Stadium Photography at Old Trafford for Levy UK + Ireland
A Headshot Shoot with an Unexpected Bonus
I was recently at Old Trafford in Manchester photographing location headshots for around 30 members of the Levy UK + Ireland team.
The team were attending a staff meeting following the announcement that Levy UK + Ireland had secured the catering contract for the stadium, a significant win for the business.
The contract covers every aspect of food and hospitality within the stadium environment, including matchday hospitality, retail catering, conferences, events and other visitor experiences throughout the venue.
Photographing Team Headshots Inside Old Trafford
The main purpose of the shoot was to create a consistent set of professional headshots for the team.
We decided to use the stadium itself as the backdrop, so I set up my location lighting within the stands to make the most of such an iconic setting.
Location headshots often work best when they provide some context about the people being photographed and the organisation they work for. Using Old Trafford as the background immediately connected the images to the announcement and the team’s role within the venue.
Time to Explore the Stadium
Once the team meeting got underway, I found myself with a little unexpected time on my hands.
Rather than sit and wait for the next round of headshots, I took the opportunity to photograph the stadium itself.
Old Trafford is one of those places that needs very little introduction. Having watched countless matches there over the years, it felt quite surreal to find myself walking around with unrestricted access and very few people around.
It’s a venue that most people know from television, but seeing it in person is something entirely different.
Photographing an Iconic Sporting Venue
Whether you’re interested in football or not, there’s no denying the scale and history of Old Trafford.
From a photography perspective, stadiums present some interesting opportunities. The sweeping stands, huge open spaces and carefully maintained pitch all combine to create strong architectural and environmental photographs.
With very few people in the stadium, I was able to photograph views and details that would normally be impossible on a matchday.
Creating Additional Value for the Client
Although I enjoyed photographing the stadium for my own interest, the images also had value for Levy UK + Ireland.
The photographs provided an additional stadium-focused gallery that complemented the headshots and helped document the venue where the team would now be delivering such a significant operation.
Finding opportunities to create additional useful images while already on location is something I always look for, particularly when working with long-term clients.
Stadium Photography Across the UK
This shoot started as a location headshot session and ended with an unexpected opportunity to photograph one of the most recognisable sporting venues in the world.
It was a memorable day, a great result for Levy UK + Ireland and another reminder that some of the best photographs often come from making the most of opportunities that present themselves during a shoot.
