Orange Rooms colourful outdoor beer garden with teal parasols, bright bunting, painted picnic benches in blue, yellow and pink, and wooden decking walkway, commercial exterior photography

Some venues are designed to be photographed - and this beer garden at Orange Rooms Southampton is one of them. Colour everywhere, from the bunting to the benches. #exteriorphotography #commercialphotography #southampton

Two crushed ice cocktails with lemon, mint and dried orange garnish on a dark table at Figurati Italian restaurant Southampton, drink photography

Blank space isn't wasted space. The left side of this frame is deliberately empty - in commercial work, you're always planning for where the menu text, pricing, or social overlay goes. That's the difference between a nice photo and a usable one. #commercialphotography #foodphotography #Southampton

Kadie with long red curly hair and glasses seated on stone steps in a black crop top and grey joggers with tattoo sleeve, outdoor portrait photography

Portraits done right - out in the open, natural setting, letting the personality do the work. Kadie brought such great energy to this shoot. #portraitphotography #outdoorportrait #southampton

Lenovo brand ambassador high-fiving fans pitchside at St Mary's Stadium Southampton, behind-the-scenes event documentary photography

Behind the scenes on a Lenovo shoot at St Mary's Stadium in Southampton. Brand ambassador pitchside, high energy, fans in the mix - documentary commercial photography at its best. #commercialphotography #behindthescenes #southampton

A collection of camera lenses, the kind a commercial photographer might use across portrait, food, and lifestyle shoots.

Ever thought about hiring a lens instead of buying one? Sometimes it makes more sense to hire for a specific job than commit to the spend. Guide to UK lens hire services: ryanstanikk.co.uk/blog/should-you-hire-a-l... #photographytips #cameragear #lenses

Two colleagues laughing together on a sofa in an office breakout area, candid corporate photography Southampton

Candid moments are often the best ones. Two colleagues caught mid-laugh during a break at a corporate event - the kind of shot that reminds a client why they hired a photographer in the first place. #corporatephotography #businessevents #southampton

Stylish living room with burgundy tub chair, blush pink sofa, black column radiator, sculptural wooden floor lamp, oval mirror and houseplants, interior design photography

Interior portfolio photography for Leisha Norman. Bold colour pairings like burgundy and blush pink can be tricky to pull off - this room makes it look effortless. #interiorphotography #interiordesign #southampton

Bride and groom sharing a kiss seated on a grand carpeted staircase with colourful bouquet, romantic wedding photography St Audrie's Park Somerset

Some venues just do the work for you. Roxy and Luke at St Audrie's Park in Somerset - a grand staircase, a colourful bouquet, and two people very happy to be married. #weddingphotography #weddingphotographer #somersetwedding

DJ with tattoos mixing at CDJs with amber and yellow stage lighting

When the stage lighting hits just right, you don't need much else. Shot during a DJ set at a recent event - it's about picking your moment with the light. #eventphotography #djphotography #southampton

Stack of red and cream Moroccan-style embroidered floor cushions on a wooden floor with teal wall behind, homeware product photography Southampton

The right setting can do more for a product than any studio setup. These embroidered floor cushions for a homeware client - letting the textures and teal backdrop tell the story. #productphotography #homeware #commercialphotography #southampton

Roman Bridge of Cordoba, Spain, photographed in warm evening light using a smartphone

Left my Canon R5 at home for a week in Andalusia and shot everything on a smartphone instead. Curious whether you can tell the difference? Full honest comparison on the blog: https://ryanstanikk.co.uk/blog/camera-vs-phone #travelphotography #mobilephotography #photography

Tattooed woman with red hair in a red dress and purple satin gloves seated on a sofa with warm lamplight, creative themed boudoir photography Southampton

Red dress, satin gloves, warm lamplight - sometimes a session has a real cinematic feel to it. This was one of those. #boudoirphotography #southampton #portraitphotography

Crib venue exterior at night with red neon-lit cladding, crown logo and illuminated signage, commercial nightlife exterior photography

Exterior shots hit different when you time the light just right - catching that brief window when the sky isn't quite dark but the neon's already doing its thing. Crib venue, Southampton. #commercialphotography #nightphotography #hospitalityphotography

Double smash burger with melted cheese and peppers on a sesame bun on a wooden board at Barga Eastleigh, burger food photography

Smash burgers and street food at Barga in Eastleigh. This double stack was all about the contrast - crispy edges, melted cheese, peppers piled on top. Great fun shoot with a great local spot. #foodphotography #burgerphotography #southampton

Food photography shot on a short telephoto lens, showing clean composition without edge distortion

New on the blog: a plain English guide to focal lengths. Ever wonder why food photos look so clean? Lens choice matters more than you think. ryanstanikk.co.uk/blog/photography-first-s... #photographytips #lenses #foodphotography

