Latest Editorial, Portrait & Commercial Photography Projects
A selection of my most recent commissions and ongoing projects.
The work shown here spans editorial assignments, portrait commissions, documentary projects and commercial photography for organisations and publishers. It reflects current areas of focus and the range of contexts in which I am working.
New projects are added regularly.
Ian & Andrew McMillan
It was a real pleasure to photograph poets Andrew McMillan and his father Ian for the Sunday Times ‘Relative Values’ feature a few months ago.
A few months ago I had the real pleasure of photographing poets Andrew McMillan and his father Ian McMillan for the Relative Values feature in The Sunday Times. Spending time with the two of them was both humbling and enjoyable, and the resulting portraits reflect not just their connection as father and son but also their remarkable contributions to British poetry and culture.
I’ve known of Ian’s work from radio appearances throughout my youth and of course from his long‑standing role as the official poet of Barnsley Football Club. Born in Darfield, South Yorkshire in 1956, Ian McMillan is an English poet, journalist, playwright and broadcaster known for his warm Northern voice and distinctive Yorkshire accent. He has presented BBC Radio 3’s The Verb, written extensively for national publications, and remains deeply rooted in the cultural life of his home region.
His son Andrew McMillan is a leading voice in contemporary British poetry in his own right. Born near Barnsley in 1988, Andrew’s debut poetry collection Physical was published by Jonathan Cape and made history as the first poetry collection to win the Guardian First Book Award. Since then he has published multiple acclaimed works and serves as Professor of Contemporary Writing at Manchester Metropolitan University.
Photographing them together was an opportunity to explore both shared legacy and individual achievement. The session was unhurried and conversational, enabling us to create portraits that communicate personality, mutual respect, and the unique dynamic between two generations of writers. Much of our conversation, inevitably, turned to football — not surprising given Ian’s poetic celebration of sport and his unofficial title as Barnsley’s “Bard” — and it was fascinating to see how the everyday passions of life in Yorkshire inform both of their creative worlds.
The portraits were commissioned to accompany The Sunday Times feature, which invited readers inside the personal and professional lives of these two poets. Editorial portraiture like this goes beyond capturing a likeness; the aim is to reflect character and context, helping readers connect with the subjects on a deeper level. In this case, the images complement the written piece by conveying warmth, humour and the richness of a life spent in language.
Ian’s body of work spans poetry collections, plays, journalism and broadcasting, and he has long been celebrated for promoting poetry to wider audiences. Whether performing live, writing columns or bringing regional voices into national conversation, his career has been rooted in community and accessibility. Andrew’s work is both deeply personal and widely resonant, addressing themes of identity, belonging and emotion while winning recognition on major literary stages. The time spent photographing them offered a glimpse into how these creative lives intersect and diverge, making for a compelling visual story.
In the portraits, you’ll see expressions and gestures that hint at their personalities — Ian’s ease and characteristic humour, Andrew’s quiet intensity and reflective presence — and a sense of connection that only time spent in conversation can reveal. These images do more than illustrate a feature; they document a moment in the lives of two major voices in contemporary poetry.
It was a pleasure to be part of this project, and I’m grateful to The Sunday Times for the opportunity to shoot such thoughtful subjects.
Kingsway School
Some pictures from my first commission for Kingsway School. I’m glad to have been back for a further shoot later this year.
Some pictures from my first commission for Kingsway School. I’m glad to have been back for a further shoot later this year.
You can see the pictures in action on the school’s website: https://www.kingsway.stockport.sch.uk/
Nadia Nadim for Scandinavian Airlines
It was great to work with renowned sports journalist Claire Bloomfield and Swedish design agency Off The Wall on this commission 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.
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.
Sortimo for WirtschaftWoche
A recent assignment for German business magazine WirtschaftWoche (Business Week) looking at the effects of Brexit on German firms operating facilities in the UK. I visited van racking company Sortimo in Warrington shooting documentary photography to accompany Sacha’s editorial.
Documentary Photography: Sortimo and German Businesses Post-Brexit | WirtschaftWoche
I recently photographed a feature for the German business magazine WirtschaftWoche (Business Week), focusing on the effects of Brexit on German companies operating facilities in the UK. The assignment explored how businesses have adapted to regulatory changes, supply chain shifts, and operational challenges following the UK’s departure from the EU.
The shoot took me to Sortimo, a van racking company based in Warrington. My role was to capture documentary-style images that illustrate the day-to-day operations of the facility, the workforce in action, and the broader context of a German firm navigating the post-Brexit landscape. The photographs accompany Sacha’s editorial piece, providing a visual narrative that complements the magazine’s analysis.
