From reception and primary schools to secondary schools and sixth form colleges, my work spans all age groups and covers a wide range of subject areas. The aim is to create a pool of imagery that the school can draw upon for web, prospectuses, and beyond.
It’s more than just taking pictures. This work is about connecting with people — students and teachers alike — and creating an environment where everyone feels comfortable and at ease.
Most importantly, this work is always a collaboration. I bring my expertise in visual storytelling, while the school’s unique culture informs the imagery. Together, we ensure the final images align with the school’s vision and goals
Working with early years and reception children is always a joy. They’re naturally curious and in the beginning, asking “watcha doin?”, followed by much posing and silliness in front of the camera. But it’s when they start to ignore me that the magic happens. I get down to their eye level, step into their world, and try to see things from their perspective. Their focus and enthusiasm are infectious, and it’s a privilege to capture that energy.
Primary school children (years 1–6) allow for a more balanced approach, blending set-up shots with free-form, candid moments. With younger children (years 1–2), I lean slightly more on capturing spontaneous moments, while with older children (years 3–6), there’s more flexibility. They’re more malleable and willing to engage with guided scenarios, making it possible to create a mix of dynamic reportage and carefully crafted images.
For comprehensive schools and sixth forms, the process becomes more refined. I always have a planning conversation with the school beforehand to develop a wish list and create a structure for the day. We map out the key subject areas, identifying where we need a more considered approach (such as for science) and where a more spontaneous, free-flowing style works best (such as for sports). While a solid plan is essential, it’s equally important to allow room for unexpected moments that often produce the most compelling images.
"As a school working to improve the quality of our professional photography across our website and newly created social media channels, we are thrilled with the work that Gary did for us. Not only was he easy to work with, and helped create a vision for us to work with on the day of the shoot; he helped all involved feel calm and comfortable, particularly when we were shooting with large groups of students. We have now worked with Gary on three separate occasions, including on a shoot of our school production and have been delighted with the quality of the images produced by Gary each time.
Gary's work has transformed our website, social media, marketing material and prospectuses in just the last year and a half. We are incredibly grateful for his expertise and would highly recommend him for any school wanting to transform their professional photography.
We look forward to continue working with him over the coming years!"
Mr Finbarr Ward
Finance Assistant & School Social Media
The Douay Martyrs Catholic Secondary School
I’m fully DBS registered, and if you’d like to discuss how we can capture your school’s spirit through authentic imagery, get in touch—I’d love to hear from you.
