Corporate Photographer London
I’m David a corporate photographer in London. For 20 years I’ve been photographing with leading businesses, executives, law firms, and creative professionals within London and around the world. I’m trusted by design and advertising agencies alongside FTSE 100 clients for being reliable, and delivering consistently powerful images under tight deadlines.
I specialise in corporate portraits, corporate headshots, corporate events, office and work environments, lifestyle photography and bespoke brand imagery. I’m known for delivering high-quality, impactful photographs that reflect the unique character and ambition of each client. Whether you’re looking to elevate your company’s visual presence or create a powerful first impression, as a corporate photographer London I can offer tailored solutions that seamlessly align with your business goals. Below are some of my previous clients and examples of recent work.
Previous clients
Aston Martin, BBC, British Gas, Bupa, Canary Wharf Group, Cancer Research UK, De Beers Group, Diageo Plc, Halifax Bank, Heathrow Airport Ltd, InterContinental Hotels Group, John Lewis Partnership, Land Securities, Lloyds Banking Group, Marylebone Cricket Club, NHS, PPHE Hotel Group, Rolls Royce, Severn Trent Water, Sport England, Tate & Lyle, Technicolor, The Guardian, Vodafone.
My experience as a corporate photographer London
I’ve been lucky enough to have a very varied career in photography and have worked on an interesting range of commissions across the UK, Europe and globally. Everything from photography for advertising, brand image libraries, corporate reporting and communications to lifestyle campaigns. Below is the type of work I have been commissioned to photograph:
– Advertising photography
– Annual report photography
– Brand photography for companies and businesses
– Business portraits and corporate headshots
– Event photography for business and sports
– Lifestyle photography for branding and advertising
– Property and interior photography
– Hotel, restaurant and food photography
Annual report photography
Annual report photography plays a crucial role in visually communicating a company's performance, achievements, and brand identity. Whether you're capturing images of key executives, employees, products, or corporate facilities, the photography should align with the tone and message of the report. Here are some key considerations and tips for successful annual report photography by a corporate photographer London:
Understand the company’s brand
The photos should align with the company’s values, industry, and culture. For example, a tech company may want sleek, modern images, while a nonprofit may prefer more human-centric, emotional shots.
Determine whether the annual report will be formal, celebratory, or forward-looking.
Key photography types
Executive portraits: High-quality, professional headshots of the leadership team are essential. These portraits should be simple yet convey authority, approachability, and professionalism. Consider environmental portraits for added context (e.g., in their office or at a corporate event). If this is not possible a white, grey or coloured background makes a perfect choice.
Employee shots: Candid or staged images of employees at work can illustrate the company culture and showcase diversity and teamwork. It is also great to show the diversity of the business.
Product photography: If the company sells products, high-quality images of these products are essential. These should be well-lit, clear, and often shot from multiple angles to highlight key features.
Facilities and operations: Images of the company’s workspace or production facilities help to visually communicate the scale and capabilities of the business.
Sustainability/CSR: If the company has social responsibility or sustainability initiatives, photos illustrating these efforts (e.g., community outreach, green initiatives) should be included.
Consistency
A professional corporate photographer London ensures a consistent visual style throughout the report. This includes color grading, focal length, depth of field, and how the subject is framed. Using similar tones and moods in photos across the report helps create a cohesive look, whether you’re shooting portraits, products, or lifestyle shots.
Location
When possible, shoot in locations that convey the company’s environment or culture. A company’s headquarters, manufacturing facility, or community service location can serve as powerful backdrops. If photographing individuals, choose clean, uncluttered backgrounds to help keep the focus on the subject.
Employee engagement
Involve employees in the process. It adds authenticity and helps build a sense of pride within the company. It also shows the people behind the brand, making the company feel more relatable to readers.
Diversity and inclusion
Ensure that the images reflect the company’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, representing people of different backgrounds, ages, and genders.
Conclusion
Effective annual report photography helps to tell a company’s story in a visually engaging way, building trust and credibility with stakeholders. Well-executed images not only enhance the report’s aesthetic but also support key messages, making them a powerful tool for communication.
Annual report clients
Being a corporate photographer London, I have photographed annual reports for: Ahold Delhaize, Autotrader, Aviva, Cancer Research Horizons, Centrica, Compass Group, Finsbury Food Group, Grainger plc, Grosvenor, Hays plc, Heathrow Airport, Hollywood Bowl, John Lewis Partnership, Melrose plc, Midland Heart, Money Supermarket, NATS, Octapharma, OCI Global, Pets at Home, Rolls Royce, Salamander Energy, Senior plc, Seven Trent Water, Seplat Energy, Spire Healthcare, Youngs pubs, Vodafone.
