I worked as a commercial and editorial photographer for several years, collaborating with companies, local authorities, theatres, quangos, charities, and other organisations. Often, the demands of the job allowed only minutes—or sometimes seconds—to capture the decisive shot. My experience as a street photographer proved invaluable in these high-pressure situations, as it had trained me to anticipate moments, pre-set shutter speed, ISO, and aperture for the perfect depth of field, and approach subjects with confidence and speed.

Time was rarely on my side. Dignitaries, executives, or performers frequently had only a brief window for a photograph, and there was often no opportunity for repetition. Each image had to be captured in a single, precise click of the shutter. This required not only technical skill but also a keen eye for composition and timing.

Beyond simply photographing people, I aimed to incorporate their environment into the frame, using backgrounds and surroundings to tell a story about who they are, what they do, or the context of the moment. It was challenging work, but immensely rewarding, demanding creativity, decisiveness, and an ability to find the narrative in every fleeting instant.