values in practice, rather than just stating them in text.

Building Trust Amongst Clients and Stakeholders

For stakeholders and investors, transparency is paramount. Annual reports that feature “in-the-moment” editorial shots demonstrate that a business is open and accountable. This style of imagery shows the people behind the process, which is essential for establishing brand authority. It provides a sense of reliability that polished, staged photos cannot match. If you are looking to refine your visual strategy, exploring professional corporate photography can help bridge the gap between your brand values and public perception. By documenting your team’s real-world behaviour, you provide stakeholders with a reassuringly consistent experience of your brand.

Enhancing Recruitment and Employer Branding

Recruitment is another area where authenticity provides a clear advantage. With only 10% of UK employees actively engaged at work, as reported in 2026 data, showing a real, vibrant working environment is a powerful tool for attracting talent. Potential hires want a realistic glimpse into their future workspace before they apply. They want to see where they will sit, who they will collaborate with, and the general energy of the office.

Authentic photography also allows you to showcase diversity and inclusion without it appearing performative. Candidates are increasingly sceptical of polished stock imagery; they trust real photos because they reflect the actual culture of the office. By presenting an honest view of your team, you attract individuals who are a genuine fit for your organisation. This reduces the friction in the hiring process and helps address the £257 billion annual cost of disengagement in the UK economy by ensuring a better cultural match from day one.

Planning an Unobtrusive Shoot: Minimising Workplace Disruption

Planning a successful session of office lifestyle photography requires a balance between logistical precision and creative flexibility. A common error is attempting to “sanitise” the workspace to the point of sterility. Whilst a tidy office is necessary, removing every trace of daily work, such as notebooks or coffee mugs, results in a scene that feels artificial. To maintain authenticity, the goal is to present an organised version of reality that reflects your brand’s operational standards. A professional photographer who understands the rhythm of a London office will know how to work around your team’s schedule, ensuring that the shoot facilitates rather than hinders productivity.

Communication is the most effective tool for managing staff expectations. If employees feel blindsided by a camera, their body language will likely appear defensive or stiff. Providing a clear briefing before the shoot date helps everyone understand the objectives and their role in the process. It’s useful to establish a structured shot list that outlines key collaborative moments, whilst leaving sufficient room for the spontaneous interactions that often produce the most compelling editorial assets.

Organising the Logistics of a Live Office Shoot

Timing is a critical factor in both lighting and office energy. Mid-morning often provides the best natural light and finds the team at their most active, creating a dynamic background for the shoot. Beyond aesthetics, you must address legal and safety frameworks. Under the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, photographs of identifiable employees are personal data. Consent is the most appropriate legal basis for using these images on a company website or in marketing materials. It’s essential to provide a straightforward way for staff to opt out or withdraw consent without disadvantage. Additionally, ensure the photographer is briefed on health and safety protocols to prevent trip hazards from equipment in high-traffic areas.

Selecting the Right Locations and ‘Talent’ Within the Team

Identifying “hero” spots within your office allows you to showcase the specific environment that differentiates your brand. This might be a collaborative breakout zone, a tech-heavy workstation, or a boardroom with a specific London architectural view. When selecting staff to participate, aim for a diverse mix that accurately represents your organisation. Rather than over-directing “talent,” set up a genuine scenario, such as a project review or a brainstorming session, and allow the team to engage naturally. This balance between planned scenarios and unscripted behaviour ensures the final library feels authentic and professional

Authenticity vs Stock: Avoiding the ‘Cringe’ Factor in Business Imagery

The reliance on generic stock photography often stems from a desire for convenience, yet the hidden cost to your brand identity is substantial. When a business uses the same high-gloss, “perfect” office imagery as its competitors, it effectively dilutes its unique market position. These images frequently feature the “cringe” hallmarks of corporate clichés, such as the overly enthusiastic handshake or the perfectly staged group laughing at a blank whiteboard. Because these scenes don’t reflect reality, they trigger a subconscious skepticism in the viewer. In a sophisticated market like London, clients and potential recruits can spot a generic asset instantly, which undermines the very trust you are trying to  build.

In contrast, office lifestyle photography embraces real-world imperfections as a mark of authenticity. A slightly cluttered desk, a stray coffee cup, or a candid expression of deep concentration makes your brand more relatable and trustworthy. It signals to your audience that you are a real organisation staffed by real people, rather than a faceless corporate entity. Investing in a bespoke library provides long-term value because these assets are exclusive to your business. This intellectual honesty prevents the friction that occurs when a client’s first physical interaction with your office doesn’t match the sanitised version presented on your website.