Corporate brand photography
Corporate brand photography is a style of photography that focuses on visually capturing the essence, personality, and identity of a brand or business. It aims to create images that convey the key message, values, and story in a way that connects with its target audience. These images are typically used across marketing materials, social media, websites, and advertisements.
Here are some key components of brand photography:
Brand identity: Brand photography is rooted in understanding the brand’s mission, values, and personality. The photos should reflect these elements to create a cohesive and recognizable visual identity.
Style and aesthetic: Every brand has a unique style. Whether it’s minimalistic, vibrant, earthy, or luxurious, the aesthetic of the photos should align with the overall look and feel of the brand.
Target audience: Knowing who the audience is will influence how the photos are composed, styled, and shot. For example, photos for a high-end fashion brand will differ greatly from photos for an eco-friendly product line.
Consistency: Consistent photography helps create a visual language that is instantly recognizable. This includes consistent color schemes, lighting, and styling that aligns with the brand’s overall aesthetic.
Storytelling: Brand photography often tells a story—whether it’s about the product, the people behind the brand, or the lifestyle that the brand promotes. Storytelling images create emotional connections with the audience.
Product shots: High-quality, well-lit images of products are a staple of brand photography, as they help showcase the features, benefits, and unique selling points of the items.
Lifestyle photography: This type of photography shows the products in action, often in a real-life setting. It’s designed to connect with the audience by showcasing how the brand fits into their daily lives or aspirations.
Brand personality: Whether it’s playful, professional, edgy, or luxurious, brand photography should match the personality of the brand. Each photo should communicate the tone of voice and overall feeling the brand wants to evoke.
Corporate brand clients
I have photographed brand photography for: Ahold Delhaize, Aston Martin, Autotrader, De Beers Group, Cancer Research Horizons, Canary Wharf Group, Finsbury Food Group, Grainger plc, Heathrow Airport, Melrose plc, Midland Heart, Money Supermarket, NATS, OCI Global, Pets at Home, Seven Trent Water, Technicolor, Vertus, Vodafone.
Corporate event photography
Corporate event photography is a specialised form of photography aimed at capturing moments at business-related events such as conferences, seminars, trade shows, product launches, corporate parties, team-building events, and more. These images are used for a variety of purposes, including marketing, public relations, social media, internal communications. Here are some key aspects of corporate event photography:
Planning and preparation
Understanding the event: A corporate photographer London must have a clear understanding of the event’s goals, key moments, and the target audience. Whether it's a formal conference or a casual networking event, each setting requires a different approach.
Schedule and timeline: The event organiser will understand the timeline, key moments to capture (e.g., keynote speakers, group photos, awards ceremonies), and special instructions (e.g., no photos of certain individuals or specific branding requirements).
The venue and location: Arriving early to scout the location is important. Understanding lighting conditions, layout, and possible backgrounds for photos always helps achieve the best result.
Key moments
Speakers and presentations: Capturing the main speaker, panel discussions, or presentations helps document the knowledge shared at the event.
Networking and interaction: Candid shots of attendees interacting, networking, and engaging in conversations often show the personal side of the corporate world.
Awards ceremony: If there’s an awards ceremony, getting clear shots of winners receiving accolades or shaking hands with executives is a key moment.
Group and team photos: Corporate events often include team-building activities or group photos that should be framed carefully for posterity. These are often the photos to go into corporate newsletters.
Details and branding: Close-up shots of branding elements to ensure that the event’s identity is captured.
Corporate event clients
I have photographed corporate events for: Aviva, Canary Wharf Group, Cypfer, Digital Catapult, Engage Group, Finsbury Food Group, ICON, Heathrow Airport, Hermes Fund Managers, Lords Cricket Ground, NS&I, RTW Investments.
Advertising photography
Advertising photographers are responsible for bringing the vision of an ad campaign to life. This role goes beyond just taking pictures; they’re problem solvers who understand the importance of storytelling through visuals, combining technical skill with creative instincts. They often work with clients to create mood boards, develop shot lists, and handle every aspect of the shoot, from pre-production to post-production.
Common types of advertising photography
Product photography: Simple, clean, and focused on the product itself, usually with a neutral background or more increasing these days are product photography feature in situ.
