About Simon Donnelly Photographer Birmingham

My career began in Birmingham, England, working alongside my father at Donnelly Burns Davies, one of the Midlands leading advertising and design agencies. As the company evolved into Donnelly Burns Nicklin, it expanded into specialist studios for fashion, interiors and high-end automotive photography, producing campaigns for prestigious clients including Bentley and Jaguar. simon donnelly photographer birmingham

Surrounded by commercial photographers, designers and retouchers, I tried to learn every aspect of studio photography. One day we could be photographing boilers or crossbows, the next rock bands, luxury cars with wild animals or complete room sets. It was an incredible creative environment.

Shooting the iconic Jaguar XJS commercial required navigating the intense logistical challenge of working with a live, unpredictable apex predator. To ensure the safety of the crew, the entire shoot had to be conducted looking through the bars of a protective security cage alongside a professional animal trainer, who carefully guided the jaguar onto the car's gloss-black hood. Despite the trainer's close supervision, the powerful cat instinctively dug in and tore the emblem directly off the bonnet with its razor-sharp claws.

Printed multi-image promotional brochure displaying product photography, portraiture, and commercial campaign highlights from a professional photographer in Birmingham.

Retro commercial advertising photography by a Birmingham photographer featuring a real jaguar big cat lying on the bonnet of a black vintage Jaguar XJS luxury car against a fiery sunset sky.

Long before Photoshop, we were experimenting with complex post-production techniques. The studio pioneered striking neon-style effects by combining multiple 10×8 E6 transparencies to create glowing, Tron-inspired lighting around products and models. Those painstaking analogue skills became the perfect foundation for the digital and AI workflows I use today.

Terence Donovan was in Birmingham to direct a television commercial for Kellogg's at Videoscope Studios in Harborne. Needing a stills photographer and fast processing, he enlisted the services of Donnelly Burns Davis, a studio located next door.

From Darkrooms to Fashion Editorials

I honed my craft in film photography and traditional darkroom processes in the late 80's, learning from skilled technicians — including time spent assisting one of my fathers associates the legendary fashion photographer Sir Terrence Donavan. His gritty black-and-white style and urban portraiture left a lasting impression on my own visual approach. I shot on 35mm film with Ilford FP4, HP5, processed by pushing two stops, and printed on fibre-based paper with gold or selenium toning, a labour intensive process that taught me precision and patience.

Building My Own Career

After assisting established photographers, I began producing my own fashion and model portfolios for the London editorial market, building a body of work that led to magazine publications and commercial commissions.

Printed press clipping overview detailing the early career milestones and industry associations of a commercial and advertising photographer based in Birmingham.

High-end commercial fashion campaign portrait capturing a cinematic close-up of a model couple, shot by an advertising photographer based in Birmingham.

I later became a guest speaker on the Kodak Pro Roadshow, teaching darkroom printing and studio lighting across the UK, while exhibiting with the Association of Fashion and Editorial Photographers in London. Those exhibitions opened doors to commercial assignments in Paris and the UAE.

Editorial fashion magazine tear sheet by a Birmingham photographer featuring a model in a luxury long navy blue velvet patterned coat dress with Arabic text typography.

Editorial fashion magazine tear sheet by a Birmingham photographer featuring a model in a patterned dress, striped cardigan, and holding a small handbag against a bright white background.

A Turning Point In 2001

I was in New York visiting agencies when the events of 9/11 unfolded. Returning to Ground Zero a few days later to photograph the aftermath became one of the most powerful experiences of my career.

Those images, shot on Ilford FP4 and printed by hand, were the last photographs I made on film. From that point forward I embraced digital photography, exchanging chemicals and darkrooms for Photoshop and, more recently, AI-powered creativity.

Documentary photojournalism by a Birmingham photographer showing a lone silhouette of a responder standing before the structural wreckage of the World Trade Center at Ground Zero.

International Projects

My work has taken me around the world, from photographing Oprah Winfrey in New York to documenting the Rally to Read literacy programme across rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Storytelling editorial photograph capturing real-world community impact, vibrant emotion, and corporate sponsor branding, shot on location by a Birmingham commercial photographer.

Capturing children receiving their first books, dedicated teachers and remote communities reminded me of photography's ability to tell meaningful stories.

Candid editorial portrait photography capturing school students in uniform engaged with reading materials, shot on location by a Birmingham commercial photographer.

Those images became part of national educational campaigns promoting literacy across South Africa.

Humanitarian documentary photography by a Birmingham photographer capturing a group of local women jumping and cheering on a dirt path in a rural hillside landscape.

Now after a five year stint at Fort Dunlop, I'm freelancing back in the Birmingham area, working with a wide range of clients from global brands to local businesses and creative individuals.

Work With Me

Let’s Bring Your Vision to Life

If you have a creative concept, a visual marketing goal, or just an idea you want to turn into something powerful, I’m here to help.

In today’s digital-first world, high-quality photography is essential to capturing attention, building your brand, and standing out online.

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Professional Commercial Photographer about simon donnelly photographer Birmingham

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