This was a two-day prospectus shoot for the University of London. The brief was deliberately broad: to produce a set of images that could represent student life in a credible, contemporary way, without falling back on clichés or visual repetition.
We worked quickly. Over the course of the shoot we moved through a dozen or more locations, indoors and out, often with limited time in each space. We’d discussed and planned the locations on a site visit and our (small, merry) band helped keep things moving, but the real challenge was decision-making, setup by setup: judging how far an idea could be pushed, and when it had given enough.
The subjects were students rather than professional models. Some were immediately comfortable in front of the camera; others needed reassurance and clear direction. Keeping energy up, adjusting approach person by person, maintaining momentum across long days - and often working around the public - was as important as the technical side of the photography.
Avoiding repetition is a constant concern with this kind of shoot. In a university context, many situations are similar on paper - studying, walking, talking - so variety had to come from elsewhere. Lens choice, framing and lighting were used deliberately to separate scenes, as were the locations themselves.
Time management shaped the shoot throughout. Some ideas worked immediately and could be refined; others reached a point of diminishing returns. Knowing how long to persist and when to move on is part of working at pace.
Prospectus photography needs to be flexible. Images must work individually, but also as part of a wider system. The selections shown here have been used across the university’s prospectus and supporting materials: see some examples below. The focus throughout was on clarity and consistency: producing images that feel natural and human, while remaining practical and usable across a range of formats.
