Brades Farm | Editorial Photography for the Financial Times
As a Manchester photographer specialising in editorial photography, I was commissioned by the Financial Times to document a feature examining the ecological impact of dairy farming. Assignments like this sit at the core of my editorial photography practice, working with newspapers and magazines to visually interpret complex, real-world issues through documentary imagery.
Arriving at Brades Farm, Near Lancaster
I spent the day at Brades Farm, just outside Lancaster, where the landscape immediately set the tone for the editorial photography approach. The open fields, working barns, and constant movement of the herd created a setting that required careful observation — allowing the story to unfold naturally rather than directing it.
Working with Farmers John and Ed Towers
The farm is run by father and son, John and Ed Towers, whose working relationship became a central thread in the editorial photography. Photographing them together — in conversation, in routine, in decision-making — brought a human structure to a story that could otherwise feel abstract. Editorial photography in this context is about anchoring wider environmental issues in individual experience.
Documenting Sustainable Farming Practices
A key part of the assignment was to photograph the introduction of Mootral, a garlic-based supplement added to the cows’ feed. This process, while visually subtle, carries significant environmental implications. Through editorial photography, I focused on making these small, practical actions legible — showing how incremental changes contribute to measurable impact.
Methane Reduction and Environmental Impact
The supplement reduces methane emissions from the cows by around 20%, lowering the overall environmental impact of the farm by approximately 10%. Translating these figures into editorial photography required attention to atmosphere and routine rather than illustration — photographing feeding, movement, and interaction in a way that reflects the scale of the issue without forcing it.
A Day of Editorial Photography on a Working Farm
Spending a full day on site allowed for a slower, more responsive editorial photography process. Light shifted across the farm, routines repeated, and moments emerged gradually. This kind of access is central to newspaper and magazine work — creating space for images that feel observed rather than constructed.
Building Trust on Editorial Assignments
Thanks to John and Ed for the generosity of their time — the tour, the coffees, and the much-needed lend of wellies all played their part. Editorial photography often depends on this level of trust, particularly when working on assignments for publications like the Financial Times, where authenticity is essential.
Editorial Photography for Newspapers and Magazines
Working with newspapers and magazines requires an approach that balances clarity with subtlety. Editorial photography needs to communicate quickly while still holding depth — images that sit alongside written journalism and extend the narrative. Assignments like this continue to shape my work as a Manchester photographer collaborating with editorial clients across the UK.
Read the Financial Times Article
The full article, ‘How methane-producing cows leapt to the frontline of climate change’, can be read via the Financial Times (subscription required): t.ly/Q8T8.