Introducing our new photography offering

Supporting charities with authentic photography

Photography comes up in almost every website redesign we work on at Studio Republic. It usually starts with us asking a hopeful “Have you got any lovely imagery for the new site?” which is usually met with a sheepish “…Not really.”

There are plenty of reasons why this might not have been a priority for a charity, whether it’s cost, capacity or sometimes not knowing the best place to turn . But, whatever the reason, the result is the same. Strong photography transforms a charity website. It brings personality, builds trust, and helps people connect with a cause faster than any ‘About us’ page could.

Until recently, photography wasn’t something we could offer in-house. We’d suggest a shoot or help source decent stock imagery (it does exist, promise!), but the conversation often stopped there. We knew we wanted to do more for our clients and help them bring their cause to life with captivating images. Then, serendipity struck, and an email popped into our inbox which looked to be the answer.

The email introduced us to Paul Meyler. A brilliant photographer who’s worked with some of the UK’s biggest charities. Paul’s vibrant and authentic style perfectly captures the heart of a charity’s story. Looking through Paul’s work, we knew we’d found the perfect photography partner to shape our new offering.

To introduce Paul and our new photography offering, we sat down for a Q&A so you can get to learn a bit more about the man behind the lens.

Q: Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you became a professional photographer?

A: It all started at school, finding a passion for photography whilst taking it for GCSE. My father then bought me my first camera, an Olympus OM10, and I never looked back. In those days, everything was fully manual which crafted my skill and future style. I then went on to further my education and pursued a HND in Photography, followed by a BA Hons degree in Photography at the Swansea Institute of Art & Design. I was lucky enough to go straight into becoming an Assistant Photographer at Mill Yard Studios in Luton, Bedfordshire. I assisted two renowned photographers working on many lifestyle campaigns, from shooting cars for Aston Martin to producing images for Centre Parcs’ brochures.  After five years and progressing to a Junior Photographer with Mill Yard, it was time to leave and start my solo career. I have been a freelance photographer for 20 years now and gained much experience working with agencies and brand teams, building relationships with new clients and future contacts.

Q: What draws you to working with charities, and does your approach change for these shoots?

A: At the start of my career, I worked for many Housing Associations shooting case studies for Annual Reports and then branched out to gaining new clients within the charity sector. I enjoy working with people, especially knowing that these images can help support a campaign and bring more awareness for the charity, whether that’s photographing a case study, marathon runners or capturing a fundraising event. I find it a privilege working within this sector, being able to help capture people’s personal journey and this being portrayed through the images to help support and benefit the charities. I find myself in unexpected places all over the country including the top of a helipad at St George’s Hospital for London Air Ambulance.

I do take on a different approach when shooting for charities. I often find myself photographing people who are currently going through a diagnosis, have had a life-changing diagnosis or are living with a disability. I like to have a chat with them first, build a rapport and put them at ease, rather than going straight into the photoshoot. By using this approach, I can create a series of natural shots which are a true reflection of their life and environment.

Q: Are there any particularly memorable or interesting shoots you can tell us about?

A: A recent and inspiring brief was to create a new series of library shots for the East of England Ambulance service. The project was to capture the staff at work and was shot over a period of 12 days. I spent the days travelling from station to station, getting a real insight into the amazing people who work for the ambulance service. I also find every case study I shoot really enjoyable as I get to meet someone for the first time – often at their house having a cup of tea! It is so nice to spend time with them and to hear their story while capturing insightful shots.

Q: What do you think makes photography so powerful for charities?

A: Photography within the charity sector has changed over the years. I remember being asked at early shoots to capture people having a cup of tea or reading a book. Now I’m asked to show the positive impact charities have on people’s lives. For example, I’m photographing people who are living with Parkinson’s, taking boxing classes or trekking through the New Forest.  Photography has a powerful impact, using real people rather than stock imagery is extremely beneficial as they give the images authenticity and tell a true story. The use of social media allows images to get instant exposure to help with the charity campaigns.

Q: What advice would you give to charities preparing for a photoshoot?

A: Many charities that I work for will often have storyboards and branding headlines which I find are useful to work with – there are always a few key things which are always good to know before shooting. This can be from the type of expressions to the position of the person for text to be used on front covers. Many clients want the same images in several different formats so they can be used for many purposes.  Although I have my own style of lighting, one of the most important things to truly lift an image is the colour palette and having the people wear strong, vibrant or even pastel colours can really make a difference.

Q: Lastly, I know you’re a keen swimmer, what is your best swimming memory?

A: One of my best swimming memories is swimming the English Channel as part of a relay team on 20th June 2022. I led the team out at 4am for a solid hour, then later on I had to jump in and do a final push for the team to get us over the tide so we could land on Cap Gris Nez in France. It was an amazing achievement as a team.  Over the last two years, I have supported and trained six teenagers from Watford who swam the Channel. I have also swam from Gosport to the Isle of Wight, which was one of my hardest and most challenging swims with the strong current constantly pushing you in the wrong direction and having to swim back to get back in the right direction – I managed to complete this in just under two hours!

A big thank you to Paul for sitting down with us and for joining us on this exciting new chapter into the world of photography. 

So, whether you need authentic case studies to elevate your website, high-energy event shots or documentary-style storytelling, we’d love to hear from you.