Award nominated photographer

Exciting News: I’ve Been Nominated in the Alternative Business Awards!

I’m thrilled to share that I’ve been nominated for a Content Catalyst in the Alternative Business Awards here in Leicester, in recognition of my work in headshot and event photography from the Big Difference.

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working with so many incredible professionals and organisations, capturing the moments and portraits that tell their stories. Being recognised for this work—especially by a creative community I admire so much—is a real honour.

Whether it’s a powerful headshot or the energy of a live event, my goal has always been to deliver images that feel authentic, professional, and impactful. This nomination is a lovely reminder of why I do what I do.

Thank you to everyone who’s supported me on this journey—clients, colleagues, and fellow creatives alike. Fingers crossed for the results!

I’m actually shooting the awards on 11th June, so stay tuned!

East Midlands Chamber of Commerce, Celebration of Culture event

Capturing the Vibrance of the East Midlands Chamber of Commerce Event

I recently had the pleasure of photographing an unforgettable event hosted by the East Midlands Chamber of Commerce. As a professional event photographer, it's always exciting to cover events that bring together business professionals, incredible entertainment, and a strong sense of community — and this event delivered on all fronts.

Held in a lively and welcoming atmosphere, the evening was a true celebration of culture and connection. One of the highlights was the incredible catering by Sanjay Foods, who provided a stunning spread of authentic Indian cuisine. From aromatic curries to delicious street food favorites, the flavors were as vibrant as the visuals — a dream to photograph and a joy to witness guests enjoying.

The entertainment lineup was just as impressive, featuring a variety of talented performers, singers, musicians, and dancers who brought energy and color to the event. Every moment was filled with movement, emotion, and engagement — the kind of content that makes for powerful, eye-catching event photography.

Why Professional Event Photography Matters

Events like this showcase the value of professional event photography. High-quality images don't just document the day — they tell a story, highlight the atmosphere, and provide lasting marketing value for the hosts, vendors, and performers alike. As an experienced event photographer, I focus on capturing those key moments that reflect the energy and purpose of your event.

Whether you're planning a business gala, cultural celebration, or networking event, hiring a professional ensures your event is captured at its very best.

Looking to elevate your next event with stunning photography? Let’s connect and create something unforgettable.

Company Headshots for meet the team and about us pages

Professional Photo’s for Meet the Team & About Us web pages

Pete Martin Photographer, professional business headshots Leicester

In today's digital-first business environment, a company's online presence is often the first impression it makes on potential clients, partners, and even future employees. One of the key elements of a strong online presence is the About Us or Meet the Team page. These pages provide a unique opportunity to showcase your company's culture, professionalism, and personality. Investing in professional headshots for these sections can significantly elevate your brand image and set your business apart. Here's why:

1. Professionalism and Consistency

First and foremost, professional photography exudes professionalism. A consistent look across all team photos conveys a cohesive and polished image of your company. This uniformity reflects attention to detail and a commitment to quality, qualities that customers and clients often associate with the products or services you offer.

2. Building Trust and Connection

High-quality headshots present your team in the best light, literally and figuratively. Clear, approachable images help humanize your brand and build trust with website visitors. People like doing business with people, and putting friendly, professional faces to your company helps create an emotional connection.

3. Tailored to Your Brand Identity

A professional photographer can tailor the headshots to align with your company's brand identity. Whether your brand is sleek and corporate or relaxed and creative, a skilled photographer will ensure the style of the photos complements your business personality. This helps reinforce your overall brand message.

4. First Impressions Matter

Visitors to your website often make snap judgments within seconds. Low-quality or inconsistent images can create a negative perception, while professional headshots convey competence and credibility right from the start.

5. Saves Time and Hassle

Professional photographers come with expertise and equipment, ensuring the photo session is efficient and the final product is top-notch. This saves your team from the frustration of DIY photo attempts and ensures that everyone looks their best without the need for heavy editing.

