Documentary Commercial Photography

Documentary commercial photography for businesses who want to show real work, real people and real environments.

Based in Norfolk, working across East Anglia.

Real work. Real people. Real places.

Not every organisation needs staged scenes or perfect smiles.

Sometimes what matters most is showing the work as it actually happens. The people, the processes, the moments in between.

Every image on this page was made in live working environments with a focus on observation rather than direction. Documentary photography captures your business as it is. How your team works together. How your space is used. What it feels like to be there.

Based in Norfolk and working across East Anglia and beyond, this is documentary-led photography for businesses who want imagery that builds trust, credibility and connection.

A bottle of Ridge Grenache Blanc held in a sommelier's hands
A wide angle image showing a chef at work, spotlighted by a lamp at Brix & Bones, Norwich. Customers and waiting staff make up the foreground of the scene.
A couple dining at Brix & Bones in Norwich. A waitress looks on as one of the diners laughs at a joke made by her companion.
A sommelier pours a glass of white wine at Brix & Bones, Norwich.
A sommelier suggesting a bottle of wine to a couple at a Norwich restaurant.
A starter plate shown in close up detail being delivered to a table at Brix and Bones, Norwich.
A sommelier laughs with customers dining at at Brix & Bones, Norwich.
A group scene showing diners enjoying drinks, food and conversation at a Norwich restaurant.

What is documentary photography for business?

Minimal intervention, with a focus on real moments rather than staged scenes.

From people to process to place, attention is paid to how work actually happens. Those details are what make an organisation feel credible.

Documentary photography for your business supports communication, storytelling and trust.

Who is it for?

This approach works particularly well for:

  • organisations who want to show how they work, not just what they do

  • values-led businesses, charities and social enterprises

  • organisations who rely on trust, transparency and human connection

A cherry picker at GB3PL, warehouse, in Norwich
A man in high-vis jacket climbs a step ladder at a warehouse facility in Norwich.
Staff members smiling and chatting as they go about their work at an e-commerce fulfilment warehouse in Norwich.
An environmental portrait of a staff member at a e-commerce fulfilment warehouse in Norwich. He is wearing hi-vis jacket. In the background are parcel shelves.
A man scans bar codes at an e-commerce fulfilment warehouse in Norwich.
GB3PL-8_websize.jpg
GB3PL-23_websize (1).jpg
A finger points to a logistics CRM at an e-commerce fulfilment warehouse in Norwich.

Where does it work best?

Behind-the-scenes storytelling

  • Editorial-style brand features

  • Workplace and environmental photography

  • Process-led projects and long-term initiatives

  • Reports, funding bids, websites and PR

These images support communications, storytelling and reputation over time. Helping people understand what your organisation does and why.

Bring it to life

Bring your business to life with documentary photography that sells what you do, so you don’t have to.

Get In Touch
An illustrator photographed from above is painting Christmas cards.
 
 
Two men considering a document together.

Kind words

If like I was you are thinking ‘is it worth getting in a pro photographer, can’t I just do it myself?’ It is SOOOO worth it.

I really can’t recommend Brand Story/Rob highly enough.

Rob’s brief was to build us a stock of photos for our website that accurately reflect our brand, vibe and style. We wanted a combo of very natural and vibrant shots of the food, our guests and our team in action.

Rob 100% delivered the goods. We walked away with some amazing shots that truly capture what NO33 is all about.

We are a busy place and taking photos in such a fast paced environment is no easy feat. However, Rob was incredible and we barely even noticed he was there. He put everyone at ease with his bubbly personality, which was essential for him to get the natural shots we were after.

— Nichola Cawley, No. 33 Cafe

 
 

How it works

  • A man is seen hot-foiling at Dynamic Print, a print facility in Norwich.

    Purpose first

    We start with a conversation about how you’ll be using the images and what you need them for. That keeps the session focused and practical.

  • People drawing on whiteboards during a training session at JRM, Poringland, Norwich.

    Observational approach

    I’ll spend time getting to know how you work, so the photography observes what’s happening rather than interrupting it.

  • Confidence & trust

    You get imagery that feels believable and trustworthy, helping people understand how your organisation works and what it stands for.

  • Waiting staff collect dishes from the kitchen serving hatch at No.33 cafe in Norwich.

    Delivered ready to use

    After the session, you’ll receive a selection of finished images ready to use across your marketing and communications, online and print.

Book A Discovery Call
 
 

Documentary commercial photography is a good fit if:

You care about authenticity over perfection

  • you want images that feel credible and human

  • you’re comfortable letting real moments speak for themselves

This approach focuses on real moments rather than staged scenes. I photograph offices and workplaces, cafés and restaurants, creative studios, care settings and community spaces, capturing how these spaces are used day to day.

The character of each space, the pace of work and the available light all shape the final images, resulting in photography that feels natural, believable and true to everyday working life.

If you’re unsure, we can talk it through — many projects work best as a blend of documentary coverage with a light touch of direction where needed. Or, take a look at this comparison of lifestyle and documentary photography for business.

If this sounds like a good fit and you’re looking for documentary commercial photography in Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire or further afield, let’s talk.

Bring it to life

Bring your business to life with documentary photography that sells what you do, so you don’t have to.

Get In Touch