Friends enjoying a sushi picnic on a red gingham blanket in a park, with a Co-Sushi menu laid out between them

Easiest brief I've had in a while - sushi, sunshine, and good company. Shot this for Co-Sushi and it was every bit as good as it looks. #LifestylePhotography #CommercialPhotography #Southampton

Two women chatting with drinks at a networking event with warm ambient lighting, candid corporate event photography

Networking events are as much about the atmosphere as the agenda. Capturing those candid moments between conversations is where the real story lives. #corporatephotography #businessevents #southampton

Drummer with locs playing a drum kit at Tapestry festival in a colourful vest, live music festival photography

There's something about drummers that makes them one of the most satisfying subjects to photograph. All that movement and focus, compressed into a single frame. Tapestry festival, Southampton. #MusicPhotography #LiveMusic #EventPhotography

Father and son duo outdoors with acoustic guitar, standing in long grass against a dramatic sky at golden hour, musician portrait photography Southampton

A father and son, an acoustic guitar, and a sky putting in serious effort. This is The Henrys - golden hour was very much on our side that evening. #portraitphotography #musiciansofinstagram #southampton

Japanese sashimi selection with salmon, prawns and wasabi in blue scalloped dishes in a wooden compartment box for Roppongi restaurant, food product photography

Sashimi platter from a shoot for Roppongi in Southampton - getting the presentation right with Japanese cuisine is a real pleasure. Clean backgrounds, beautiful product. #productphotography #foodphotography #southampton

Bride and groom seated together at night with warm fairy light bokeh outside the Harbour Hotel Southampton, romantic outdoor evening wedding photography

There's a moment at the end of every wedding day where it all finally settles. Nicole and Jake at the Harbour Hotel Southampton - warm fairy lights, good company, perfect. #weddingphotography #southamptonwedding #weddingphotographer

A boudoir portrait in soft studio lighting - used to illustrate a blog post about choosing a safe, professional boudoir photographer

New blog post - 10 red flags to watch out for when booking a boudoir photographer. Whether you're a model or thinking about your first shoot, it's worth knowing what to look for. Read it here: https://ryanstanikk.co.uk/blog/boudoir-red-flags #boudoirphotography #photographytips #boudoir

Fresh oysters on ice with a bottle of Tabasco sauce and red shallot vinegar dipping sauce at Soleto, seafood food photography Southampton

Fresh oysters for Soleto in Southampton. There's not much you need to do with a plate this good - just get the light right and let the subject speak for itself. #foodphotography #seafood #southampton

Cosy living room reading nook with red bookshelves, red velvet sofa, blue and white patterned cushions, ceramic table lamp and fern plant

The reading nook that actually makes you want to read. Loved photographing this Leisha Norman project - those red bookshelves are a statement. #interiorphotography #interiorstyling #commercialphotography

Farmhouse Inns pub exterior with timber cladding, grey roof, weather vane, red parasols and landscaped gardens under blue sky, commercial exterior photography

Exterior work is all about patience - you're at the mercy of the sky. This Farmhouse Inns shoot was one of those days where everything just fell into place. #exteriorphotography #commercialphotography #hospitality

Speaker presenting with microphone and gesturing to audience at City Networking event at Showcase Cinemas Deluxe Southampton

Covering the City Networking Showcase at Showcase Cinemas Deluxe in Southampton - great energy in the room, which always makes for better shots. Got an event coming up? Drop me a message. #corporatephotography #eventphotography #southampton

Bride and groom portrait at golden hour with red bouquet, outdoor couple wedding photography

Golden hour portraits are one of those things that never get old. That warm backlight, the soft shadows - it just works. From a wedding last summer. #weddingphotography #goldenhour #portraitphotography #southampton

Pappardelle pasta with slow-cooked ragu and parmesan being twirled on a fork at Figurati Italian restaurant Southampton, food photography

New on the blog: a behind-the-scenes look at what actually happens during a restaurant photo shoot. From prep to final delivery, here's what to expect. ryanstanikk.co.uk/blog/what-to-expect-from-a-restaurant-photo-shoot #foodphotography #restaurantphotography #commercialphotography

Musician seated cross-legged playing harmonium and singing at Tapestry festival Southampton

Caught this at Tapestry festival in Southampton - a musician sat cross-legged on the grass, playing harmonium and singing. People just drifted over and sat down to listen. #musicphotography #festivalphotography #southampton

Hands arranging straw fedora hats on a display table with woven tote bags and block-print wash bags at Aspiga Kings Road London, retail lifestyle photography

Retail lifestyle shoot for Aspiga at their Kings Road store in London. Styling, product and people all in one frame - these jobs are always a good challenge. #lifestylephotography #retailphotography #commercialphotography