Lifestyle photography: Shows the product being used in real-world settings, often featuring models or real people.
Fashion photography: Focused on clothing, accessories, and beauty products, usually with an emphasis on high-end or aspirational appeal.
Food photography: Used for restaurants, cookbooks, and food brands, emphasising textures, colours.
Trends in advertising photography
Authenticity: With the rise of social media and consumer demand for realness, a corporate photographer London must be aware that the advertising photography is shifting away from overly staged, idealized imagery to more authentic, relatable representations.
Minimalism: Simplified, clean aesthetics are popular, focusing on the essential elements of a product with little distraction.
Sustainability: Brands increasingly seek to convey eco-consciousness through their photography, often incorporating nature, recyclable materials, or ethical practices in shoots.
Effective advertising photography can transform a product or idea into a powerful visual narrative that captures the attention of the audience and drives engagement.
Advertising clients
I have worked on advertising campaigns for Canary Wharf Group, Cancer Research Horizons, Diageo, Heathrow Airport Ltd, NHS, University of Gloucestershire, Vertus.
Corporate headshot photography
Corporate headshot photography is designed to create professional, polished images that represent individuals in the business world. Whether it's for LinkedIn profiles, company websites, or marketing materials, these photos typically follow certain conventions to convey professionalism, approachability, and confidence. Here's a breakdown of key elements involved in corporate headshot photography:
Setting and background
Neutral, simple backgrounds: Common backgrounds include solid colors (white, grey, or light blue). The goal is to keep the focus on the subject without distractions.
Environmental headshots: Some companies prefer environmental shots, where the background reflects the person’s work environment, like a desk or a conference room. These are more dynamic but still need to look professional.
Lighting
Soft, even lighting: Typically, a professional headshot is lit with soft, flattering light. This often involves using softboxes, diffusers, or an umbrella. Lighting should reduce harsh shadows on the face while ensuring the details (like eyes and facial features) are clear.
Key light and fill light: A common setup includes a key light to illuminate the subject and a fill light to soften shadows. This is often complemented by a background light to separate the subject from the background.
Wardrobe
Professional attire: Solid colours are often preferred over patterns, as they don’t distract from the face. For men, suits, blazers, or shirts are common; for women, blouses, blazers, or dresses are typical.
Appropriate for industry: The attire can vary depending on the industry. For example, corporate professionals often wear business suits, while tech professionals may opt for business casual or smart casual looks.
Composition and posing
Head and shoulders: A standard corporate headshot includes the head and shoulders, typically with the subject facing the camera or slightly turned to the side.
Eyes and expression: The subject should have a confident, approachable expression. A slight smile is common, but a more serious look may be appropriate in certain fields, like law or finance.
Body positioning: The subject is generally positioned straight or at a slight angle, with posture kept relaxed but confident. Hands may be placed naturally at the sides or gently folded.
Image editing
Retouching: Professional headshots often undergo subtle retouching to enhance the image, such as adjusting lighting, removing blemishes, and fine-tuning colours. The goal is to keep the image looking natural while ensuring it’s polished.
Avoid over-editing: It’s important to strike a balance between looking polished and still resembling the real person. Over-editing can make the photo feel artificial.
Equipment
High-quality camera: A professional DSLR or mirrorless camera with a high-resolution sensor is ideal for corporate headshots.
Prime lenses: A lens with a wide aperture (like 85mm f/1.8 or a 50mm f1.8) can create a beautiful blurred background (bokeh) while keeping the subject in sharp focus.
Framing and aspect ratio
Crop: The photo is typically cropped just above the shoulders, focusing on the face and upper torso. The composition should have some breathing room, particularly around the subject’s head.
Aspect ratio: Headshots are usually framed in a 4:5 or 8x10 ratio, but may also be formatted for social media platforms like LinkedIn (1:1 square) or company directories.
Consultation and preparation
Pre-session consultation: A discussion about the purpose of the headshot (LinkedIn, company website, brochures, etc.), preferred style, and industry standards can help guide the shoot.
Hair and makeup: For both men and women, it's recommended to ensure grooming and attire are on point. Some may even opt for professional hair and makeup services for a polished look.
If you're planning a corporate headshot session, communicating your needs clearly to the photographer will help ensure the final image aligns with your personal or company branding. The goal is to project professionalism while keeping the image approachable and authentic.
Have a project in mind?
To discuss a project, arrange a meeting or view my portfolio please contact me on +44 (0)7956 902 509
or by email at mail@davidhares.com
