Nadia Nadim for Scandinavian Airlines

Nadia Nadim Photography for Scandinavian Airlines | Editorial Portraits

I recently photographed Nadia Nadim, the Danish international footballer and Manchester City midfielder, for a commission with Scandinavian Airlines. Nadim’s story is extraordinary: born in Afghanistan, she fled the country as a child after her father was executed, resettled in Denmark, and went on to become a professional footballer, a medical student training to be a surgeon, and a polyglot fluent in nine languages. Meeting and photographing her was genuinely inspiring.

This commission was a collaboration with sports journalist Claire Bloomfield and Swedish design agency Off The Wall. The photographs accompany a feature in Scandinavian Traveler magazine, capturing Nadim’s achievements, resilience, and extraordinary personal journey.

Capturing Nadia Nadim: Editorial and Portrait Photography

The photography focused on portraiture and environmental shots rather than on-pitch action. The aim was to convey Nadim’s character, determination, and life story, highlighting her journey from refugee to professional athlete, her academic pursuits in medicine, and her advocacy for social issues including refugee support and gender equality in sport. Professional editorial photography in this context brings her story to life, showing her as a role model, a global citizen, and an inspirational figure beyond football. The images were designed to engage audiences, complement the written profile, and be used across social media, print, and digital publications.

Nadia Nadim: An Inspirational Life Story

Nadim’s achievements extend far beyond football. She has represented Denmark in multiple UEFA European Championships and FIFA World Cups while balancing her studies in medicine, reflecting a remarkable dedication to both sport and education. Fluent in nine languages, she uses her platform to advocate for refugees, gender equality, and social responsibility. Her experiences as a refugee, professional athlete, student, and humanitarian make her an inspirational figure whose story resonates across sports, education, and social advocacy. Capturing her in portraits allowed the photography to reflect both her achievements and her personal strength, portraying the resilience and leadership that define her career.

Collaboration with Claire Bloomfield and Off The Wall

Working alongside Claire Bloomfield and Swedish design agency Off The Wall ensured that the images complemented the editorial narrative for Scandinavian Traveler magazine. The session was carefully directed to highlight Nadim’s personality, presence, and inspirational journey, creating photographs that communicate both her character and the story behind her achievements. In editorial projects like this, professional photography supports storytelling, engages audiences, and conveys the context, personality, and impact of the subject.

Conclusion

Photographing Nadia Nadim for Scandinavian Airlines and Scandinavian Traveler magazine was a unique opportunity to highlight her achievements, resilience, and global influence. By focusing on editorial portraiture, the photography captured her inspirational story and personality rather than football action, providing a lasting visual record of her remarkable journey.

Read the full feature in Scandinavian Traveler magazine here.

Jimmy Banks for Royal Bank of Scotland

Portrait photographs of Jimmy Banks for the Royal Bank of Scotland magazine. Jimmy transformed his life through healthy eating and exercise. We shot these pictures at Worthington Lakes in Wigan, Jimmy's usual running route.

Whitworth Young Contemporaries

Portrait Photography: Whitworth Young Contemporaries

I recently photographed some of the Whitworth Young Contemporaries, a programme at the Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester that supports emerging artists and creatives. The portraits capture the diversity, creativity, and individuality of the participants, highlighting both their artistic identity and their connection to the gallery community.

Capturing Young Artists

Portrait photography for programmes like the Whitworth Young Contemporaries focuses on personality, presence, and storytelling. The aim was to create images that are authentic and engaging, reflecting the unique qualities of each participant while providing professional material for marketing, social media, and archives.

By photographing the artists in a relaxed and creative environment, the portraits convey both confidence and curiosity, giving audiences a sense of the talent and potential nurtured through the Whitworth’s programme.

Why Professional Portrait Photography Matters

High-quality images of young artists help showcase the impact of programmes like the Whitworth Young Contemporaries. Photographs communicate the individuality of participants, illustrate the gallery’s support for emerging talent, and provide content for exhibitions, press, and online platforms.

Professional portrait photography creates a visual narrative that complements the programme’s goals, connecting audiences with the people behind the art and highlighting the gallery’s role in fostering creative development.

Conclusion

Photographing the Whitworth Young Contemporaries was a rewarding experience, providing portraits that capture the personality, creativity, and individuality of emerging artists. These images help the gallery communicate the energy and talent of its participants while creating a lasting visual record of the programme.

