2024 Business and Corporate Photography: A Year in Review

Published on Thu Dec 19, 2024 by David J Colbran

As 2024 comes to a close, it’s the perfect time to reflect on my year in the world of business and corporate photography. For photographers like me who work in the commercial sector, it’s been a year of growth, adaptation, and excitement. From high-profile conferences and engaging evening events to professional portraits and corporate headshots, the demand for my photography services has remained robust. And, honestly, I still get a buzz capturing moments that add value to a business, telling stories through images.

The surge in face-to-face networking continues after years of virtual meetings. And the scale and variety of these events have been staggering. Whether it’s a global educational summit or a regional industry gathering, I’ve been lucky enough to witness first-hand the energy and ambition that fill these venues. And after 14 years with have a change of Government, there has been a feeling of optimism and positivity in the business community. Also with the Labour Party holding their conference in Liverpool, it proved to be a very busy week for me.

The year has seen me working with a lot of repeat business clients. Which is always brilliant and for me possibly the best recommendation that supports my experience, expertise, and credibility as a photographer. Of course, always great to secure new connections and I've finished the year with a couple of organisations that I feel will develop in to a lot more work in the near future.

The key challenge has been capturing the atmosphere of these events while also ensuring that the images tell the story of each speaker, panel, or exhibition stand in a visually compelling way. In 2024, the demand was not only for high-quality stills but also inspiring video content has skyrocketed. And I've been lucky to work alongside an excellent North-West video production company, Jam Shakeshaft Video. From simple commercial interviews, through to multi-day coverage films and top notch highlights reels, Jam and his team are the business.

In addition to daytime conferences, evening events have been a big part of the 2024 corporate photography scene for my work. From gala dinners and charity balls to product launches and awards ceremonies, these events are all about capturing elegance and high energy in a way that reflects the client’s brand and values.

The venues have been stunning and diverse, here is a list - The Lutyens Crypt, St Georges Hall, Arena and Convention Centre Liverpool (ACC Liverpool), Anglican Cathedral, Hilton Hotel Liverpool, Manchester Central Convention Complex, NEC Birmingham, The International Convention Centre Birmingham (ICC), The Racquet Club Liverpool, Exhibition Centre Liverpool, The Florrie Liverpool, Anfield Stadium, Camp and Furnace Liverpool, Maldron Hotel Liverpool, The Isla Gladstone Conservatory Liverpool, The Liver Building Liverpool, The Spine Liverpool, The Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh, Titanic Hotel Liverpool, University of Liverpool, Everton Finch Farm, Crowne Plaza Speke.

As much as I enjoy the technical challenges of shooting in low-light conditions, it’s also been a reminder of how crucial it is to have a solid understanding of lighting setups for various moods. The demand for creative compositions and authentic, candid moments from events has definitely been a thing this year. Whether it’s the toast to success or a quiet moment between colleagues, these are the images that often speak volumes to businesses looking to convey a personal connection with their audience and customers.

2024 has undoubtedly been one of the busiest years I’ve experienced in business and corporate photography. Other than the usual summer slump, I have been hustling from one job to another. There has quite a few occasions where I've been booked up and now am confident to pass on work to a colleague here in Liverpool that has a firm grip on commercial photography. And also confident that he won't steal my clients, which is a bonus! As I approach the milestone of 20 years in business as a full time professional photographer, I can honestly say each project still brings me new challenges and opportunities - no commission is the same. That variety enables me to innovate, keep motivated and strive for success. I really am so lucky to love what I do for a living, going to fabulous events and meeting wonderful people.

The key takeaway for me this year is that businesses are more than ever seeking authenticity, creativity, and flexibility in their visual content. And that I have the experience and skills to meet those challenges. The demand for professional photography services has been high, and the trend is showing no signs of slowing down as we head into 2025. Onwards and upwards!

Of course here are a load of my favourite images from this year:

Liverpool photographer - year in review photography 2024