Edinburgh-based Editorial, Corporate & Commercial Photographer
Producing narrative and portrait photography for agencies, publications and brands across the UK
Commercial Narrative Photography
is an exercise in precision and patience. Creating a genuine connection in a contrived environment is no easy task. Sometimes you need to give a lot of direction, other times you need to wait for a moment to open up.
Knowing what to do when comes down to experience.
Commissions
Selected commissions for agencies, publications and organisations across editorial, corporate and commercial photography.
Work delivered for global brands, public bodies and leading international publications.
Edinburgh based commercial photographer Jo Hanley produces portrait and narrative collections and campaigns for editorial, corporate and commercial clients across the UK and beyond.
(A larger selection of galleries is available on the desktop version of this site)
Edinburgh based commercial photographer Jo Hanley produces portrait and narrative collections and campaigns for
advertising, editorial and corporate clients across the UK and beyond.
Editorial portraiture and commissioned assignments for publication.
Work focused on people, character and context — delivered across the UK from the Edinburgh base.
Corporate headshot and narrative photography covering leadership, teams and working environments.
Built for brand, recruitment and communications — commissioned UK-wide from the base in Edinburgh.
Commercial photography designed for use across campaigns and communications.
Environmental and studio-based imagery produced across the UK.
Selected Projects
Selected projects commissioned by global clients.
Delivered for agencies, publications and brands across international markets.
Approach
Approach, process and experience behind the work — from planning through delivery.
UK-wide commissions for agencies, publications and organisations, from the base in Edinburgh
Editorial, corporate and commercial photography delivered on commission.
Focused on people, portraiture and narrative work, produced on location.
Editorial
Editorial photography for publications, agencies and editorial-led campaigns, focused on people, portraiture and narrative context.
Work is produced on assignment or commission, often under time constraints, and shaped to suit publication requirements, tone and use.
Corporate
Corporate photography covering leadership, teams and working environments for organisations that need credibility and consistency.
The work supports brand, recruitment and communications use, delivered on location and designed to integrate into existing schedules and workflows.
Commercial
Commercial photography for campaigns, people-led creative briefs and brand communications.
Assignments are produced on location for agencies and brands, with an emphasis on humanity, narrative, adaptability and imagery that performs across multiple uses.
A clear, proportionate process underpins every commission — from initial planning through delivery. Designed to integrate into real schedules and working environments, without unnecessary friction.
Pre_Production
Each commission begins with understanding context — how the photography will be used, who it’s for, and the constraints around time, access and environment.
Planning is kept proportionate to the brief, focusing on clarity and decision-making rather than unnecessary complexity.
This stage ensures the work is aligned before a camera is raised.
Production
Photography is delivered on location, working around existing schedules and conditions.
Direction is adapted to the subject — sometimes clear and direct, other times observational — with an emphasis on efficiency and ease for people who are not professional sitters.
The approach is calm, unobtrusive and responsive, allowing genuine moments to surface without disruption.
Post_production
Editing and delivery are handled with consistency and restraint.
Images are finished to suit their intended use, whether editorial, corporate or commercial, and supplied ready for deployment across communications and campaigns.
The aim is longevity — photography that remains usable and relevant beyond a single release.
Approach in Practice
The work adapts to the brief rather than a fixed visual formula.
Depending on context, this may involve observational photography, lightly directed portraiture or more structured campaign-led work.
The emphasis remains consistent: clarity, credibility and images that can be used confidently across editorial, corporate and commercial contexts.
Jo Hanley is an Edinburgh-based editorial, corporate and commercial photographer specialising in portraiture, narrative and campaign work for agencies, publications and organisations across the UK and internationally. Combining technical precision with creative insight, Jo delivers photography that integrates seamlessly into client communications and editorial strategies, supporting leadership, brand and marketing initiatives on location.
LinkedIn
Selected commissions for agencies, publications and organisations across editorial, corporate and commercial photography. Selected clients include:
Amazon · Apple · Google · BT Group · NHS · Comic Relief · JPMorgan Chase & Co · Lloyds Banking Group · PwC · NatWest Group · Whyte & Mackay · Grant’s · Pernod Ricard · OurWhisky Foundation · Sony · Twitch · Polydor Records · Rolling Stone · The Wall Street Journal · Financial Times · The New York Times · The Sunday Times Magazine · Qantas · British Airways · Boeing · Toyota · Bentley · World Health Organisation · Getty · BP · Nike · Scottish Rugby · Runner’s World · Everllence
Work delivered for global brands, public bodies and leading international publications.
Projects are commissioned UK-wide, with regular production in London, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
I don’t care for perfection. Perfection is forgettable, it’s comfortable and it’s generic. Give me imperfection, give me flaws and insecurity. Give me we don’t have a lot of time and I really hate having my photo taken. Give me bad weather, lost wardrobe and missing flights, hissy fits and fading light.
I’ll give you confidence. I’ll give you results. I’ll give you a chuckle at the ridiculousness of it all. I’ll give you 15 years of experience in 5 minutes of your time. I will give you moments of sincerity that will make you realise, perfection isn’t what you were really after, after all.
Contact
Much of our work is protected by client confidentiality or privilege.
To learn more about my experience and what I can do for you, get in touch.
Email:
