Photography for Harrogate Brands — Big and Small
Based in Harrogate, Matthew Lloyd works with businesses across Yorkshire — from local independents to national names. Whether it’s a new brand launch, a simple image refresh, or a full content library, he brings a cinematic, natural style to every shoot.Matthew Lloyd is a Yorkshire-based commercial photographer, creating high-quality brand imagery for businesses of all sizes — from global corporations to Harrogate cafés, artisan makers, and small independent shops. With a background in editorial storytelling and advertising campaigns, he understands how powerful photography can be in shaping how a brand is seen. A single day of carefully planned photography can provide a whole suite of assets — enough to rebrand a company’s identity across websites, social media, marketing materials, and beyond.
Matthew offers special local rates for businesses across Harrogate, Knaresborough, Ripon, Wetherby, Boroughbridge, Masham, Thirsk, Skipton, Otley, and Ilkley — always with the same commitment to thoughtful, cinematic imagery. Whether you’re launching something new or simply refreshing your visuals, get in touch to talk through what’s possible.
Health & Wellness Brands
From skincare producers to yoga studios and spa retreats, Matthew works with wellness-focused businesses to create calming, aspirational imagery that still feels grounded and real. His cinematic, natural style suits both product-led and lifestyle campaigns, helping wellness brands move away from cliché stock and toward visuals with authenticity and atmosphere.
Food & Drink Producers
Matthew works with Yorkshire-based food and drink producers — from artisan roasters and brewers to established regional brands. With a natural, cinematic style, he captures products in context: on the farm, in the kitchen, or being enjoyed at the table. Whether you need polished product shots or more atmospheric brand imagery, he creates content that feels real, textural and true to your values.
Education & Community
Schools, colleges, and community organisations often need image libraries for prospectuses, websites, and press. Matthew’s background in editorial and photojournalism means he’s comfortable working in sensitive or busy environments — capturing the life of a place with subtlety and respect. Great for institutions that want to move beyond staged group shots and showcase real moments.
Product Makers & Retail Brands
For small and medium product-based businesses, good photography makes all the difference. Matthew creates brand imagery that’s a step above simple packshots — styling, lighting, and placing your products in real settings to bring out their appeal. Ideal for local makers, retailers, and homegrown brands who want to look sharp and professional without losing authenticity.
Service-Based Businesses
If you run a service-based company — whether legal, financial, healthcare, or creative — Matthew can create natural portraits, team imagery, and contextual photographs that go beyond generic stock. Clients trust him to deliver warm, approachable visuals that reflect professionalism while feeling rooted in the local landscape. Perfect for websites, LinkedIn, print, and PR.
Niche & Specialist Brands
Not every business fits a box. Matthew works with niche brands across Yorkshire — from candle-makers and ceramicists to heritage craft workshops and tech startups. His strength lies in finding visual language that fits each client, combining still life, lifestyle and environmental imagery to tell a story that feels honest and elevated.
Heritage & Arts Organisations
From museums and archives to performing arts venues and galleries, Matthew’s layered, storytelling approach suits cultural organisations looking to document exhibitions, events, people, and spaces. His experience in editorial and commercial crossover work makes him a reliable partner for organisations that need to serve both public engagement and internal marketing
Hospitality & Hotels
Whether it’s a boutique guesthouse in Nidderdale or a countryside spa retreat, Matthew creates photography that captures the feeling of place. His background in lifestyle and editorial work helps tell the story beyond the rooms — focusing on mood, light, and human connection. From interior details to staff portraits and guest experiences, he delivers cohesive image libraries ideal for websites, print, and booking platforms.
Industrial & B2B
From manufacturing floors to logistics hubs, Matthew is experienced in working in real-world, working environments. His editorial background means he’s used to moving sensitively in live workplaces — capturing people, processes and settings with a sense of scale and narrative. Whether for internal communications or marketing, he creates industrial photography that’s honest, engaging and brand-focused.
FAQs
You look expensive, will I be able to afford you?
I understand that photography can seem like a significant investment, but I offer special rates for local companies, ensuring that high-quality work is accessible without breaking the bank. An investment in a day’s photography can do wonders for your brand, often making it appear much bigger, more professional, and more established than it actually is. High-end, cinematic images can help elevate your business and attract the right audience, positioning you as a premium brand—whether you're a small local café or an up-and-coming business. While it might seem like a big upfront cost, the value it adds to your marketing and the lasting impact of quality visuals will pay off in the long run.
What is commercial photography and how is it different to PR photography
Commercial photography focuses on creating high-quality images for businesses to use in advertising, marketing, and promotional materials. It includes product photography, lifestyle shoots, environmental portraiture, and corporate headshots, all tailored to align with a company’s brand and goals. While I can certainly provide PR photography, having spent years working for local papers, cheesy, cliché shots aren’t my specialty. My work is more aligned with broadsheet-style imagery, where authenticity and atmosphere take precedence over typical press photo setups.
Do you provide studio and location-based shoots?
Yes, I offer both studio and location-based shoots, depending on the needs of the project. When a client tells me what they need, I can advise on the best option. Studio shoots are often a more cost-effective way to produce high-end results. The controlled and repeatable environment ensures consistency and eliminates external distractions—no need to worry about weather conditions or moving heavy equipment in busy environments. Shooting on location, particularly if there’s beautiful natural light, can be a great option. However, to achieve dramatic effects or replicate sunshine (which is often elusive in Yorkshire), creative lighting equipment is usually required.
What is licensing?
Licensing simply means the legal right to use an image in specific ways—whether it's for advertising, social media, print, or other purposes. Photography is not a one-size-fits-all pricing model, and licensing allows for a fair and reasonable structure based on the scale of usage. Larger brands, like McDonald's, pay more because their images reach a wider, national audience, while smaller businesses pay less, even for the same product or image. In essence, licensing ensures you get the same creative mind and high-quality work at a fraction of the price that bigger companies pay.
Looking at the rate card…. For small businesses (Tier 1), you don’t need to worry about licensing specifics—your only condition is that the images won’t be used for national advertising campaigns.
For Tier 2 companies, we discuss your specific needs. Basic licensing options are either for advertising or non-advertising usage. Most companies in this size category will have marketing managers or agencies who are familiar with licensing terms and can help explain the details to the end client.
It's also important to note that photography is an expensive business. The costs of equipment alone are very high, and when you factor in nearly 20 years of experience, the time spent sourcing clients, and the fact that only 10% of my time is billable, these prices reflect what’s needed to make a viable living. While it's quoted in time, you're actually paying for the years of experience it takes to turn your ideas into the final product.
Studio Portraits and Headshot Photography
If you're looking for natural, sophisticated studio portraits or headshots in Yorkshire, I’ve recently launched a sister business: Pleasantly Beige — a portrait studio based in Harrogate. It’s a calm, beautifully lit space designed for timeless, human photography. With painted backdrops, flattering natural light, and a focus on subtlety over spectacle, it’s ideal for individuals, creatives, or professionals looking for portraits with character. You can explore more over at Pleasantly Beige — or get in touch if you'd like to discuss a session.