Victoria Jordan

Victoria Jordan photographed in Greater Manchester for Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust and Manchester Metropolitan University

Karsten Schubert

Karsten Andreas Schubert, art dealer and gallerist, born 12 August 1961; died 30 July 2019

Alistair Hudson

Portrait of Alistair Hudson, Director of Manchester Art Gallery and The Whitworth

I photographed Alistair Hudson, director of Manchester Art Gallery and The Whitworth, during the opening of Alison Wilding’s exhibition at the Whitworth in February 2018. The exhibition, including her work in the Wyoming series, brought together gallery staff, artists, and visitors to celebrate one of the most significant contemporary sculpture presentations at the gallery in recent years. The Wyoming works exemplify Wilding’s exploration of material, form, and spatial relationships, making this exhibition a key moment in the Whitworth’s programme.

Alistair Hudson is a British curator and museum director with a long career in the cultural sector, known for championing the role of art as a tool for social change and education. Before taking up the dual directorship of Manchester Art Gallery and The Whitworth, he was director of the Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (mima), where he developed the concept of the “Useful Museum,” positioning the institution as a centre for community engagement and artistic relevance. Prior to that he spent a decade as deputy director of Grizedale Arts in the Lake District, recognised for radical approaches to working with artists and communities. Earlier in his career he worked at the Anthony d’Offay Gallery in London and at The Government Art Collection, devising public art strategies.

During his time in Manchester, Hudson also held an honorary professorship at the University of Manchester, promoting a vision of cultural institutions as active spaces for social engagement and learning. In 2023 he moved on to become the Artistic‑Scientific Director and Chairman of the Zentrum für Kunst und Medien (ZKM) in Karlsruhe, Germany, a leading institution at the intersection of art, technology, and media.

Photographing Hudson at the opening involved capturing both formal and candid moments, documenting his presence, interactions with guests, and the dynamic environment of the Whitworth during this key exhibition launch. The images provide a visual record of the event, supporting the gallery’s marketing and archival needs while illustrating the presence and role of the gallery director.

Cecily Brown

Cecily Brown: Shipwreck drawings

This is an exhibition of a extraordinary series of drawings by Cecily Brown, of wrecked ships and their passengers. Brown’s practice of painterly interrogation of an existing image, here takes on one of the most celebrated paintings in the world; Gericault’s The Raft of the Medusa, 1819. Also taking inspiration from other Old Masters, notably Delacroix, Brown re-examines human presence, figuration and representations of maritime tragedy throughout history

17 November – 15 April 2018

Shot at the opening of Shipwreck Drawings at Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester 

Research Matters Magazine

Manchester Metropolitan University Research Matters Photography | Academic and Research Editorial

Seeing your work published in print never loses its appeal. I was delighted to see my photography featured in the latest edition of Manchester Metropolitan University’s Research Matters magazine, highlighting the university’s research initiatives in health and social care. Working on this ongoing editorial project allows me to capture staff, students, and research activities in a professional, visually engaging way for an academic audience.

I have collaborated with Stu Wilkin of THMedia since the first edition of the magazine, and it was rewarding to see my work continue to feature prominently following the magazine’s recent redesign. The new layout showcases the photography effectively, complementing the written content and helping communicate the impact of MMU’s research to readers.

I would like to thank Jackie Rees and the staff at Manchester Metropolitan University’s Department of Health and Social Care for their cooperation during the shoots. The sessions focused on documentary and portrait photography, illustrating the university’s innovative research projects, student engagement, and professional academic environment.

Academic and Research Photography for Manchester Metropolitan University

Professional photography for university publications like Research Matters serves multiple purposes. It documents research activity, highlights staff and student achievements, and provides compelling visual content for marketing, social media, and institutional outreach. By capturing authentic moments of collaboration, experimentation, and presentation, editorial photography reinforces the university’s reputation as a leading centre for research in health and social care.

Using documentary and portraiture techniques, the photographs convey professionalism, engagement, and the human side of academic research. Each image is composed to resonate with prospective students, researchers, and institutional partners, enhancing both the magazine’s editorial value and Manchester Metropolitan University’s wider communication goals.

Conclusion

Photography for Manchester Metropolitan University’s Research Matters magazine demonstrates the importance of professional visual storytelling in academic publications. The latest edition highlights staff, students, and research projects while providing marketing and social media assets for the university. Capturing research initiatives and academic collaboration ensures that the magazine not only informs but also engages readers, reinforcing MMU’s role as a hub of innovation and expertise in health and social care.

Many thanks to Jackie Rees and the staff at Manchester Metropolitan University's Department of Heaslth and Social Care for their co-operation with the shoots.