Whether it is a major annual awards programme, a one-off anniversary celebration or a regular conference series, the photography needs to do the same job every time. Capture the energy, the people and the moments that matter, and deliver images your team can use immediately. I have covered over twenty events for the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce alone, from business expos and roundtables to gala dinners and keynote conferences. I have photographed the Investors in the Environment Awards for PECT, covered a networking event for Taylor Rose, spent three days with the Ecuadorian Ministry of Tourism at the Global Birdfair and documented a special event for Royal Papworth Charity at Ely Cathedral.
That cathedral shoot is a good example of how I work. Ely Cathedral restricts photography heavily, but I was given access because I committed to working with no flash and no audible shutter. It meant working harder technically, but the images were right and the trust was earned. I have also covered events for the Royal Society of Chemistry in Cambridge, photographed the NSPCC’s black tie gala, the Sue Ryder Spring Ball and the Sodexo HMP Peterborough 20th Anniversary Ball. Each had a completely different atmosphere and brief, from the formality of a charity gala to a milestone celebration for one of the UK’s largest facilities management companies. It does not matter whether this is an event you run every year or a once in a lifetime occasion. The approach is the same: understand the brief, respect the venue, work discreetly and deliver.
2026 Winner of the Theo Paphitis Small Business Sunday award
I'm a professional member of the BIPP, and the Society of Photographers
I edit all my photos inhouse, no photo is sent to external partners, its Nates signiture style that brings your story to life
The Cambridge Chamber of Commerce brought me on to cover their programme of events across two full years. Over that period I photographed 22 separate events ranging from large-scale business exhibitions at Kingsgate Conference Centre to intimate roundtables with MPs and senior officials, gala dinners, networking breakfasts, awards evenings and the full set of professional headshots for the Chamber team and board. Every event required a different approach. Exhibitions needed fast, reactive documentary photography capturing conversations, product demonstrations and busy crowds. Roundtables required discretion. Gala dinners needed atmospheric, flattering coverage in low light. Across all of it, the brief was consistent: images that feel warm, natural and unmistakably “Chamber.” The result was a comprehensive, high resolution image library of thousands of photographs that the Chamber uses across their website, social channels, member communications, press and event marketing.
How quickly can we get images after the event?
For social media and press use, I can deliver a set of edited highlights within 24 to 48 hours. The full edited gallery typically follows within five to ten working days depending on the size of the event. If you have specific images needed urgently on the night or the following morning, let me know in advance and I will prioritise those during the event.
How do you handle low light at awards dinners and conferences?
This is where experience matters. I use a combination of fast lenses, dual camera bodies and careful flash technique to deliver clean, well lit images even in the darkest ballrooms and conference halls. I know when to use flash and when to work with available light, especially during speeches and presentations where a flash firing would be disruptive. The PECT iiE Awards and NSPCC gala work are good examples of this.
Can you work in venues with strict photography restrictions?
Yes. My camera has the option of a silent shutter. It can be reduced images, and sometimes the quality is a little reduced, but the story is still captured. I photographed a special event for Royal Papworth Charity at Ely Cathedral, one of the few photographers given access because I committed to working with no flash and completely silent shutter. I carry equipment that allows me to shoot in low light without flash and without any audible camera noise. If your venue has restrictions, I will work within them and still deliver strong images.
Do you need a briefing before the event?
A short one, yes. I do not need a fifty page document. A running order, a list of key people to photograph (award winners, sponsors, VIPs, speakers) and any specific shots your sponsors or partners have requested is usually enough. For exhibitions, a floor plan and a list of priority exhibitors is helpful. I will handle the rest.
Can you cover a multi-day conference?
Yes. with most multi day events, its about media coverage as well as the story, so ill work with you team to produce images and a curated set of media images to be used daily. A good example of this, was when I spent three days covering the Global Birdfair for the Ecuadorian Ministry of Tourism and have covered multi-day conference programmes for other clients. We agree which sessions and moments are priorities so the coverage is focused and thorough.
What types of venues have you worked in?
Everything from Ely Cathedral and Cambridge college halls to exhibition centres, hotel ballrooms, conference venues and even inside HMP Peterborough for a separate documentary project. Every venue has its own requirements and restrictions. I adapt to whatever the setting demands, whether that means silent shooting in a cathedral, working without flash during speeches or navigating security clearance in restricted environments.
What about exhibitions and trade shows specifically?
Exhibitions require a different approach to a sit-down dinner. I move through the hall capturing exhibitor stands, conversations, product demonstrations, keynote stages and the general atmosphere. The goal is images that show the scale and energy of the event, individual exhibitor activity for sponsor and partner communications, and candid shots of real people engaging. I covered the Cambs B2B North and South expos for the Cambridge Chamber and know how to work a busy exhibition hall efficiently.
Do you offer an ongoing arrangement for organisations that run regular events?
Absolutely, and many of my event clients work with me this way. The Cambridge Chamber of Commerce relationship covered 22 events across two years. An ongoing arrangement means I already understand your brand, your audience and what your communications team needs. It saves time on briefings, delivers visual consistency across every event and usually works out more cost effective than booking ad hoc every time.
