REFRESHING WORKSPACE STORIES FOR CLOCKWISE
WITH WARM + AUTHENTIC LIFESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHY

BRINGING WARMTH, ENERGY, AND PERSONALITY TO CLOCKWISE’S VISUAL STORYTELLING — TRANSFORMING TRADITIONAL CORPORATE IMAGERY INTO AUTHENTIC, HUMAN-CENTRED PHOTOGRAPHY THAT CELEBRATES CONNECTION, CREATIVITY, AND COMMUNITY ACROSS THEIR MANCHESTER, LEEDS, AND BELFAST LOCATIONS.

CLIENT TESTIMONIAL

"WORKING WITH STEVE WAS AN ABSOLUTE PLEASURE FROM START TO FINISH. FROM OUR VERY FIRST CONVERSATION, IT WAS CLEAR HE COMPLETELY UNDERSTOOD WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR. 

ON THE DAY OF THE SHOOT, HE WAS WARM, FRIENDLY, AND TOOK CHARGE IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY, MAKING US FEEL COMFORTABLE WHILE GUIDING EVERYTHING SEAMLESSLY. 

THE PHOTOS WE RECEIVED ARE BRILLIANT—BEAUTIFULLY CAPTURED AND EXACTLY WHAT WE HAD HOPED FOR (AND MORE!). WE WILL DEFINITELY BE USING HIM AGAIN AND WOULDN’T HESITATE TO RECOMMEND HIM TO ANYONE LOOKING FOR A TALENTED LIFESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHER."

LAURA MCKNIGHT, SENIOR MARKETING MANAGER, CLOCKWISE

THE BRIEF

Clockwise got in touch, and they had a clear vision — and a small problem. Their existing photography, while professional, leaned more towards the corporate. You know the kind of thing: perfect poses, insincere smiles, stock photo clichés, tidy desks, and not a hair out of place. It served its purpose but didn’t quite capture the real essence of what it feels like to work from one of the many Clockwise shared working spaces.

As a modern workspace provider with a growing footprint across the UK and Europe, Clockwise wanted their imagery to feel more alive — to show their spaces being used rather than simply looked at. The brief was all about incorporating more warmth, personality and authenticity into their visual identity.

Laura McKnight, Senior Marketing Manager at Clockwise explained that they wanted more authentic lifestyle photography to better reflect how their members really use their spaces — the buzz of collaboration, quiet focus in private offices, and genuine connection in meeting rooms. As well as of course imperfect poses, real smiles, messy desks and so many hairs out of place!

They were especially keen to refresh imagery around some of their main offerings:

Meeting rooms – showing collaboration, creativity and modern professionalism.
Private offices – reflecting productivity, comfort and personal connection.
Their high-end, in-house catering and food options.

The goal? To create a versatile set of brand and marketing photography that could support multiple campaigns, social content, and web updates — helping potential members feel what it’s like to be part of the Clockwise community before they even set foot in the door. To do this, they commissioned me — a Manchester freelance photographer specialising in commercial lifestyle photography — to visit three of their favourite sites: Manchester, Leeds, and Belfast. Each space had its own personality, but the creative direction was consistent: less corporate, more human; less staged, more real life.

THE PROCESS

It all started with a chat. Understanding the Clockwise brand's tone, values, and audience is essential before even picking up the camera. Clockwise has a strong identity — creative, flexible, and community-driven — and I wanted every image to echo that, as well as demonstrate that nuanced balance between professionalism and warmth. The aim was to capture not just the look of the spaces, but the energy that fills them.

Pre-Production and Planning
This has become a fundamental part of my process when asked to capture authentic, relaxed and believable lifestyle photography of people in commercial spaces, and this conversation needs to take place as early on in the project process as possible. We talked through what made each site special and then we built a loose shot list to guide the day, but we left room for spontaneity — because the best moments are often unplanned.

Lighting was kept as natural as possible, leaning on daylight to give everything a fresh, approachable feel. I also worked with real people — members, staff, and collaborators — to ensure genuine moments rather than overly directed poses. After all, authentic expressions and interactions are what make a brand’s photography relatable.

Shooting the Spaces in Action
Across all three sites, the focus was on people enjoying the environment. I wanted to show that these weren’t sterile office spaces — they were places to think, connect, and create.

In meeting rooms, I captured small groups in conversation, brainstorming ideas, and laughing together. Yes we staged some boardroom scenes, but managed to capture. relaxed, realistic moments that reflects the collaborative spirit that Clockwise fosters.

In private offices, the tone shifted slightly — more focus-driven, but still personal. I photographed members working on laptops, chatting over coffee, or taking a quiet break by the window. Every shot was designed to feel lived-in — like you’d just stepped into a moment of genuine work-life balance.

Throughout, I worked as a commercial interiors photographer, paying close attention to the design details that make each Clockwise space unique. From warm wood textures and plants to the curated artwork and cosy corners — these touches all contributed to the visual story.

Style and Direction
I steered away from the stiff, overly polished corporate aesthetic. Instead, the imagery leaned into an authentic lifestyle look — bright, natural, and full of personality. Smiles weren’t forced. Movements weren’t scripted. Everything felt fluid, dynamic, and real. I used subtle direction to keep things flowing naturally — prompts like “just chat about your weekend” or “grab a laptop and look at some classic reels or memes”. The idea was to create an environment where people forgot about the camera and simply enjoyed the space.

This approach helps me create images that feel warm and approachable.

The final selection included a balanced mix of wide shots showing the impressive interiors, mid-shots capturing group dynamics, and close-ups highlighting details and atmosphere. The result was a versatile image bank ready to be used across campaigns, collateral, and social platforms.

RESPONSE

The response from Clockwise was overwhelmingly positive (see lovely testimonial left on my LinkedIn page and it's been awesome seeing some of the work I shot for Clockwise already making it onto their social feeds.

This project perfectly captured what I love most about commercial lifestyle photography — transforming everyday workspaces into stories of creativity, collaboration, and community. 

Clockwise’s brief challenged me to find the balance between professional and personal, between commercial and lifestyle — and the result is a library of images that feel alive, inviting, and unmistakably Clockwise.

Personally, this project also reminded me of the benefits of working in shared workspaces like Clockwork. As well as the social benefits of working around other people, opportunities to chat, network and collaborate etc, you also get to work in the heart of some of the UK's best cities. This was my first visit to Belfast and after working on the photography I took time out for a city walk. You can see some of my photos HERE.