COMMERCIAL LIFESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHY
FOR LONDON TECH FIRM AMBER LABS

COMMERCIAL LIFESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHY + AUTHENTIC STORYTELLING. CAPTURING THE CULTURE, PEOPLE AND WORKSPACE FOR AMBER LABS’ BRAND RELAUNCH WITH PROFESSIONAL AND RELAXED, HUMAN-LED IMAGERY AND VIDEO CONTENT

CLIENT TESTIMONIAL

"Working with Steve was a really rewarding experience. After months of trying to find a photographer whose vision and style felt right, discovering Steve was a huge relief. He was incredibly easy to work with, helped fill in gaps we didn’t even realise were there, and guided us through the process with great care, especially as this was our first time organising this kind of shoot.

We’re so pleased with the final photos. Steve completely understood what we were looking for and captured it effortlessly on the day, helping the team feel comfortable and bringing out the best in everyone."

— Darcey, Amber Labs

THE BRIEF

Amber Labs found my work while searching for a commercial lifestyle photographer and liked the authentic, human-centred feel of my commercial lifestyle photography and felt it aligned with their vision. The requirement was clear, yet open-ended enough to allow creative input. They wanted updated headshots for around ten team members, alongside candid, in-office imagery capturing their day-to-day culture.

The client were looking for authentic lifestyle photography that would communicate warmth, collaboration and crucially their personality. So it was crucial to steer clear of any stiff boardroom poses or generic office stock-style visuals, and from experience of previous projects I was able to advise on how best to achieve the results they wanted.

I worked with Darcey to advise on suggested scenarios that we could play out for the various shots. We themed them around typical day-to-day meetings or topics so that the environment would feel familiar and allow the subjects to relax and hopefully forget about the camera.

On top of stills, they wanted some short-form video content mirroring the photographic scenes: visual texture for web banners and social feeds. They referenced previous work of mine as a stylistic guide, particularly favouring my work that balanced realism with direction, natural but purposeful.

The shoot location was their office in Shoreditch, London. Their brief asked for brand storytelling through lifestyle photography, showcasing not just who they are but how they work. And that’s exactly the sort of challenge I enjoy, translating company culture into visual language that resonates. Honest representation wrapped in engaging composition.

THE PROCESS

As with most commercial assignments, everything started long before the camera came out. While the Amber Labs team hadn’t previously planned a shoot of this scale, they were collaborative and enthusiastic. I supported them in shaping the brief, mapping scenarios, building prompts and structuring timelines so we could balance efficiency with a little bit of creative breathing room.

Experience has taught me that people rarely feel comfortable about being photographed, especially if they're going to be asked to “act natural”. (I hate that phrase too but I know I'm guilty of still using it!) That’s where direction comes in, not heavy-handed staging, but subtle scenario building. I go into these commercial lifestyle photography shoots fully aware that I'm not working with professional models, but real people in their workplace.

We designed moments that mirrored everyday interactions: presentations, small team huddles, breakout conversations and casual desk-side collaborations. Creating realistic scenes shapes the resulting images to feel more genuine rather than contrived. It’s a cornerstone of my approach as a freelance lifestyle photographer — people connect with honesty, not performance.

I manoeuvred participants around within the spaces to refine the compositions, while keeping interactions fluid. Conversational prompts help spark authentic expressions and it's always useful to keep a few in your back pocket to deploy as and when they are needed. Those authentic smiles and laughs are usually a response to a random prompt. And props such as laptops, notebooks or coffee cups grounded each scenario, allowing subjects to relax into a believable context.

The office / location played a role too. As a commercial interiors photographer, I’m always scanning for visual opportunities, how light falls across a room, how colours echo mood, or how reflections create layers of interest. Amber Labs’ workspace offered warm tones that we consciously embraced, reinforcing the informal, welcoming aesthetic they wanted.

We began with larger group shots, intentionally prioritising these to help ease people into the process. When people see colleagues participating, tension dissipates quickly. It becomes less about posing and more about interacting. Once that foundation was set, we moved into smaller clusters and individual portraits.

Throughout the day I stayed observant, capturing opportunistic moments between planned scenarios. Often these unscripted interactions produce the strongest visuals, the kind that elevate brand and marketing photography.

Alongside capturing the stills photography, I worked with videographer Ainsley Keeler who mirrored setups for motion content. After each photographic scenario wrapped, we transitioned seamlessly into video recording. This integrated approach minimised disruption while producing cohesive outputs for multi-channel use.

It’s an approach I apply when shooting commercial lifestyle photography — planning enough to guide the narrative, but leaving space for spontaneity.

THE RESPONSE

The final imagery met the brief and more importantly, aligned with Amber Labs’ evolving brand identity. The collaborative planning process paid off and together we built a structure that felt organised without being too rigid, and buffers within the schedule allowed for plenty of experimentation.

Starting with group imagery proved particularly effective. People who initially felt hesitant quickly grew comfortable, understanding the approach and recognising the process wasn’t as daunting as anticipated. By the time we moved into smaller sessions, interactions were relaxed and genuine — exactly the emotional authenticity we wanted to communicate.

The finished work delivered warm, informal visuals with plenty of smiles and candid energy. It showcased their workspace personality alongside individual character, a combination essential for authentic lifestyle photography that resonates with audiences. The imagery now supports their relaunch narrative, strengthening their online presence and marketing storytelling.

This was a really fun project to work on. The Amber Labs team were friendly, receptive to direction and open to exploring ideas. That openness transforms a commissioned shoot into a collaborative creative exercise. Their organisation and preparation meant both sides operated efficiently and creatively.

Ultimately, this project reinforced something I often tell clients: commercial lifestyle photography isn’t just about documenting activity. It’s about revealing personality. Whether working locally as a Manchester freelance photographer or travelling further afield, the goal remains consistent: to craft visuals that communicate human connection, environment and purpose in one cohesive narrative, and that also feels authentic.

CONCLUSION

Working with Amber Labs demonstrated the value of thoughtful collaboration and clear creative direction in producing authentic brand photography. By blending structured scenarios with observational spontaneity, the resulting photography and video content captured both the professional credibility and human warmth central to their brand relaunch. Projects like this underline the power of commercial lifestyle photography and brand storytelling through lifestyle photography — showing audiences not just what a company does, but who they are.