ARCHITECTURAL + COMMERCIAL INTERIORS PHOTOGRAPHY
TO CAPTURE VIBRANT ENVIRONMENTAL GRAPHICS
DESIGNED BY MANCHESTER CREATIVE JANE BOWYER
CAPTURING PORTFOLIO SHOTS OF BOLD ENVIRONMENTAL VINYL GRAPHICS FOR MANCHESTER DESIGNER AND ILLUSTRATOR, A STUDIO CALLED JANE, USING ARCHITECTURAL AND COMMERCIAL INTERIORS PHOTOGRAPHY
CLIENT TESTIMONIAL
"Steve is a brilliant photographer to work with. His calm, professional approach immediately puts you at ease. He’s attentive and open to direction, while also bringing his own knowledge and problem-solving skills to the table, making the process feel genuinely collaborative."
— Jane Bowyer, A Studio Called Jane
THE BRIEF
This isn't the first time working with Jane. We shared a previous life working in agencies and have worked together a few times since we both went solo.
Jane Bowyer is an illustrator and designer and founder of Studio Called Jane and she needed photography to document a brilliant project she recently completed. Jane designed and installed a series of large-scale, vibrant vinyl graphics for her client, Salford Youth Zone (SYZ).
The purpose of the shoot was to create a set of images to showcase the scale, precision, and impact of the project for her portfolio.
We wanted to go beyond just documenting flat artwork so we took a thoughtful approach to environmental graphics photography. Salford Youth Zone is a dynamic, high-energy environment, and Jane’s designs, filled with vibrant graphics, uplifting quotes and bold colour palettes, were directly inspired by the creativity of the young people who use the centre.
The main objective was to capture the striking visual identity of these graphic installations in context with the physical architecture, showing how they work in the space.
THE PROCESS
Photographing large-scale graphics in a public, multi-use environment requires an understanding of spatial design. A primary challenge when photographing large scale vinyl graphics for commercial interiors is balancing the ambient interior light with the rich saturation of the printed material. Commercial spaces often have mixed lighting that can distort bold colours. To work around this, I paid attention to the geometry of the building, ensuring the wide-angle perspectives captured the true scale of Jane's environmental branding without distorting the graphics or losing architectural context.
To appeal to architects and commercial fit-out businesses, it was vital to show how these graphics activate the structural surfaces. I moved between expansive, wide-scale compositions that highlighted how the designs defined the rooms, and tight, tactile details that showcased the quality of the finish and installation.
Because this was a project rooted in community, the imagery needed a human element. I wanted to use an experiential design photography mindset, capturing the natural flow of the space where possible. By showing how people interact with and move past the vibrant walls, the final images demonstrate the impact of Jane's designs, proving that thoughtful design can completely transform an interior. Side note – we couldn't actually include the young people in these photos so for this project the blurred walking was brilliantly performed by Jane herself.
THE RESPONSE
The images form a corporate asset library that gives A Studio Called Jane a suite of photography that blends high-end commercial interior photography for community and civic spaces with authentic, narrative brand storytelling.
For creative agencies and graphic designers, the tight detail shots and correctly exposed colour profiles hopefully show how to capture environmental design – whether for a portfolio or an award submission. While for architects, developers, and commercial fit-out companies involved in this building's infrastructure, the environmental frames provide an excellent example of architectural vinyl photography, showing how graphic art can enhance modern interior design and spatial layouts.
The final collection highlights how environmental branding photography for creative agencies can bridge the gap between two-dimensional graphic design and three-dimensional spatial architecture. Jane’s work at Salford Youth Zone is vibrant and beautiful and celebrates community-driven design, and I'm proud to have documented the scale, energy, and professionalism at play here.
IF YOU'RE A FREELANCE CREATIVE OR A DESIGN STUDIO LOOKING TO CAPTURE A RECENT PROJECT. OR AN INTERIOR SPECIALIST REQUIRING COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHY FOR INTERIOR DESIGN OR COMMERCIAL FIT OUTS, PLEASE GET IN TOUCH TO DISCUSS HOW WE CAN BRING YOUR SPACES TO LIFE. CONTACT ME