1. How did you end up working in this industry?

I got into this career because my Auntie bought me a camera for my 12th birthday. I was hooked straight away! I've worked in Photography one way or another all of my career, but setting up Prodoto in 2006 was the best move I made.

2. What does a great day at work look like for you?

A great day is a busy and buzzing studio with clients, stylists and models. All the bays full with music pumping out, coffee machine on - great vibes - love it.

3. How has your role changed in the 20 years since you started Prodoto?

When I started the studio it was a really small team and I was the only Photographer. Of course I was also running the business, securing new work and meeting with clients. As the business has grown and we have been able to bring on board Production teams, Post Production and more Photographers, I have been able to focus more on working on the business rather than in the business. But, every so often, I still like to get behind the camera.

4. What's the most memorable shoot or project you've worked on here, and why?

It's been 20 years, there are literally too many to mention! Every shoot has something about it, whether it's a fabulous set build, the sheer volume of product for a two week model shoot, or the complexity of jewellery and watch photography, I love them all.

5. Outside of work, what are you passionate about?

Sheep farming, making curries (not from the sheep), 4x4 off roading (not just chasing the sheep) and family. With two children at uni and starting their careers, life is full and always interesting!

1. How did you end up working in this industry?

I studied art at school, but ended up opening my own recording studio. This led to working with bands who needed visuals so I developed this into a small media centre, and that introduced me to TV and film work. I ended up as a freelance digital artist working with some of the world’s biggest bands, artists and brands.

2. What's one thing clients never see that you wish they could?

Photoshop layers. It can be quite surprising how much work goes into finished images and it's well known, in many cases, if you do the job right you will never know its been (so greatly) edited.

3. How has technology changed your work in the last five years?

We utilise a number of digital tools that are constantly developing, allowing us to create more ambitious projects that might not have been possible in previous years. On set equipment can now be controlled at a distance by phone or even watch, saving time and cost. Then more recently, the integration of ai tools helps reduce the time spent on processes that used to require extensive manual work.

4. What does a great day at work look like for you?

A full on team shoot where everyone's individual skills come together to make something great.

5. Outside of work, what are you passionate about?

Animals! Normally slightly unconventional ones like reptiles & insects, although having a cat will always be at the top of my list. I currently have 2 Praying Mantis, 3 Blue Death Feigning Beetles, and have just reared 5 Peacock butterflies from pupae and released them into the wild, which is an amazing feeling.

1. How did you end up working in this industry?

I did a textile degree which led me into the Bridal industry making couture wedding dresses, before realising I needed to get a proper job that paid more than pin money, literally. I then spent nearly 20 years in the retail supply chain, working with high street names like M&S, Boots and Tesco. I was the Account Manager for the jewellery team, and we supplied concession ranges of costume jewellery. Sadly, I was made redundant, but it was a blessing in disguise as I saw a Production Manager job advertised for Prodoto and the rest, as they say, is history.

2. What's one thing clients never see that you wish they could?

The dedication and effort that goes into arranging their shoots so that everything runs smoothly on the surface.

3. What does a great day at work look like for you?

A day when I can be in the studio, helping style a lifestyle shoot. It gives me the shot of creativity I need on a regular basis. Alternatively a day tidying and organising the studio so that it works as efficiently as possible. I need to work on Stacey Soloman's "Sort Your Life Out in 7 Days" really!

4. How has your role changed over the time you have worked here?

I have been at Prodoto for 10 years now, so I have seen a lot of change. Personally I have gone from managing clients directly, to a more general studio management role where I control scheduling and day to day logistics as well as new client onboarding. I also get involved in marketing, which all makes my role really interesting and varied.

5. Outside of work, what are you passionate about?

My garden, it is my happy place, although I seem to spend more time on the hard landscaping than actual gardening. I am currently converting my shed into a jewellery workshop, and am in love with my Sir David Beckham rose which was an impulse buy after seeing it at Chelsea Flower Show this year!

1. How did you end up working in this industry?

I spent 25 years as a graphic designer, working with other people’s photography and art directing shoots. After taking some time out while my kids were growing up, I wanted to get back into a creative role. During Covid, I completed a Photography degree from home, and when the Production Manager role at Prodoto came up, it felt like the perfect mix of creativity, organisation, planning, and working with clients.

2. What did you think this job would be like, versus what it actually is?

Honestly, it's pretty much exactly what I hoped it would be. I get to spend my days organising projects, making plans, crossing things off lists, and working alongside creative people. It’s a great balance of structure and creativity.

3. What's the most memorable shoot or project you've worked on here, and why?

Any shoot where my dog has been drafted in as a model! The most memorable was a bathroom flooring video where we needed him to shake water off himself in exactly the right spot on set. Unfortunately, that's not a skill dachshunds are known for. After a lot of soaking, waiting, and watching him wander off somewhere else before shaking himself dry, we eventually got the shot. I was completely drenched by the end, but it was worth it.

