The 8 Best Still Life Photographers in Manchester, UK

Hoping to check out the stunning work of some of the best Manchester still life photographers? As a major creative hub of Northern England, Manchester is a great place to begin your search for a talented photographer.

The brands and businesses here are constantly looking for artists to help elevate their products and grab attention in what’s an increasingly competitive market. That makes Manchester still life photographers some of the best in England!

1. Jay Mawson

The still life photography of Jay Mawson is rooted in the advertising, sportswear, and fashion genres. There is often significant overlap between the three, not to mention strong lifestyle elements threaded throughout. We always get a good look at not just the product or service being featured but also what it’s like to be someone who might enjoy them!

Jay’s journey to becoming a commercial photographer was a winding one. He’s worn several hats over the years, including stock broker, restaurant manager, and project management in strategic marketing. Yet when viewing his work, you can see that all of these roles have helped Jay form a cohesive photographic vision. His portfolio is similarly uninhibited, with settings, lighting styles, and color grading approaches that demonstrate incredible flexibility and passion for the art form.

2. Claire Wray

Claire Wray is a Manchester still life photographer whose work is a delight thanks to how spontaneous and whimsical it is. Rather than ideal studio lights and cultivated compositions, Claire is sensitive to scenes that invite closer study in the real world. Things that most of us would walk right by, she instead notices.

Often there is an implied human interest story. All that’s left of a visitor might be a discarded cup, a pair of shoes, etc., yet we can’t help but wonder what its origin might be. It’s the kind of conceptual still life photography that elevates Claire’s style into the fine art category!

3. Tim Ainsworth

Tim Ainsworth is a Manchester still life photographer whose work explores the possibilities of cosmetics, tools, flowers, apparel, and other subjects. He works in partnership with his wife, Debs, who operates as the project manager for their brand.

Tim offers more than 30 years of prior experience in each collaboration he is a part of. Experience that includes innovative problem-solving abilities and a talent for compositions that reliably engage without feeling stale. Tim and Deb run their still life brand in a 3,500-square-foot photography studio. It offers a meeting room, kitchen, hair, and makeup facilities…Everything needed for a dream photoshoot!

4. Ashley Pearson

Jewelry, drinks, and products are the favored still life subjects of Ashley Pearson. He has a well-honed insider’s perspective on jewelry product photography thanks to his decade of experience working in the industry. His images grab your attention through carefully considered compositions that combine shapes, color contrasts, and classic still life backgrounds. You’ll also find yourself captivated by the slick texture of cosmetics, the memory of soft powders, and other subjects that rarely invite study in ordinary moments.

Ashley is also a talented liquid and beverage photographer. His work captures the chaotic art of splashes, the effervescence of fizzy drinks, and other active phenomena frozen in time through still life photography!

5. Carlton Adkins

Manchester Arndale, Deichmann Shoes, and JCB Tools all choose to work with Carlton Adkins, commercial and advertising photographer. His portfolio demonstrates his flexibility in working both on location and in the studio.

Carlton also works with a team of creatives to help bring any vision to life. We admire his ability to highlight the innate splendor of products; the specular reflections of metallic jewelry, the graceful curves of an appliance…His work demonstrates the ability of still life to feature ordinary objects in an extraordinary manner.

6. Loop Photography

Loop Photography is a collective of photographers, stylists, and assistants based in nearby Blackburn, Lancashire. They operate not only in Manchester but throughout the UK on product still life images that convey the innate beauty of each subject.

Loop Photography offers a 10,000-square-foot commercial photography studio, ensuring they can showcase any product, regardless of size or subject. Their portfolio demonstrates their wide range of experience as well, with examples of food, beverages, furniture, interior shots, and much more!

7. Matthew Seed

Matthew Seed is a Manchester still life photographer with over 30 years of experience in the commercial photography industry. He is the local partner of choice for Netflix, Pepsi, Jaguar, and several other international name brands. They choose Matthew because a look through his portfolio makes it clear how passionate he is about the art form.

His use of lighting is expert in its ability to reveal the subtlest characteristics of a subject. Not to mention how Matt guides the attention of viewers so that we are able to experience a product as if we had it right in front of us!

He best describes his love of lighting in his own words: “The word Photography literally means ‘drawing with light‘, which derives from the Greek words photo, meaning light and graph, meaning to draw. All these years on I still get excited to see a photograph that I have lit & Just like the 12 year old me, the magic of drawing with light still captivates me to this day.”

8. Andrew Kyle

Experian, Mira Showers, Nespresso, and other brands count Andrew Kyle as one of their trusted visual media partners. His still life images focus on crafting brand-centric content that reliably engages their target audience. Yet Andrew manages to do this while still creating images that have a unique character all their own.

His work never feels derivative, which is a major challenge in such a competitive market. Subdued colors, even lighting, and minimalist compositions all convey a relaxed, calming approach to still life product photography that we think you’ll love!

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