BRAND + COMMERCIAL LIFESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHY
FOR BURNLEY MARKETING AGENCY


 

As a Manchester freelance photographer specialising in commercial lifestyle and photography for brand and marketing, I recently had the pleasure of working with Root Fifty-Two, a full-service creative agency based in Burnley.

THE BRIEF

CAPTURE A SUITE OF FRESH, ENGAGING IMAGERY THAT REPRESENTS THE PERSONALITY OF THE AGENCY AND THE TEAM. SHOW OFF THE OFFICE SPACE AND OUR LOCATION WITH COMMERCIAL INTERIOR PHOTOGRAPHY AND EXTERIOR SHOTS THAT SHOW THE STUDIO IN CONTEXT TO THE SURROUNDINGS.

 

 

Root Fifty-Two reached out to me to help refresh their brand imagery, wanting photographs that could be used across their marketing platforms. The brief was clear: capture the essence of their workspace, their team, and their culture, while showing off the incredible canal-side location.

The key focus for this project was to reflect the personality of the team while also providing versatile, high-quality images that can be used across multiple touchpoints in their marketing. I knew right away that this shoot needed to blend brand photography with a lifestyle feel to fully capture the energy of their workspace.

Key Objectives:

Showcase the beautiful office space, inside and out.
Capture the exterior of the building, including its canal-side location and stunning views.
Fresh headshots of all team members.
Highlight team members interacting in their work environment, showing the collaborative and creative energy.
Reflect the agency’s approachable, friendly culture while still maintaining a professional edge.

 

 

CLIENT FEEDBACK

"STEVE RECENTLY CAME TO OUR STUDIO FOR A DAY’S SHOOT OF OUR INTERNAL SPACES, OUR PEOPLE, AND THE BUILDING AND SURROUNDING AREA, AND WE’RE DELIGHTED WITH THE RESULTS. FROM THE FIRST MEETING I COULD TELL STEVE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT AESTHETIC WE WERE LOOKING FOR. THE SHOOT WAS PRE-PLANNED WITH A VIDEO CALL, AN IN-PERSON VISIT, AND A FEW EMAILS WITH IDEAS AND SUGGESTIONS WHICH WAS REALLY HELPFUL. WHEN THE DAY FINALLY CAME OUR TEAM WERE UNDERSTANDABLY A BIT NERVOUS, BUT STEVE QUICKLY PUT THOSE NERVES TO BED AND MADE EVERYBODY FEEL COMFORTABLE AND AT EASE. WE’LL DEFINITELY BE RECOMMENDING STEVE TO OTHERS IN THE FUTURE."

 

 

PROCESS

Before any photography took place I decided to take a visit up to Root Fifty-Two's Burnley office to meet a few members of the team and see their studio with my own eyes. I like to do this whenever possible to get a feel for the vibe of the company and what their working space feels like. As well as to assess the lighting, angles and access and start to plan out some of the commercial interior photography shots. They even let me bring my dog along for this first visit. He was a bit excitable!

Working with Michael, Creative Lead at the agency, we mapped out some typical scenarios that we could use for team members to inhabit for the commercial lifestyle photography. We looked at how people typically use the various spaces and tried to emulate this as much as possible.

We also shot the various spaces empty so that Root Fifty-Two can use the photos to show their clients their place of work. These images were meant to showcase the design and layout of the space reflecting the agency’s personality and character. The open-plan layout allowed for some excellent shots of the team working together, brainstorming, and interacting naturally. These images would later help emphasise the collaborative nature of the business.

 

 

One of the most important aspects of this shoot was capturing the people behind the brand. Root Fifty-Two wanted headshots of all their staff members, but they also wanted to show the team interacting and collaborating in the office space. The aim was to strike a balance between professionalism and personality.

Next, I moved on to the exterior of the building, which is where the canal-side location really shone through. The picturesque setting provided a backdrop that most businesses can only dream of. The office sits right next to the water and high up on a hill with incredible views over Burnley and the hills beyond. I took some shots that highlighted the building’s location, capturing both the structure itself and the beautiful natural surroundings.

In addition to the headshots, I spent time photographing the team as they worked. I wanted to capture candid moments that showcased the real essence of the agency—team members brainstorming, laughing, and engaging with each other. These images provide a behind-the-scenes look at the day-to-day life at Root Fifty-Two, offering clients and potential partners a glimpse of the culture that drives their creative work.

When it comes to brand photography, especially for a creative agency like Root Fifty-Two, it’s not just about taking pictures; it’s about telling a story. Through commercial lifestyle photography, I tried to reflect the agency’s core values: creativity, collaboration, and community. Visuals are often the first point of contact a potential client has with a brand, and they need to resonate immediately.

Commercial lifestyle photography blends corporate imagery with the authenticity of candid, natural shots. It’s a powerful tool for any business that wants to humanise its brand, showcasing not just what they do, but how they do it and who does it. 

 

 

IF YOU'RE READY TO ELEVATE YOUR BRAND WITH COMPELLING PHOTOGRAPHY AND AUTHENTIC VISUALS THAT WILL SET YOU APART, PLEASE GET IN TOUCH.