Capturing Business and Operational Context
Documentary photography for business features requires balancing authenticity, clarity, and editorial storytelling. At Sortimo, I photographed employees assembling and installing van racking systems, operational workflows, and the facility’s production environment. These images help readers visualise the human and operational side of corporate adaptation to Brexit, showing how German companies continue to maintain high standards and efficiency in a changing business climate.
Professional photography adds value to editorial coverage by highlighting both context and narrative. By capturing the people, processes, and infrastructure of Sortimo, the photographs provide a tangible sense of the challenges and innovations described in the article.
The Impact of Brexit on German Firms
The assignment illustrates how Brexit has influenced German companies with UK operations, from logistics adjustments to regulatory compliance. Sortimo exemplifies firms that have invested in continuity and operational resilience, ensuring that their UK facilities remain productive and competitive. Through photography, these adjustments are made visible, helping readers understand the human, operational, and strategic dimensions of the story.
Conclusion
Photographing Sortimo for WirtschaftWoche allowed me to create a visual record of a German firm operating in the UK post-Brexit. The documentary images support the editorial narrative, conveying both operational detail and the broader challenges faced by businesses in a changing European and UK economic environment.
Whitworth Young Contemporaries
Portrait photographs of some of the 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
Gallerist who played an important part in promoting the Young British Artists
Karsten Andreas Schubert, art dealer and gallerist, born 12 August 1961; died 30 July 2019
Alistair Hudson
Alistair Hudson, Director of Manchester Art Gallery and the Whitworth photographed during the opening of Alison Wilding's exhibition at the Whitworth, February 2018.
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
Shot at the opening of Shipwreck Drawings at Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester
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
As much as I seem to spend my entire life checking websites to see if they've been updated since I last checked thirty seconds ago, and I've spent the last months square-eyed setting up this new website; it never gets boring to see your work printed on actual, physical, inky paper. Especially if that paper goes on to be published. So, I was delighted to pick up the latest edition of MMU's 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.
The Right Honourable Jeremy Corbyn
Jeremy Corbyn was in Manchester yesterday for the launch of the Labour election campaign. I caught up with the campaign bus in my home town of Wythenshawe.
Jeremy Corbyn was in Manchester yesterday for the launch of the Labour election campaign. I caught up with the campaign bus in my home town of Wythenshawe.
David Cameron came here and someone waved an imaginary gun at him, cue a frenzy of demonising 'chavs' and hoodies all over the papers. Corbyn turns up, gets treated like a returning hero and guess what? No one's bothered.
If only everywhere was like Wythenshawe, the people of Wythenshawe might stand half a chance...
Night at the Museum
A commission from Manchester Museum to document a recent evening event as part of the Adult Programme. The highlight for me was a cyanotype workshop by Angela Tait and Ian Clegg of ATIC. These days the UV tubes they use to expose the images are considered a Health & Safety concern, yet it wasn't long ago they were used in sunbeds!
Event Photography: Manchester Museum Adult Programme | Museum Meets Evening Events
I was commissioned by Manchester Museum to document a recent evening event as part of their Adult Programme. The highlight of the evening was a cyanotype workshop led by Angela Tait and Ian Clegg of ATIC. Cyanotype is a historic photographic printing process, and while the UV tubes used in the workshop are now considered a Health & Safety concern, it’s fascinating to reflect that similar equipment was once widely used in sunbeds.
The Museum Meets programme offers a unique opportunity to experience the museum after hours, combining art, science, music, and performance. These evening events bring together artists, scientists, filmmakers, writers, and musicians to animate the museum collections in immersive one-off performances. My role was to capture the atmosphere of the event, participants engaging with the workshops, and the creative energy of the space.
Capturing Museum Events and Workshops
Event photography in a museum setting requires careful attention to lighting, composition, and storytelling. At the Adult Programme evening, I focused on photographing participants at the cyanotype workshop, interactions with facilitators, and the ambience of Manchester Museum’s galleries. Documentary images like these provide a visual record for the museum, helping to promote future events and showcase the diversity of the programme.
By capturing both candid moments and staged shots, the photography communicates the creativity, engagement, and collaborative spirit of the museum’s Adult Programme. These images support marketing materials, social media content, and editorial coverage, demonstrating how museums can connect audiences with collections through innovative programming.
Conclusion
Photographing Manchester Museum’s Adult Programme highlighted the unique opportunities provided by the Museum Meets evening events. From workshops like cyanotype printing to performances that animate the collections, professional event photography documents these experiences, creating a lasting visual record that promotes engagement and celebrates creativity.
Check out the Museum Meets programme for upcoming events that explore the intersection of art, science, and performance in inspiring ways.
