Case Studies
Every photography project is different.
From live events and behind-the-scenes storytelling to commercial, creative and community projects, the way I approach a shoot depends on the people, the environment and what the photography needs to achieve.
These case studies offer a closer look at a selection of projects I’ve worked on - the brief, my approach, the challenges involved and the outcome.
They also show the different ways photography can be used to document an event, tell the story behind a production, showcase a business or organisation, capture people at work, create promotional content, or build a collection of images with a much longer life beyond the original shoot.
Take a look through some of my projects below.
‘I Have a Dream’
Thank You for the Music - The Fire Station, Sunderland
The Brief
A behind-the-scenes documentary of an ABBA tribute show, capturing the full story of the night, from the audience arriving and performers preparing, through hair and make-up, soundchecks and backstage moments, to the live performance and audience participation.
My Approach
Working predominantly candidly, I photographed around the performers, musicians and crew as the production unfolded naturally. The aim was to capture genuine moments without directing or interrupting what was happening, moving from backstage and soundcheck through to the stage and audience.
The Challenge
A busy live production meant working around performers, technicians, instruments, cables and equipment while remaining as unobtrusive as possible. I needed to anticipate moments, work quickly and adapt to changing environments, movement and stage lighting without becoming a distraction or getting in the way.
The Outcome
The finished collection told the story of the production from beginning to end. Images were provided to The Fire Station, the act and clients representing the production for use across promotional and marketing materials.
The project also became I Have a Dream, a self-published photography book combining images from throughout the night with interviews from the singers and musicians, creating a lasting record of the performance and the people behind it.
Event Photography • Behind-the-Scenes Photography • Documentary Photography • Live Performance Photography • Promotional Photography
‘Between Shouts’
Sunderland RNLI — Environmental Portrait Project
The Brief
Between Shouts was created to tell the stories of the people behind Sunderland RNLI, looking beyond the lifeboats, pagers and call-outs to explore who they are when they’re not responding to emergencies.
The project brought together environmental portraiture and personal interviews, allowing each participant to be photographed in a place that meant something to them and to share something of their life beyond the station.
My Approach
I worked with 11 members of Sunderland RNLI, spending time getting to know each person before creating their portrait.
Each portrait was shaped around the individual. Capturing their personality, interests and environment, while maintaining a consistent feel across the wider series. Their own words accompanied the photographs, allowing the stories and images to work together.
The Challenge
With 11 very different people and locations, the challenge was creating a body of work that felt connected while allowing every portrait to remain individual.
Building trust was equally important. Many of those photographed were not accustomed to being in front of a camera, so creating a relaxed experience and allowing genuine personality to come through became an essential part of the process.
The Outcome
Between Shouts developed into a 70-page self-published photography book combining the finished portraits, documentary imagery and interviews, with proceeds supporting Sunderland RNLI. The book is available to purchase through my website and can also be pre-ordered through the RNLI shop in Sunderland and Seaham Heritage Centre.
The project was exhibited at the University of Sunderland 2026 Degree Show and Sunderland RNLI Harbour Day, and received coverage in the Sunderland Echo.
One portrait from the series was also selected for the National Portrait Gallery's Photo Portrait Now exhibition in London, taking an image created as part of a local Sunderland project onto a national platform.
The result is a lasting collection celebrating the people behind the service and allowing audiences to see a side of the RNLI that is rarely visible.
Environmental Portraiture • Documentary Photography • Editorial Photography • Visual Storytelling
‘Behind the Art’
North East Artists — Environmental Portrait Project
The Brief
Behind the Art was created to celebrate emerging and underrepresented artists across the North East, turning the focus from the finished artwork to the people, processes and creative spaces behind it.
Created in collaboration with Pink Collar Gallery, the project aimed to offer insight into the artists themselves, photographing them in their own studios and working environments and capturing the dedication, personality, and creativity behind their work.
My Approach
I visited artists across Sunderland and the wider North East, photographing environmental portraits alongside candid images of them working and creating.
