Corporate Event Photography in Manchester for CDW
Conference, Commercial David Oates Conference, Commercial David Oates

Corporate Event Photography in Manchester for CDW

I was recently commissioned by Coolbox Films to deliver a comprehensive corporate photography shoot for CDW at their Manchester offices. The brief combined conference coverage with the creation of a versatile marketing image library for future use.

As a Manchester-based commercial photographer, I regularly work with businesses to produce high-quality imagery for websites, social media, PR and internal communications. This project was a great example of how a single shoot can generate a wide range of visual assets.

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Manchester Conference Photography: Innovate to Elevate Awards and Showcase Event Coverage
Conference, Event, Documentary David Oates Conference, Event, Documentary David Oates

Manchester Conference Photography: Innovate to Elevate Awards and Showcase Event Coverage

I recently photographed the Innovate to Elevate Awards and Showcase, organised by the Centre for Digital Innovation and held in Manchester. The event brought together technology companies, researchers, and innovators working across fields such as artificial intelligence, cyber security, digital manufacturing, and sustainable technology.

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Photographing the Manchester Artist Teacher Collective
Documentary, Artists, Event, Schools, Conference David Oates Documentary, Artists, Event, Schools, Conference David Oates

Photographing the Manchester Artist Teacher Collective

Manchester Artist Teacher Collective (MATC) is a group of artist teachers from secondary schools and colleges across Manchester, and gallery educators from Manchester Art Gallery, the Whitworth and HOME. They foster collaboration between art educators, local artists, studios and gallery spaces. Through this collaboration, they seek to develop and share artistic and educational expertise, enabling teachers to engage with contemporary practices and sustained personal making. By centring on the artist teachers’ own creative development, the collective highlights the local cultural ecology and future opportunities within Manchester for the young people they teach. 

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Documenting an Art Fund Event Across Liverpool’s Museums and Galleries
Documentary, Conference, Artists, Event David Oates Documentary, Conference, Artists, Event David Oates

Documenting an Art Fund Event Across Liverpool’s Museums and Galleries

Art Fund is the UK’s national charity supporting museums and galleries. For over 120 years grants have helped them to acquire, commission and display great works of art, fund curatorial training and research, and reach new communities and audiences across the UK. Their Art Partners are a group of patrons who share our passion for museums and galleries, providing annual support that makes our work possible. I was asked to document a patron’s event in Liverpool that gave exclusive insights into their work and the museums they support.

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Photographing the Adidas Marketing Conference at Factory International, Mancheste
Documentary, Event, Commercial, Conference David Oates Documentary, Event, Commercial, Conference David Oates

Photographing the Adidas Marketing Conference at Factory International, Mancheste

I always look forward to photographing the Adidas Marketing conferences, and this year’s event at Factory International in Manchester was nothing short of spectacular. Working alongside Jules from TOL Events, who consistently delivers remarkable experiences, I was excited to capture every moment of this high-energy gathering.

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Working with IN4 Group: Photographing the Launch of HOST Gametech and CyberFirst EmPower in the North West
Documentary, Conference, Schools David Oates Documentary, Conference, Schools David Oates

Working with IN4 Group: Photographing the Launch of HOST Gametech and CyberFirst EmPower in the North West

Over the past year it has been a privilege to work with IN4 Group documenting a series of events and initiatives focused on innovation, education and the future of technology in the North West. From the launch of new technology programmes to graduation ceremonies celebrating the achievements of young people entering the digital sector, these events highlight the growing importance of skills development and digital opportunity across the region.

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School of Digital Arts (SODA) Opening at Manchester Metropolitan University – Event Photography
Conference, Event, Documentary David Oates Conference, Event, Documentary David Oates

School of Digital Arts (SODA) Opening at Manchester Metropolitan University – Event Photography

The opening of the School of Digital Arts (SODA) at Manchester Metropolitan University marked an important moment for creative education in the UK and for the cultural life of Manchester itself. Designed as a centre for innovation in digital storytelling, film, animation, photography, sound, gaming and immersive media, the new SODA building represents a major investment in the future of the creative industries.

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Photography of High Street Task Force
Conference, Documentary, Event David Oates Conference, Documentary, Event David Oates

Photography of High Street Task Force

The High Streets Task Force was established to England's high streets and town centres to thrive - providing expert training, guidance data to the people who make them. Local leaders and partnerships are be able to access the latest data and evidence to inform their investment and regeneration decisions.

I was pleased to photograph the latest meeting of experts and representatives from the chosen towns at Manchester Metropolitan University business school. I was also able to photograph some portraits of the university staff at the conclusion of the meeting.

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British Association for Applied Linguistics conference
Documentary, Conference David Oates Documentary, Conference David Oates

British Association for Applied Linguistics conference

A few weeks ago I photographed the latest BAAL conference at Manchester Metropolitan University.

I find it really interesting to cover conferences as you get thrown into the deep end of academic research in subjects that you previously hadn’t really thought all that much about. BAAL this year was no exception, some extremely interesting themes and insights into language acquisition, learning foreign languages and linguistic changes brought about by emerging technologies.

As freelance photographers we often don’t get feedback on our work after the event, so it was very pleasing to get this response from the conference organiser:

‘I’ve just downloaded the photos – absolutely fantastic. I’ve never given a photographer such a haphazard brief and had it nailed so well, so thanks very much. I wouldn’t hesitate to use you again based on these.’

If you’d like me to photograph a conference for you either in Manchester, the North or across the country, please get in touch via email or using the contact form on the About page of the site.

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What Makes a House a Home? for Hawkins/Brown
Documentary, Architecture, Conference, Event David Oates Documentary, Architecture, Conference, Event David Oates

What Makes a House a Home? for Hawkins/Brown

Hawkins\Brown have been debating this question for over 30 years and on Thursday 18 July 2019, hosted a conference party at Glass House One, Festival Square, to celebrate another successful year for Hawkins\Brown Studio North and their continued support of and involvement in Manchester International Festival.

The house: “a machine for living in” (Le Corbusier), or a place “to dream” (Gaston Bachelard)?

The panel delved into this rich and varied topic covering everything from co-living and the concept of community, to shifts in social demographics and changing lifestyles, to DfMA, buildability and volumetric housing, to what “home” means personally to each of the panellists. Some suggestions included: “my record collection”, “acoustic insulation (three children under the age of three!),” and “the freedom to DIY”.

It was a pleasure to photograph the conference while enjoying the atmosphere of MIF and the last of the sunshine.

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British Ecological Society Conferences
Documentary, Conference, Event, Portraits David Oates Documentary, Conference, Event, Portraits David Oates

British Ecological Society Conferences

It’s always fascinating to carry out the conference photography for the British Ecological Society and often easy to forget to take pictures while listening to the presentations. Here are a selection of photographs from their and the Society for Tropical Ecology’s joint annual conference in the magnificent McEwan Hall, Edinburgh.

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