Capturing Real Collaborative Behaviour and Interactions

To avoid the staged look during a shoot, a photographer must prioritise “action” shots over static poses. During a meeting or brainstorming session, the focus should be on genuine expressions of engagement, such as the tilt of a head during active listening or the motion of someone writing on a flipchart. By capturing these interactions as they happen, you document the actual energy of your workspace. This approach ensures that the body language remains natural, which is far more persuasive than a group of people pretending to have a conversation for the camera. It’s about documenting the process of work, not just the result.

The Importance of Natural Light and Real Environments

Utilising existing office lighting is a technical choice that maintains a sense of place and atmosphere. Professional studio lighting often creates a “commercial” sheen that feels detached from the everyday reality of a professional London office. By working with the available light, a photographer preserves the authentic texture of your environment and avoids the sterile “studio” look. Real environments ground the brand in reality, providing a physical context that helps clients feel familiar with your space before they even arrive. If you want to replace generic visuals with high-quality editorial assets, you can book a corporate photography session to start building your bespoke library.

Strategic Asset Management: Maximising Your Visual Investment

A successful commission of office lifestyle photography should be viewed as a tactical investment in your company’s long-term brand equity rather than a simple one-off expense. To extract the maximum value from your session, you must establish a multi-channel visual strategy that ensures these assets are utilised across every department. A well-organised library provides a consistent source of content for PR outreach, social media updates, and internal communications. This systematic approach ensures that the visual language of your brand remains cohesive, reinforcing your professional identity every time a client or stakeholder interacts with your content.

Consistency in post-production is equally vital. When images are edited with a uniform aesthetic, they create a recognisable “look and feel” that becomes synonymous with your organisation. This coherence is what separates a professional brand from a fragmented one. By building a bespoke library, you remove the recurring costs and legal ambiguities associated with stock image licensing, replacing them with assets that you own and control. This intellectual honesty in your visual communications builds a predictable and high-quality experience for your audience.

Integrating Lifestyle Imagery Across Digital and Print Channels

Your digital assets must be optimised for their specific platforms to maintain their impact. High-resolution files are essential for website headers and printed annual reports, whilst smaller, compressed versions are more suitable for rapid loading on LinkedIn or blog posts. Organising your library with clear metadata and descriptive filenames allows your marketing team to access the right image for a specific narrative instantly. This efficiency reduces the friction in content creation, allowing you to react quickly to PR opportunities or industry news with authentic, high-impact visuals that elevate your printed brochures and digital presence alike.

Choosing a London Specialist for Bespoke Editorial Content

The architectural character and professional energy of a London office are unique, and capturing this requires a photographer with specific local expertise. When evaluating a potential partner, look beyond basic technical proficiency and examine their portfolio for evidence of genuine reportage and documentary skills. A specialist will understand how to frame the specific textures of a London workspace to tell a compelling story. If you are ready to move beyond generic visuals and build a library that truly reflects your company culture, let’s talk today. This partnership ensures that your corporate communications are supported by high-quality editorial imagery that resonates with your target audience and strengthens your market position.

Transforming Your Corporate Visual Strategy

Transitioning from generic stock imagery to bespoke office lifestyle photographyis a logical step for any organisation seeking to differentiate itself in the London market. By prioritising transparency and capturing real-world interactions, you replace corporate clichés with a narrative that feels grounded and authentic. This approach doesn’t just improve your external marketing; it strengthens your employer brand by providing potential hires with a realistic view of your workplace culture and collaborative energy.

With over 20 years of experience in London corporate photography, Acumen Images specialises in an expert reportage style that documents your team’s daily rhythm whilst minimising workplace disruption. This bespoke service, delivered by experienced photographers such as Sam Friedrich, is designed to provide you with a high-quality library of assets that supports your commercial goals and enhances your brand equity across all communication channels. Establishing a library of honest, editorial-grade imagery is a tactical move that removes ambiguity and builds lasting trust with your stakeholders.

If you are ready to humanise your brand and build deeper trust with your audience, you can book a consultation for your London office lifestyle photography today. Investing in visual honesty is a pragmatic choice that delivers long-term results for your corporate communications and professional reputation.

FAQs:

What is the difference between office lifestyle photography and corporate headshots?