Each location, artist and creative discipline was different, so the approach was shaped around the individual and their environment. Rather than removing them from their surroundings, those spaces became an important part of the photographs and helped tell more of their story.
The Challenge
Working across a variety of studios and creative spaces meant adapting to very different environments, available light and working conditions while maintaining a consistent visual style across the series.
It was also important that the photography felt natural and allowed the artists to continue creating without becoming overly conscious of the camera, capturing genuine moments alongside the more considered portraits.
The Outcome
Behind the Art became my debut solo photography exhibition, presented in collaboration with Pink Collar Gallery at the Expo Sunderland Pavilion in Keel Square.
The exhibition brought together environmental portraits and documentary imagery alongside artwork from some of the participating artists, creating an opportunity for audiences to discover both the work and the people behind it.
The result was a visual celebration of North East creativity and a project that placed the artists, their working environments and their stories firmly at the centre.
Environmental Portraiture • Documentary Photography • Editorial Photography • Artist & Creative Photography • Visual Storytelling • Portraiture
‘Her Mark’
Pink-Collar Gallery — Creative Workshop Photography
The Brief
Her Mark was a series of creative workshops by Pink-Collar Gallery at Hylton Castle, exploring women’s stories, history and creativity through calligraphy, heritage crafts and storytelling.
My role was to document the workshops as they happened, creating a collection of images that captured not only the activities themselves, but the people, interaction and atmosphere surrounding them.
My Approach
Working around an active workshop, I photographed predominantly candidly, capturing participants creating, learning and interacting alongside close-up details of hands, materials and work in progress.
The aim was to build a varied visual story of the sessions without interrupting the experience, allowing people to remain engaged with what they were doing rather than continually stopping or posing for photographs.
The Challenge
Workshop photography requires being present without becoming part of the activity. I needed to move around participants and working spaces unobtrusively, anticipate moments and capture a wide variety of images while being mindful of those taking part.
Working within the historic surroundings of Hylton Castle also meant adapting to the available environment and light while maintaining a consistent feel across the photography.
The Outcome
The finished photography created a visual record of Her Mark, capturing the creativity, participation and community at the heart of the workshops.
The images provided Pink-Collar Gallery with a versatile collection that could be used to document the project and communicate its story across promotional materials, social media and future activity. Images were also used to present an impact report to English Heritage.
Her Mark subsequently formed part of Rebel Women of Sunderland at Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens, extending the story of the project beyond the original workshops.
Workshop Photography • Event Photography • Documentary Photography • Arts & Culture Photography • Promotional Photography
‘Conclusion’
National Glass Centre — Glass & Ceramics Exhibition
The Brief
Conclusion was the final MA Glass & Ceramics exhibition at the National Glass Centre in Sunderland, bringing together work from the University of Sunderland’s final cohort of MA students to exhibit at the venue.
My role was to professionally photograph the exhibition and individual artworks, creating a visual record that represented both the artists’ work and how it appeared within the gallery environment.
My Approach
I photographed individual pieces alongside wider views of the exhibition, paying particular attention to form, colour, texture and the relationship between the artwork and the surrounding space.
With glass in particular, careful positioning and observation were essential. Reflections, transparency and changing light could dramatically alter how a piece appeared, so each artwork required an individual approach to represent it as accurately and effectively as possible.
The Challenge
Glass is a technically demanding material to photograph. Reflective surfaces, transparent elements, intricate details and gallery lighting all needed to be carefully managed while remaining faithful to the artists’ original work.
Working within an installed exhibition also meant adapting to the existing space and lighting rather than controlling every element of the environment.
The Outcome
The finished collection provided a professional photographic record of Conclusion, capturing individual artworks, installation details and the exhibition as a whole.
As the final MA Glass & Ceramics exhibition held at the National Glass Centre, the photography also documented a significant moment for the artists, the University and the venue, preserving both the work and its place within the final chapter of the Centre’s exhibition history.
Exhibition Photography • Artwork Photography • Glass & Ceramics Photography • Arts & Culture Photography • Documentation Photography
