Pureseoul Leicester Store Opening Photography at Highcross Shopping Centre
Yesterday I had the opportunity to photograph the brand-new Pureseoul store opening inside Highcross Leicester — a fast-paced retail launch that blended brand photography, influencer marketing content and live social media storytelling.
Retail interior photography
Interestingly, the team discovered my work through LinkedIn and a previous blog post I created for Miele, which once again shows the long-term value of SEO-driven content and strong commercial photography portfolios.
The first part of the shoot focused on capturing the store before opening. Empty retail spaces are important to photograph properly because they showcase the interior design, branding, product layout and customer experience exactly as intended before the public arrives. These images are ideal for press releases, future marketing campaigns, investor communications and website content.
As the morning progressed, a group of influencers arrived for early access ahead of the public launch. The atmosphere shifted quickly from calm retail photography to energetic lifestyle content creation. Influencers were filming Instagram Reels, TikToks and behind-the-scenes social media content while interacting with products throughout the store.
Content creators filming Instagram Reels and TikTok videos inside Pureseoul Leicester
My role was to document those authentic moments naturally — capturing reactions, conversations, product testing and branded interactions without interrupting the content creation process. Modern retail launches are no longer just about ribbon-cutting ceremonies; they are designed around social-first marketing, influencer engagement and real-time audience interaction.
Today I’m back at the store as it officially opens to the public at 11am, covering the customer launch experience, crowd interaction and overall atmosphere as shoppers experience Pureseoul Leicester for the very first time.
Why Professional Photography Matters for Retail Store Openings
Retail launches move quickly, and businesses only get one chance to capture the excitement of opening day. Professional event photography helps brands create:
Website and SEO content
Press and PR imagery
Social media marketing assets
Influencer collaboration content
Future advertising material
Customer engagement visuals
Brand storytelling content
For brands investing heavily into retail experiences, having high-quality imagery from launch day becomes an essential marketing asset long after the event itself has finished.
Influencer Marketing and Retail Photography
One of the biggest changes in commercial photography over the last few years has been the rise of influencer-led retail events. Brands now build launches around creators producing live content for Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, often generating thousands of views before stores officially open.
Photographing these events requires a documentary-style approach — balancing candid moments, branded composition and fast-moving social interactions while staying invisible enough for creators to work naturally on camera.
This style of coverage is becoming increasingly important for shopping centres, retail brands, beauty companies and experiential marketing agencies looking to maximise online visibility around launch events.
Event Photography for Leicester Businesses
As a Leicester corporate and event photographer, I regularly work with brands, agencies and businesses creating imagery for websites, marketing campaigns, PR and social media.
From retail launches and corporate events to commercial headshots and branding photography, the goal is always the same: creating professional imagery that reflects the quality of the business behind it.
If your current imagery doesn’t reflect the standard of your brand, it may be time to update it.
Content creators filming Instagram Reels and TikTok videos inside Pureseoul Leicester