Corporate headshots are focused on individual identity, typically using a plain background for use on “About Us” pages or ID badges. In contrast, office lifestyle photography captures the collaborative energy of your team within their actual environment. Instead of a static pose, this style documents people engaged in genuine work tasks. This provides a narrative context that simple portraits cannot achieve, making your brand feel more accessible and transparent to external stakeholders.

How much space does a photographer need to shoot in our office?

A professional photographer requires very little additional space because they work within your existing office layout. Unlike studio portraiture, which often involves large backdrops and extensive lighting rigs, a reportage-style shoot utilises the available environment. The photographer moves around your team as they work, finding the best angles and natural light. This flexibility ensures that even smaller London offices can be effectively documented without the need to rearrange furniture or clear large areas.

Do we need to tidy the whole office before the photographer arrives?

You should aim for an “organised reality” rather than a perfectly sanitised environment. Whilst it’s sensible to remove distracting clutter like old newspapers or overflowing recycling bins, keep functional items that show the space is in use. Seeing notebooks, monitors, and coffee mugs helps ground the imagery in reality. This balance ensures your office looks professional and efficient without appearing like a sterile showroom, which helps build trust with your audience.

Can we use office lifestyle photos for our LinkedIn recruitment ads?

These assets are exceptionally effective for LinkedIn recruitment ads and employer branding. Providing a realistic glimpse of your working environment helps attract candidates who are a genuine cultural fit. Since only 10% of UK employees are actively engaged, as noted in 2026 data, showing an authentic and collaborative workspace can differentiate your firm. Real-world imagery is far more persuasive to potential hires than generic stock photos that don’t reflect your true office energy.

How do we handle staff members who do not want to be photographed?

Privacy is a priority, and staff who prefer not to be featured should be identified before the shoot begins. You can manage this by assigning them to work in a specific “no-photo” zone or using a discreet identifier, such as a specific coloured lanyard. Under the UK GDPR, consent must be freely given. Ensuring that these employees aren’t inconvenienced or pressured maintains a positive office atmosphere whilst ensuring your business remains legally compliant.

What should our employees wear for an office lifestyle photoshoot?

Employees should wear the attire they would typically wear for a standard working day. If your office follows a business-casual dress code, they should remain in that style to ensure the photos accurately reflect your daily operations. Avoid asking staff to “dress up” specifically for the camera, as this can make the resulting images feel staged and inconsistent with the reality of your brand’s culture and professional behaviour.

How long does a typical office lifestyle shoot take to complete?

The duration of a shoot depends on your specific requirements, but most sessions are completed within a half-day or a full day. A half-day is often sufficient for smaller teams or single-location offices, whilst a full day allows for a broader variety of scenarios and locations. Establishing a clear shot list beforehand ensures the photographer can work efficiently, capturing a comprehensive library of office lifestyle photographywithout requiring multiple visits to your London premises.

Will the photographer disrupt our team’s productivity during the working day?

The reportage approach is specifically designed to be unobtrusive and non-disruptive. Because the photographer acts as an observer rather than a director, your team can continue their tasks with minimal interruption. There is no need for staff to stop working or pose for the camera unless a specific scenario has been pre-arranged. This methodology allows you to capture genuine collaborative moments whilst maintaining your office’s standard productivity levels throughout the session.

Shoot me a message and let’s talk about how we can project your authentic business ethos through an Office Lifestyle shoot.

Busy through the winter months with some corporate workshops and headshots I can’t share, so a nice change to do some fairly formal family portrait shots on a 16th b-day celebration, tea at The Ritz. It’s dark by 4PM in London’s deep winter, so some quick off camera flash for the shots outside.

Making sure to include the hir car in some shots,

.. and unsurprisingly, you can’t take pics in the tea room, but they allow you to use their staircase. No flash..

Roll on spring!

I’ve been here before… OK, Granary Square, not the SouthBank,  but you should never look a gift horse in the mouth,  and with the soaring temperatures London has been experiencing over the last month, backlit fountains and people jumping through them make a golden opportunity for pictures, and this one’s my favourite I’ve taken this year. Shot on iPhone. The best camera is the one you have with you  🙂

I wont be putting up the bunting just yet, it’s probably a very long long-list, but nevertheless, still a nice email to receive. Photography can sometimes be a lonely pursuit; travelling, editing and despite working closely with clients, the actual shooting is all done solo, so it’s nice to receive some recognition from your peers, however small it may be.  Fingers crossed, on to the short-list..

