URBAN LIFESTYLE AND LOCAL AREA PHOTOGRAPHY
FOR SPINNINGFIELDS, MANCHESTER
THE BRIEF
CAPTURE THE SOFTER SIDE OF SPINNINGFIELDS TO HELP J2 REIMAGINE THE LOCATION FOR A FRESH AUDIENCE. START FROM THEIR CLIENT'S BUILDING (3 HARDMAN STREET) AND CAPTURE THE EXTERIOR BEFORE EXPLORING THE REST OF THE SITE.
PROCESS
I loved this brief from J2 – a place marketing agency in London. As well as the summary above I was given a shot list of restaurants, bars and shops to focus on as well as some hints as to what they were trying to convey in their broader work on the branding and design.
They wanted something different and encouraged me to lean into my style of architecture photography – abstract crops, dramatic lighting, strong shadows etc. They wanted me to try and seek out those little 'moments' that people experience every day, which is a great way of approaching shooting urban lifestyle photography in the city.
RESPONSE
Local area photography is a key element in commercial property marketing. It helps frame a property or location within the context of its surroundings. It also shows the target audience that there are amenities around that they might be interested in. But as with a lot of placemaking photography projects, you are at the mercy of the weather and of course the footfall and energy on the particular shoot day.
For that reason, I come to these briefs with a flexible approach. As a Manchester freelance photographer I understand the need to work around the elements. I need to use my allotted time efficiently to deliver the best work for my clients. In this instance I was faced with horrendous storms and grey skies but I knew there would be some breaks in between.
I split up the brief and decided to aim for specific times to go into Manchester to try and capture a different side of Spinningfields. Early morning - to hopefully catch dog walkers and joggers, or early bird workers grabbing a coffee. Lunchtime - to try and catch Spinningfields at its busiest, as workers and visitors grab lunch, socialise or sit in the green spaces. And then twilight – for a different vibe and to include a touch of urban lifestyle photography against the twinkling city lights.
