Why documentary photography matters for business.
Photography · 6 min read
Corporate photography doesn't have to mean people standing around looking at the camera — documentary photography shows what a business is really like.
4 September 2026
Insights
Notes from the field by Doug Marke, a Nottingham-based corporate, commercial and editorial photographer creating documentary-style photography for businesses and brands across the UK and EU. Expect practical thoughts, real shoot stories and the occasional essay on why images matter — with a little Fun along the way.
Forestry England assignment makes for some great documentary style portraits!
Photography · 3 min read
Never pass up the opportunity to make a great editorial portrait — keeping it simple is the best approach.
The big AI photography opportunity no one is talking about
Photography · 5 min read
AI brings real risk and real opportunity to photography — but the biggest opportunity isn't the one everyone is chasing.
Winter is here: top tips for cold weather photography
Photography · 4 min read
Cameras and cold don't mix well — a few field-tested habits keep a shoot running when the temperature drops.
5 tips for a great corporate portrait shoot
Photography · 3 min read
Getting the most from a corporate portrait session comes down to preparation, location and putting the subject at ease.
Reportage Photography with the Fuji Xpro2
Photography · 3 min read
An editorial photography shoot for The Sunday Times at UK barber of the year Elvir Todorovac's shop — frenetic reportage shot on the Fuji Xpro2, with a black and white edit.
Listed pub architecture photography in Nottingham!
Photography · 3 min read
An urgent call from a national newspaper for architecture photography of The Newshouse pub in Nottingham — an outstanding post-war pub recognised by Historic England.
25 years goes in a flash — the fall of the Berlin Wall
Photography · 4 min read
As a fresh-off-the-boat photographer in London, I flew to Berlin to witness the fall of the Wall first hand — 25 years on, the pictures still feel underwhelming.
Celebrity Chef James Martin photography essay for Vintage Inns
Photography · 3 min read
A fun day shooting James Martin photography during his pie-making masterclass at Aveqia in London for Vintage Inns — with lunch made by the man himself.
Or the time I spent chasing Nigel Farage for The Sunday Times.
Photography · 3 min read
A few days on assignment producing editorial photography for The Sunday Times during the Newark by-election — and an exclusive set of pictures of Nigel Farage.
Portrait photography commissions are my favourite gigs!
Photography · 3 min read
Portrait photography is, for me, the heart of the job — getting out, meeting people, and making a connection that shows up in the picture.
The day Specsavers came to me for some documentary photography!
Photography · 3 min read
Documentary photography for the launch of Specsavers' Healthcall home eye-test service — all available light, and a black and white edit for art's sake.
Putting asset creation at the core of a photo shoot should be central to commissioning corporate photography.
Photography · 4 min read
Turning a corporate photography spend into an investment — how Nottingham's Molecular Profiles built their own stock library of original images.
Great Event Photography from a charity football tournament in Nottingham!
Photography · 3 min read
A long Saturday of event photography at Alliance Healthcare's charity football tournament in Nottingham — action, portraits and a magazine cover.
Don't waste your money on bad PR photography
Photography · 4 min read
In a competitive market every aspect of your PR campaign has to shine — top tips for getting PR photography that actually gets published.
An interesting project from E.ON — corporate photography for their annual CHP yearbook
Photography · 4 min read
Visiting every E.ON CHP site across the UK to produce corporate portraits and documentary images for their annual yearbook.
Homage or rip-off? A photocall with Engelbert Humperdinck
Photography · 3 min read
When the chance came to produce a homage at a Engelbert Humperdinck photocall, copying Terry O'Neill's famous Faye Dunaway Oscar portrait seemed the obvious move.
Get some editorial portraits shot quickly, to guarantee a result in a portrait shoot!
Photography · 3 min read
After being let down on an editorial portrait assignment, the lesson is clear — make portraits during the interview to guarantee a result.
Documentary photography with the Italian Olympic swimming squad
Photography · 3 min read
When the Italian Olympic swim squad came to Speedo in Nottingham, I was tasked to shoot documentary photography to record the visit.
30 minutes with Paul Daley — an editorial photo shoot with a top MMA fighter
Photography · 3 min read
With 30 minutes to do a set of portraits and training pictures of MMA fighter Paul Daley at Liberty's Gym in Nottingham — here are the results.
Stilton cheese editorial photography doesn't come any riper!
Photography · 2 min read
Shooting a Stilton cheese feature for The Independent — the romantic 'page holder' picture they didn't use, and the quick shot they did.