About Simon Donnelly Photographer Birmingham
Commercial Photography
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 learned every aspect of studio photography. One day I could be photographing boilers or crossbows, the next rock bands, luxury cars or complete room sets. It was an incredible creative environment.
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.
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.
A Turning PointIn 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.
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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.
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.
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Those images became part of national educational campaigns promoting literacy across South Africa.
Now after a 5 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. Whether it's a product shoot, fashion campaign, event photography, ai fashion models or a digital art concept, I bring experience, creativity, and technical excellence to every project.
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.
Capturing children receiving their first books, dedicated teachers and remote communities reminded me photography's ability to tell meaningful stories.