I think a half-day shoot at a business can offer some of the best value in professional photography. There is often a huge amount to work with: the premises, the people, the equipment and all the smaller details that show what the business does. Together, those photographs give the client an image bank they can draw on across their website and marketing.
This visit to WLR Precision Engineering in Nottingham was one of three locations I photographed for Parklands Capital, following its acquisition of businesses in the Midlands. It was also a chance for me to spend a little time back in an industry I knew before becoming a photographer.
Photographing a precision engineering business
WLR Precision Engineering manufactures precision components using CNC machining. Established in 1969, the company supports product development and small to medium production batches, with experience across industries including oil exploration, medical equipment, pharmaceuticals and motorcycles.
For the photographs, I wanted to give a sense of the business at several scales. The exterior and aerial views establish the premises, while the factory photographs show the equipment and people working inside.
Finding the photographs as I went
I was given plenty of freedom to explore and find the areas that would work well in photographs. That is a fun way to work, although getting to grips with an unfamiliar business can be a steep learning curve. I’m looking for useful views of the workplace, but also watching for conversations, concentration and the way people work together.
The people are an important part of a shoot like this. A photograph of a machine shows the equipment; including the person using it gives a fuller picture of the business. There was room for both wider working views and closer photographs of the team.
Machinery, components and the smaller details
In a previous life, I spent some time working in my family’s engineering company. It was interesting to be back in that world for a few hours and see how manufacturing technology had moved on.
There is also plenty here that works photographically at a smaller scale. Rows of tools, metal surfaces and inspection equipment give a very different set of images from the wider factory views. Including that variety makes the finished selection more useful when a client needs photographs for different pages, layouts and subjects.
A useful image bank from a half-day shoot
That range is why I rate this type of commercial photography so highly. In half a day, I can cover the facilities, the team, working processes and details, giving a business a broad selection of photographs from one visit.
For me, business facilities photography includes the people who make the place work. The finished set should help a prospective customer understand both the company’s capabilities and the team behind them.
If your website needs an up-to-date view of your business, I photograph workplaces, facilities and teams in Nottingham, across the Midlands and throughout the UK. Get in touch to discuss what we could cover during a visit.