Some recent work included visiting the good folks at Imperial Stone , visiting their warehouse and showroom near Dunstable. As well as giving some advice on photographing inventory, see some more of the pics I took for them on their website.  As well as marvelling at the incredible simplicity and physics at work in their lifting clamp, 

the real star of the show has to be their stone, marble & quartz slabs:

Incredible beauty forged by nature, the semi opaque Quartzite is just asking to be backlit, for a stunning high end interior. See more on their Instagram. When my lottery win comes in, I’m looking forward to picking out a few labs to surface my new kitchen!

January is always a quiet month for conferences & corporate events, so took the opportunity to escape the cold & seemingly eternal grey of a London winter for a weeks surfing in Morocco. A a few more pics on my Instagram. 

Still, January bought an interesting array of work which included photographing a city law firm’s annual (and postponed!) summer party at Sea Containers, which sported some fine views of the Thames and City of London;

..to an Interfaith debate at Grays Inn Central Hall;

.. and into Feb’, a National Film & Television School event hosted by Channel 4 on attracting young talent and increasing diversity in the British Film Industry. 

With the days now getting longer, and the occasional glimpse of the sun, onwards into Spring!

Last week was the week that was.. WorldTravelMarket2024 at the ExCel Centre in East London.

 👣 ~ 30+ km walked (it’s BIG!)

📷 📷  ~ 3.6k+ frames captured

🌍🌍🌍 ~ 184 countries represented

☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️~  lots of coffee!

There’s some really impressive exhibition spaces , especially in the Middle East section, with meeting rooms to rival some board rooms I’ve been in. But surely the best vibes (and definitely the best cocktails) were at the Antigua & Barbuda stand where I was delighted to provide photo coverage. Something new was VR goggles for virtual tours of the Island’s destinations, and Miss Caribbean UK Shakyrah Davis, who’s of Antigua & Barbudan heritage welcoming delegates to the stand, as well as the evergreen Sir Viv Richards (72 not out) being interviewed by the BBC

And here’s some images from Egypt..

Onwards to Xmas Party Season!

Hoping this finds you hungry. Strategically posting just before lunchtime.

Let’s talk food - a subject close to my heart. More specifically, stomach. Which still turns a little at the memories of the (usually fried) offerings served by the big chain hotels at the fringe meetings and receptions I used to cover every year at all the party political conferences. Mass catering, for the masses; and some of the masses sometimes seemed to be there just to feast at that somewhat unappealing  trough. Good luck to the conference  marching on that.

Fortunately, the corporates and organisations I work for now either bring in bespoke caterers, or have an in house kitchen with a similar high level of beautifully presented and exceedingly tasty canapés and light bites, and it’s often included in the brief as an element of the event to capture. 

Though it’s on the fly, run and gun photography rather than a styled food shoot, I do sometimes have to finesse an arrangement for the best shot. If I touch the food, seems silly not to then eat it. Here’s a selection, from savoury to sweet, to whet your appetite. From charcuterie cones to Wonka cakes, via salt fish stews, bhajis, bbq prawns and more.

Get in touch if you’ve got an event with food that looks this good that you’d like me to photograph. I’ll only eat the bits I have to touch.

Enjoy your lunch, I will 🐷 .

(sound up for some of my dreamy guitar playing, intro’ excerpt from ‘Upupa’ , © Sam Friedrich / Joni Backman).

Events don’t get much bigger than Glastonbury; some 210,000 people over a weekend in late June. While I wasn’t working as a Photographer, of course I’m snapping away, and having finally downloaded this summer’s iPhone pics, thought I’d share a few of Glastonbury by night.. 

The site is the size of a small town..

And with nearly 3500 artists, performers and DJ’s playing stages and tents, big and small, 

.. and with  increased capacity, it’s fair to say Glastonbury is busier than ever. Too busy in the South East corner..

.. here’s an excellent article exploring that.  

Arcadia moved from a spider to a dragonfly, and the visuals continued to deliver..

..something for everybody at Glastonbury 😊

A few weeks back, I photographed the great Misan Harriman at ID8, an evening of curated speakers who believe in (and work for) a vision for a better tomorrow.

Photographing a photographer: always nervy (if you know, you know).

Arriving at the venue, to find no directional light to speak of to illuminate the speakers on stage, coupled with bright slide projections for a background: double nervy. I didn’t know how I was going to make it work.