6. Stand Out from the Competition

In a crowded market, details matter. Investing in professional headshots can give your company a competitive edge. It shows that you value presentation and are willing to invest in the finer details of your business.

In summary, professional headshots are more than just photos—they are an extension of your brand. They demonstrate professionalism, foster trust, and contribute to a positive first impression. Elevate your About Us or Meet the Team page by choosing a professional photographer and watch your company's image shine."

Contact Pete now to help get your business looking its best!

Leicester Law Firm Photographer - Business Portraits & Headshots

Leicester Law Firm Photographer - Business Portraits & Headshots

Professional company photographs taken on location

I’ve been photographing the amazing people over at Johnson Astills Solicitors for two years now. Their finance director introduced me to them as they had expressed an interest in having a branding and marketing refresh. 

Johnson Astills are based in the heart of Leicester City, in the Mattioli Woods building at the bottom of New Walk. 

My first shoot there was a full day, and we managed to get 75% of the company photographed. I then went in a few months later to capture the rest. JA have a pretty complex but brilliant website where when you click on a persons bio the image then floats above the rest of the site. I really like this design feature, but it means slightly more editing for me.. I have to remove the background from each photo. I visit JA 3-4 times a year now as they seem to be in a constant state of growth taking on new members of staff for all departments. 

Take a look at a few of the photos taken over the years

I also capture some team photos for the various departments, Family, Litigation, Crime etc

It’s fair to say we have fun on these shoots!

End Of Year Roundup Pete Martin Photography

Leicester Headshot Photographer Pete Martin 2024 roundup

Professional Corporate and Events Photographer Pete Martin - Leicester

My Best Year Yet

I'm so excited to share that this has been my best year yet as a professional photographer! I've had the opportunity to work on some amazing projects, meet some incredible people, and capture some truly unforgettable moments.

I'm grateful to all of my clients for trusting me with their photography needs. I couldn't have done it without you!

Here are a few highlights from my year:

 * Working with the brilliant people over at Miele

 * Learning more video and drone skills

 * Selling an image to the Daily Telegraph for a1yr usage

I'm so excited to see what next year brings! I can't wait to continue to grow my business and capture even more amazing moments.

Thank you for reading!

Sincerely,

Pete M

Published Leicester Photographer Pete Martin

Published Leicester Photographer Pete Martin - Art Festival Event Photography

One of my favourite jobs of the year is ArtReach’s Journeys International Festival. 

Journeys Festival International brings together artists and communities to explore big ideas and create experiences that will excite and entertain. It was first delivered in Leicester in 2013 and since then has hosted regular editions in Manchester and Portsmouth too. With this festival, we create a platform for artists from sanctuary seeking backgrounds, a showcase to share artistic talent, community cultural exchanges and incredible live events.

I’ve been photographing this event since 2021, and every one has been amazing. Such diverse performers and some absolutely moving themes. 

In October 2024 the festival returned to Leicester, so armed with my camera and a few lenses I took to the streets for a weekend of event capture. 

Over the 2 days I took 2,847 images and covered 48,000 steps! 

Here are a couple of images from the weekend. 

Here is a link to Journeys Festival. https://artreach.org.uk/journeysfestival/

On a side note, two of my images were featured in ‘Church Times’.

Church Times Article

A few days after this was published I was contacted by an editor for the Daily Telegraph. They wanted to purchase a licence to one of the images! The licence was 12 months online and 1 print use in the UK.

Telegraph Article

So I’m officially a published photographer!

Furnley House Community Champions Awards - Photo & Video

Leicestershire Photographer & videographer Interviews and Events

One part of my work I don’t often speak about is Video, or Videography.

Whilst my passion will always be photography, lots of the same principals apply to videography. Ok, the lighting kit if different, and there is audio to consider.. and the editing is completely different! 

But I enjoy it. 

