

A lot of my clients aren’t aware that I used to be a TV director for the BBC and Channel 4.
And many of my old TV contacts haven’t a clue that I am now a Photographer.
So recently when I ended up photographing the publicity shots for a brand new BBC3 series it was super exciting.
The photographs were for a documentary for BBCThree called Fresh Cops. The show is all about new recruits from diverse backgrounds, their training and first steps as police officers.
The brief was to get separate ‘hero’ shots for each character and some team images.
On the day of the shoot I was nervous, but I like to go with the old adage that if you aren’t nervous, you don’t care enough.
And when I arrived at the location and the old instincts kicked in as they do on every shoot!
It was only afterwards when I was asked by someone – what do you think it is about being a tv director and/or a brand photographer that enabled you to get the shots?
So It got me thinking and here is my list as I see it!
Research:
Before I even accepted the job I chatted to the exec producer and the director to find out what the programme was about. Who was the audience? What age range are the viewers? What are the main stories of the who? Who are the main characters and what makes them different?
I do this for all of my brand clients – but the researcher training is from my BBC training in finding what the big and then little ‘stories’
Storytelling:
At the BBC it was always about the story first. What is the story – what do you want to tell, how do you tell it? In film you can do this over many frames – in photography you have one or two!
I tackle it in many ways by changing – angles, lighting, facial expression, mood setting, colour.
Organisation:
I am well versed from TV and now business shoots, in getting to location early to look for the best places light and angle wise or even things that are just a bit interesting to get the perfect shots.
Flexibility:
The TV training of turning up and having to get something brilliant from an uninspiring location is a skill I honed at the BBC.
I arrived at the Police station for this shoot and I had in mind to do something inside with lights but we had to reset outside. It didn’t faze me. I got on with it and got the photographs needed. This is so often the case with a business shoot. Adapt, adopt, improve.
Speed:
From working in telly I completely understand the time and money pressures. I’m used to having to be creative under pressure. Get in, get the shot, get out. This is the same for us on our brand shoot days – we have a lot to get through to make sure you have heaps of content for your social media.
Collaboration:
I love listening to the ideas of others and integrating them or trying them with my own – so working with the director was fab and it meant we got so many more shots that I was asked to deliver. I do this with my brand clients too as I love working with you on your ideas and integrating them so that your shoot is ‘personal’ to who you are!
Drama:
I understand the importance of dramatic visual images to capture the audience when scrolling through iplayer. It’s the same for brand photography – you need those scroll stopping hero pics to get people noticing your content!
Producing:
From TV and now also branding photography I understand that if you are relaxed with me we will get the most natural and real version of you. So no matter what the time pressure the client or contributor is always the most important person. I chat away to you to keep you relaxed and not thinking about what you are doing. With stills I can do this even more than I used to with video! 😉
Angles:
I now understand and can capture flattering angles. From working in brand & wedding photography for over 10 years now I understand what a stills camera can capture from an emotion and angles perspective. TV was all about drama or story telling. So now I have the two combined – which is way more powerful!


















If you want to watch the show you can see it here!