But venues, and their lighting, aren’t always perfect. This was about as far from it as you get and it’s the event photographer’s job to troubleshoot, anticipate as to best angles, camera settings and everything else to make the images captured work, and deliver. Under the circumstances, I hope Misan would agree, I did.

If you’d like me to do deliver for you, whatever the conditions, get in touch! 

Here’s a few more of my favourite shots from the rest of the event.

To Downing Street last week, for some awards ceremony photography, The Times Sternberg active life awards. The event was held at No. 11 - I’ve photograhed events at Number 10 several times before, so was curious how similar or not No 11 might be.Turns out very similar. Here’s an interiors shot if you’re interested, some nice artwork hanging as well as as an Isaac Newton first edition on display.

As well as the standard award winner pics (see link above), here’s The Times Exec’ editor Jeremy Griffin and the legend that is Baroness Ros Altmann in a more relaxed moment. 

To Birmingham last week, where I had the pleasure of photographing the National Guardian’s Office ‘Freedom To Speak Up’  annual conference. The NGO was created in response to the Francis Report of 2013, which investigated the failings at Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust, quite the scandal at the time.  Some very inspiring speakers and a great atmosphere, which you could feel was fostered by the culture within the organisation and what the delegates bought to the event in their roles as National Guardians ; engendering a culture of openness and ensuring NHS workers can speak up.  

As well as the standard speaker shots..

 I added some foreground sparkle with some strategically placed glass water bottles lit by my iPhone. At conferences & events I’m always looking to give clients the option of something a bit different.

Thanks to Harrogate Water for their diamond cut bottles! 💎 🙂

As a London based headshot and portrait photographer, It’s my job to relax the subject to capture their best look, as many people (me included!) can be nervous and tense in front of a camera. Especially when confronted with the lighting array that professional photographers often use for a uniform look. It is after all quite an unnatural situation; a bit akin to speed dating, except I have a camera! Towards the more corporate end of headshot photography, there’s usually not too much leeway for fun images; professional, relaxed and engaging is more the tone. So it was a fun day working with the staff at this large removals company where they wanted to do something a bit different.

Some of the staff were very reluctant to be photographed at all, let alone strike a pose with a prop, but we worked through that to create a fun set of staff headshot images. If you’d like professional staff headshots for your business, please get in touch and let’s discuss. You don’t have to throw papers in the air unless you want to 🙂.

To the races last Saturday, for Frankie Dettori’s swansong appearance on UK soil at Btish Champions Day at Ascot. A PR job for Great British Racing, where members of the public could re-enact his trademark flying dismount (with varying degrees of success!), though some people opted for a more sedate pose. This job had lots of potential banana skins; from high voltage flash, off camera, in the rain (more about that below), inebriated race goers (no, for the third time,  you can’t sit on the horse!), plus we had to get ‘jump at your own risk’ waivers and  emailed out over 170 pics to the participants, all with no hitches. About the only thing that went wrong was me breaking down on the way to Ascot - still made it on time. Phew!    Here are some of my favourites from the day.

The Great British Public were a really fun bunch to work with on the day, and a surprising diversity of racegoers. 

We’d already done a version  of this PR activation on the Southbank, the previous week, where Dettori gave interviews and of course showed us how it’s done (photo on my homepage)

Both times, I used a studio style setup of off-camera flash using umbrellas, really helps help the pictures pop. You can’t rely on the the sun to make an appearance in the UK at any time of year, let alone October, and even then, I had limited control over orientation of the setup, and even then then, the Sun as a light source is not very controllable, so lighting it with flash was the only way to go. Predictably, we had rain both at the Southbank and at Ascot, from a fine drizzle, to passing but more than just light showers. Supermarket food roasting bags my go to for protecting the flash heads (and anyone touching them!) from the wet - heatproof, lightweight, colour neutral and cheap! With a belt and braces buggy parasol that I waterproofed for further protection over the main light. The light stands were then cable tied to the perimeter guard rail, which made this  a safe and secure solution to off camera lighting in a public space. Free standing lighting, however well weighted  and marked with hazard tape would have made me very nervous for the health& safety implications, and simply wasn’t an option, regardless of, add to that, the fact that as expected, there was more than a few boisterous groups well into their 3rd of 4th pint/bottle of champagne. In events photography, it’s par for the course that alcohol enters the mix for both business and private parties work, but people don’t imbibe they way some do when they’re off out out for a day at the races. Add to this they’d be jumping on a trampoline… There’s an approach you can take to ground the inebriated in what sobriety they can find within which I had to employ a few times, and it worked well enough that we didn’t have to turn anyone away, even if they ended up posing with the horse instead of flying through the air.

