From the Cold Store to Firestation | Yorkshire Commercial and Advertising Photographer

As a North East and Yorkshire photographer with decades of experience in press and commercial photography, if I had a pound for every time someone told me that today’s news is tomorrow’s fish and chip paper I’d be a very rich man.

The phrase really came to life for me with a recent advertising photography commission to produce a range of photos for Wraggs in Leeds, a Collins Seafood company dating back to the 1950s, which supplies ‘Frozen at Sea’ fish products to an impressive number of fish and chip shops throughout Yorkshire and the East Midlands, as well as to wholesalers and smaller businesses.

The brief was to produce a range of PR and marketing photos that can be used across print products such asbrochures and posters through to the company’s website and social media feeds.

The day started at 5am when myself and Olly from Harvey & Hugo, Darlington-based PR agency, set out for the first shoot. When we arrived in Leeds there was a fleet of vans already loaded up with frozen food so I could get some product and vehicle shots – complete with cheery drivers - done before the vans went out on deliveries.

I’ve photographed in most locations over the years but working in a cold store with temperatures of -22 degrees was a new experience for me.  At that temperature the brain – or certainly my brain – definitely works more slowly so I had to get a move on before I froze like the fish I was photographing. Fortunately my cameras are capable of shooting in low temperatures so I had no worries about the resulting pictures.

It was certainly a treat to move from the cold stores into the toasty warm offices and switch to getting some shots of senior management in meetings, and some of the staff working at their desks, incorporating the striking blue and white logo where I could.

A two hour drive down the A1 to South Yorkshire saw us take a series of ‘finished article’ photos at a former fire station in Doncaster, which has been converted into an award-winning fish and chip shop – from the cold stores to the fire station as it were.

Freshly cooked food was beautifully plated up for us and I got some mouth-watering shots of the fabulous Yorkshire fish and chips and accompanying side dishes on offer. The big bonus of the day was that we actually got to sit down and eat some of the lovely food I had been photographing – what an absolutely great perk of the job!

I actually learned quite a lot about the humble dish of fish and chips too, for instance that there is typically less than 10% fat in a portion of fish and chips, making it healthier than a burger, pizza, kebab or a curry. 

The client was very happy with the resulting shots and I’ll look at fish and chips with a much more discerning eye in future, now I’ve documented the journey from freezer to plate.

Redcar Commercial & Advertising Photographer: North Sea Sunrise at South Gare, Teesside

A recent 4am start saw me pack my camera gear and head out of Stockton on Tees to do some early morning North East commercial photography, at a well-known beauty spot, South Gare, near Redcar. This is an area of reclaimed land and breakwater on the South side of the river Tees, and is a popular spot for fishermen and walkers, as well as offering a safe harbour to any ships caught in stormy weather.

Skipping breakfast doesn’t really agree with me, but I was anxious to catch the pre-dawn light. I’ve got a useful phone app called Sun Scout that tells me when sunrise is and in what position – a handy gadget when I’m doing commercial photography or architecture, and need to know exactly where the sun will cast its shadow on a building.

 I’m a big fan of what we professional photographers call the ‘golden hour’ – the time when the sun is rising and setting. The quality of the light is fantastic, particularly in the morning when it has an purple tinge that gradually turns orange, and looks fantastic with a blue sky. I have to work quickly though, in lighting terms so much can change in just 15 minutes.

As the sun comes up it adds a richness that lights everything up and the colour is so intense. And sunrise on a cold, crisp day has such a clarity that in a seaside location like this I would be able to see right into ships’ cabins out to sea.

As I walked to the end of South Gare I could see some fishermen had beaten me to it and were already setting up, presenting dark silhouettes against the sea. A drift of cobwebs hung with dewdrops were sparkling, and I managed to get quite close to a group of seabirds which were sunning themselves on the wet rocks as the day came to life. 

The views here are spectacular, and no two days are the same. On the South side the view is towards Teesside a well photographed location and a lovely sight when the sun is setting. And looking with a really long lens in the opposite direction you can just see Redcar and even get a glimpse of Sunderland too if you look up the coast. 

In my 25+ years as a North East editorial, corporate and commercial photographer I’ve learned that a good shot doesn’t always have to have the obvious ‘aah’ factor, there’s a lot of beauty to be found in an industrial landscape too, particularly when it’s shot in black and white. People often slate Teesside for its industrial setting, but the juxtaposition of industrial and natural beauty can throw up some really amazing shots.

The pictures I took at South Gare were for my own pleasure, I have approach shipping companies, commercial businesses and stock libraries with my early morning pictures and looking at using them in a callendar. 

I had a much-needed breakfast at McDonald’s in Redcar on the way back, before heading off to Rockliffe Hall in Darlington to do some corporate portrait photography for a large corportate business.

As I passed people heading into Middlesbrough on their way to work I reflected that as their day was starting, mine was almost half way through. I don’t mind the early starts and late finishes though, I don’t charge my clients extra for unsociable hours - they are well worth it in my quest for the perfect shot. 

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Direct Website Link to Dave Charnley Photography