A regular client, Furnley House needed some video interviews for their Leicester community champions awards night. Last year I was a finalist in the awards so couldn’t photograph the event. But I did attend the interviews and enjoyed the whole experience. 

This year Furnley House wanted a different look to the videos, last year they had vides against a plain wall with people looking into the camera. Absolutly nothing wrong with that, and those videos looked great in my opinion.

As they wanted in different, myself and Charlotte from Cross Productions chose to do an interview style video, which would mean the camera was set to one side and the person who was being interviewed was looking at Charlotte and not the camera.

But I wanted it to be even more different.

So, I set up using Furnley Houses coffee bar as a background, but threw it out of focus. I then added to accent lights to the side of the person with different coloured gels on. I kept the lights in shot and even changed the gels around half was through the day.

Everyone got mic’d up with a wireless radio mic ensuring great audio.

The recording day was a great success, here are two interviews

The following month and it was time fo rhte awards night, which I photographed. This took place at the City Rooms, a notoriously hard place to photograph as its always pretty dark in there at night and the ceilings are high not allowing for great on camera flash techniques.

Here are a few shots from the awards night.

Events and Awards Night Photographer Leicester & East Midlands

Events and Awards Night Photographer Leicester & East Midlands

The best event photography for awards nights

September should be know as event and awards night month!

I’ve been ran of my feet with events this month, and i’m going to tell you about two of them.

First being the East Midlands Chamber’s Enterprising Women’s Awards night. This was a very last minute booking for me, literally the day before. Despite having two photoshoots in the day, I said yes to the awards night. I thought it would be fun (it was!) and I might see a few people I know (i did!).

Secondly, It was off to the Hilton Park Lane in Mayfair for the Signature Awards. These are always amazing nights. I share photography duties with Damian, a London photographer. With 450+ guests it’s just too much to capture for one photographer. I arrived early with Dave the video guy, then went for a walk into Central London. Shooting the awards was fairly straight forward for me as i’ve done it for a few years now.

As with most of these events, both required a next day turn around for the edited images. EMC was done when I got home straight after the event, and the Signature Awards was done on the M1 as I was a passenger.

Same day edits!

Here are a few images from both events

When planning an awards night, the focus is on celebrating achievements and creating lasting memories. Hiring an event photographer can significantly enhance the experience and provide benefits that extend well beyond the night itself.

Capture Professional Moments
An event photographer brings expertise in capturing key moments with precision. From award presentations to candid interactions, a professional ensures that every significant event is documented beautifully. This means you won’t miss those spontaneous smiles and heartfelt congratulations.

High-Quality Images
Professional photographers use advanced equipment and techniques to produce high-quality images. These photographs will reflect the atmosphere and emotions of the evening, providing images that are sharply detailed and vibrantly colored. Such quality makes a lasting impression whether for internal reporting, social media sharing, or marketing materials.

Stress Reduction
Planning an event can be overwhelming, and the last thing you want is to worry about photography. By hiring an event photographer, you can focus on enjoying the evening with your guests while knowing that every moment is being captured professionally. This allows you to be fully present during the celebration.

Memorable Marketing Material
The images taken during your awards night can be valuable for future promotions. High-quality photographs can be used in brochures, newsletters, and social media posts, helping to enhance your brand’s image and engage your audience. They serve as a compelling visual record of your company culture and achievements.

Create Lasting Memories
Lastly, a professional photographer not only captures the event for immediate enjoyment but also provides a visual archive of your organization’s milestones. These images can be cherished for years to come, allowing everyone to relive the excitement and honor the accomplishments celebrated during the awards night.

Basically, hiring an event photographer for your awards night is an investment in quality, lasting memories, and stress relief that enhances the overall experience. It’s a decision worth considering for any event that celebrates success.

