I am a documentary photographer which means that I make natural photographs in an observational documentary style, in colour and black and white, for businesses, NGOs and other organisations.
It’s a good question and one I often get asked. The truth is that I’m curious about the world and I love to create stories. The objective of documentary photography is to literally document society and culture (work, play, politics, environment) at a point in time. An important part of society today is the world of work (particularly how it is changing and shaping society), along with the environment and all the issues that collectively make up the world we live in. What we capture today is the history of tomorrow and is someone’s legacy.
We live in an image-led society, which is exciting but can also be overwhelming and create the impression that images are disposable and their appeal is short-lived.
Yet, it is always images of the real-world, framed in a way that we’ve never noticed before, that holds our attention and moves us. Many of these types of images hold their appeal for decades.
For these reasons I am drawn to documentary style photography, rather than the bright lights and white walls of a photography studio. History shows us that there is lasting interest in showing people at work, and the work of organisations, which is evident through the investment made in corporate archives.
As a documentary photographer I get to tell stories with pictures which means using a language that is universally understood, inclusive and the most effective.
Read more about the need for a visual communication strategy here.
I produced my first film documentary in the 1990s, which was a celebration of the filmmaking partnership of Powell & Pressburger. Since then I’ve made documentaries on a wide range of subjects including wildlife conservation, humanitarian charities working in areas of conflict, and whisky production at one of Scotland’s most inconic distilleries. In 2000 I established Clarity, a boutique photography and video agency, and for the past 25 years my colleagues and I have helped to create visual stories that have supported strategies for social impact & CSR, internal communication, and stakeholder engagement for a vast array of corporate clients including John Lewis, Brother, Waitrose, Pearson, BSI, UBS, Penguin and many others.
I’m particularly drawn to projects that promote and advance ESG, CSR and Sustainability initiatives. I believe that visual storytelling has a role to play in helping organisations to build trust, credibility and gain momentum for their efforts.
Before I became a documentary photographer, I started my visual storytelling career in theatre before becoming a Creative Director for media agencies in Berkshire and London. I established my own creative agency in 1999. In addition to media and arts I have business and sustainability management qualifications from Henley Management College and Cambridge University’s Institute for Sustainability Leadership.
I am a Trustee of an education charity and was previously the Chair of the international Bird Photographer of the Year organisation where I also established a global conservation charity, Birds on the Brink.
When I’m not behind a camera, I can be found leading communication and storytelling workshops for the clients of two major international business schools.
I was recently asked to appear on the Great Big Photography World podcast.
Great Big Photography World is a great resource for photographers, they have courses, great articles and a host of guests on their podcast.
We talked about my career, documentary photography and its role in communication and of course, my work.
You can find the link by clicking here or searching for Great Big Photography World wherever you get your podcasts from.
Raimes Vineyard in Hampshire, part of the growing English Wine sector, currently generating revenues in excess of £380m per annum.
Andrew Cameron is social documentary photographer with a particular focus on Sustainability Communications (CSR & ESG) Photography, Industrial Photography, Social Impact and Humanitarian stories. Andrew works with businesses and organisations to create compelling visual stories to support employee communication and stakeholder engagement. Andrew’s light-touch approach uses a natural documentary photography style to create authentic images.