Very happy with how these images turned out, and after several weeks of planning, zoom calls and thinking through set up, workflow and problem solving, to finally say, farewell Frankie.

As a London based event photographer, I’ve worked at many iconic Central London venues. From museums & guild halls, to sports stadiums & concert halls, crypts (not great light!) and even afloat on the thames. But of them all, perhaps the best views are from The Shard,  Aqua on the 31st floor to be exact. 

With a brief to shoot candid and unobtrusive images, for a city law firm’s summer party, event photography can be tricky when there’s little to no natural light, and no useful ceilings to bounce flash from. Experienced event photographers know the tricks to work around this, and catch the best moments of guests enjoying the event.

… but star of the show at this event has to be the view.

London by night shines bright! More pics here.

Meet Ruby.
A French Bulldog / Staff cross, and Head of Security at Friedrich Events , my talented twin sisters events design & production company. You might find some of my pics on her site.

I dog-sit her from time to time (Ruby, not my sister), she’s too adorable not to share this pic.

I regularly photograph the occasional wedding, for friends and friends of friends. Vicky & Jay’s was a small informal affair at Marylebone Registry Office, just down the road from me at The Old Marylebone Town Hall, Marylebone Road NW1. Here’s a few pics from the day. 

Congrats Vicky & Jay!

Walking through London between conference & events jobs, there’s often buildings and cityscapes I’d like to photograph, but as camera kit all packed away and an edit to finish, I mostly don’t stop. So I’ve started taking one camera + lens out on local walks, or just to the shops and back. Here’s a few taken around my immediate neighbourhood. Brutalist (and not so brutal) architecture in London WC1

The SOAS building:

The Brunswick Centre:

The Imperial Hotel, Russell Square (now under renovation!)

Nice to be photographing some outdoor events through another warm English summer. Sometimes a little too warm in London, but that didn’t stop the officers and families of the City of London Police enjoying a Family Funday in Guildhall Yard. Cadets on parade, face painting & various modes of transport,  both two wheeled and four legged were among some of the activities on offer

And while lugging up to 20kgs of camera equipment to jobs in the summer heat is sometimes a bit sweaty, hats off to the City of London Police officers in their black uniforms, along with stab vest, and then all the kit they carry..

.. some anon’ pics of officers on duty to fulfil the brief - 

Though it’s traditionally a fairly quiet time of year for events work, been pretty busy shooting speakers, delegates etc these last few months, but here’s something more fun 🙂 . A 4th Birthday Party with some gender reveal confetti thrown in for good measure. Love shooting private client celebrations 🥳

Happy Birthday Yohan!

A suitably festive job photographing one of  Hannah Brine’s Choirs Christmas Recitals in a church in Hackney. 

The beauty of many voices in harmony in a space made for that sound.. there’s magic there. 

The capabilities of todays mirrorless cameras means you can capture images in low light situations which simply wouldn’t of been possible not so long ago.

The choirs are inclusive and non audition, and sounded amazing. I liked it so much I’ve joined Finsbury Park Singers for the next term. See you in 2023 Hannah

A Happy Christmas, and a peaceful, prosperous and harmonious New Year to one and all x

Feeling a little Felty? The Doctor will see you now,

Pop Up shop Felt ‘R" US in the Brunswick Centre, WC1 through to Xmas Eve, when the rozzers will come and shut it down, if a copyright infringement doesn’t first.

Amazing work by @SewYourSoul , looks (almost) good enough to eat

Busy with conference & event photography this month, here’s a few from a recent corporate event in Central London. 2nd camera shooting pick up shots so nothing from the main hall!

All over London (and Romford!) recently to photograph Police Constables nominated for bravery awards. Some fairly harrowing tales as to some of their nominations, hats off (and caps on) to them all.

Twenty years ago my good friend Alex started a man and a van removals service, so it was a pleasure to be at the opening of his new Heathrow warehouse and see his removals and storage business thriving, along with the great and the good of the industry and their local MP Ruth Cadbury. Artist Penny Linton cut the ribbon and unveiled her artwork, to bring some colour to the warehouse. Happy 20 years Alex!