PR & Press Photographer

PR and Press Photographer East Midlands Pete Martin Photography

Leicester, Rugby, Coventry, Hinckley, Nottingham, & Birmingham PR & Press Photographer

Press shots for David Wilson Homes Bears,  Mather Jamie, & Westbridge (WBR) Group

Occasionally I get asked to cover a very short event, press style. These events are typically 15-20 mins and only a handfullof shots are delivered to the client.. edited and delivered straight after the shoot as well.

Mather Jamie needed two shots for local press about the recent New Lubbesthorpe development in Leicestershire. I popped along when the director was on a site visit, got the shots, edited and delivered in 15 mins. These photos went out on internal communications and also the local printed press.

Next up was a shot event for David Wilson Homes, and their new development near Nottingham. It was an open day for the newly finished school. I was there for around 30 mins, then had 20 images edited and delivered before I left the site.

Westbridge were a company i’d worked with before, their PR company from Nottingham asked if I could attend their event and capture a few press shots. As i[‘d worked with them before, and they offered to feed me I stayed a little longer than the 40 mins I’d scheduled.

The PR company needed the photos on Monday morning, the event was a Thursday.. I decided to take my new high powered MacBook Pro and do the edits whilst I had food when the schooling had finished. The PR company seemed quite impressed when 80 edited photos were delivered on the same night! They chose the shot to be used for the press release, but there was a problem with it. The shot was an outdoor one featuring the main team and Hoggy and his branded gazebo.. unfortunately there is a disabled sign painted on the road visible in the shot, the request was to take it out in photoshop. No problem, but when I do that kind of editing I ace a graphical pen and tablet interface or a mouse… all I had was the trackpad on the MacBook Pro! 

It was a quick and dirty edit, but looks ok! (From now on my mouse is coming everywhere with me!)

Do you need quality PR and Press style photos?

Get in touch now

Leicester, Nottingham, Coventry, Birmingham Event Photography

Leicester, Coventry, Nottingham, Birmingham Event Photographer

Furnley House Foundation & Kazzoo IT Event Photography Leicester

If there is one type of Photography job I could only do for the rest of too my life it would be Event Photography. 

I love the variation of each event, and each one is totally unique, even if it’s the same company!

Chris Cain is a good friend of mine, and he owns and runs Kazzoo IT. Chris is also an amazing fundraiser for many local charities. I’ve personally climbed Scarfell Pike and Ben Nevis with Chris over the last two years for some amazing charities. 

Kazzoo IT was turning 21 years old, so it was only right there was a party.. or summer ball more like!

The event took place at Winstanley House… there was a mirror lady, champagne reception, Kazzoo brand coloured ballon wall,  an amazing auction… and Sam Bailey serenading us at the end. 

Take a look at a few of the shots, 

Next up was the Furnley House Foundation’s summer ball. Furnley House is a truly brilliant company, B-Corp status in fact. The foundation was set up to help local charities and communities, and boy have they helped!

At their summer ball, over £30,000 was raised for the specially selected three charities. Steps, Focus & Heartwise. 

A few mentions, Charlotte Miles from Cross Productions was organising the whole event, as usual it ran faultlessly.. Absolutely contact Cross Productions for your event requirements. 

Hybrid AV did the entire sound and light system, and the place looked amazing. Check out their video wall!

Get in touch for your next event if you want great event photography

HERE ARE 5 EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS

1. Capturing Memorable Moments: We professional event photographers are highly skilled at capturing candid and precious moments, ensuring you have a collection of high-quality images to relive the event.

2. Professional Quality: We have the expertise, equipment, and editing skills to deliver professional-grade photos with optimal lighting, composition, and clarity.

3. Focus on Guests: Hiring a professional photographer allows you and your guests to fully enjoy the event without worrying about taking pictures, ensuring everyone is part of the experience.

4. Marketing and Promotion: High-quality event photos can be used for marketing and promotional materials, helping to create buzz for future events or showcase the success of your current one.

5. Comprehensive Coverage: Professional event photographers know how to cover all aspects of your event, from the venue and decor to attendees and key moments, providing a comprehensive visual record.