4. What's the strangest thing you've ever had to source or organise for a job?

Probably a pair of ultra-realistic silicone hands with fully posable fingers. We only needed them for a glove video, but sourcing them led me into the world of film prosthetics. Let's just say the website sold a lot more than hands, and some of it looked like it belonged in a horror movie rather than a photography studio.

5. Outside of work, what are you passionate about?

Dogs. I run a canine portrait photography business in my spare time, so if I’m not photographing clients’ dogs, I’m usually photographing my own - or any friendly dog I happen to meet on a walk. There’s no such thing as a bad day when dogs are involved!

1. How did you end up working in this industry?

I used to have my own studio for my creative business, which I loved, but I was craving collaboration and working within a team. I have always enjoyed photography and studied lots of creative subjects, but I also loved the project management and organisation side of things, so the production manager role was a great combination of the two!

2. What's the most complex shoot you've had to pull together, and what nearly went wrong?

I think that would be a recent shoot for Gildan. There were over 1000 garments which needed to be shot both as a flatlay, on model along with some catwalk videos too! It was really important that the stock was managed carefully to avoid any garments going missing. Once the model shoot started it became clear the client wasn't keen on the look of one of the models, so we had to quickly speak to the agency and book an alternative at a moments notice. Luckily they were able to find someone with the right look, the right size, and availability!

3. What's one thing you know now that you wish someone had told you at the start?

No matter how much planning you do, some things are out of your control and it’s just about problem solving and working together as a team to find the best solution.

4. What does a production manager actually do — explain it to someone who has no idea?

As a production manager I liaise with clients to organise their shoots. From booking their job in, to writing the brief for the team to follow, ensuring all the client’s requirements are met. I oversea each part of the shoot from when the products arrive, to them being shot and then checking and uploading the final images for the client to review. Sometimes I may be at my desk working on google docs, keeping up with emails or putting together quotes and sometimes I will be helping on set. There is a lot of plate spinning but it makes every day very different!

5. Outside of work, what are you passionate about?

I have a big passion for interior design, and I am currently renovating my own home which has definitely been a challenge, but I’ve loved the process. I also enjoy running and have recently just completed a half marathon which was such a good experience!

Graeme - Post Production Manager

1. How did you end up working in this industry?

I was working full time in a supermarket, and decided I wanted to go back to college. I picked photography at random, eventually studying at Manchester School of Art.

2. What did you think this job would be like, versus what it actually is?

I never would have guessed how much variety there would have been. Everyday there’s a different style of shoot compared to the day before.

3. What's one thing you know now that you wish someone had told you at the start?

Focus on one thing and become good at that, instead of trying to be good at everything.

4. What do you wish photographers understood better about your side of the process?

How important White Balance is.

5. Outside of work, what are you passionate about?

Trying to have an adventure, whether it’s cycling, fishing or hiking.

1. How did you end up working in this industry?

I first got into photography towards the end of school and began taking it more seriously after I enrolled in a photography course at college. It was there that I got my first experience with Photoshop, which helped take my work to the next level. Over the next ten years, I focused primarily on landscape photography and, during that time, I discovered that I enjoyed the editing process just as much as—if not more than—the photography itself.

While working as a freelance photographer, I took on my first retouching projects. These opportunities allowed me to further develop my editing skills and confirmed that retouching was something I wanted to pursue professionally.

2. What's the most memorable shoot or project you've worked on here, and why?

One of the more memorable projects for me was when we were asked to composite model images into landscape environments. My particular favourite was editing a golf scene, manipulating the light, shadows, colour balance, and details to blend everything seamlessly within the new surroundings. My favourite projects to work on are those that are technically complex, involve creative problem-solving, and allow for creative freedom.

3. Walk us through what actually happens to an image between the shoot and the client seeing it.

When I start a new job, especially a larger one, the first thing I'll typically do is create an Action to handle as much of the heavy lifting as possible. The Actions often include layering, cropping/ aligning, cut-outs, adding shadows, adjustment layers, dust and scratch removal, masking, etc. Once the Action is created, I will batch it across all the images in the job, then finish with quality checks, clean-up, and colour matching. The images are then exported to the client's specifications.

4. What's one thing you know now that you wish someone had told you at the start?

I learnt about frequency separation about a year after I started, and it's by far the most valuable technique I know—one that I use every single day. The real game changer for me was learning how to use the high-frequency layer in tandem with the low-frequency layer as this made images that previously would have been very difficult and time-consuming to edit, so much easier to fix.

5. Outside of work, what are you passionate about?

If I'm not climbing, you'll probably find me on the dartboard, watching YouTube, walking in the Yorkshire Dales and finding the nearest beer garden.

1. How did you end up working in this industry?

I was introduced to photography in sixth form when they started offering A level photography. I was in upper six, so I could only do the AS level, but it was enough for me to know that I'd like to keep doing it. I went on to do a foundation course at Leeds College of Art and Design and then a photography degree there. While I was doing my degree I did some work experience at Prodoto as a friend already worked there. I finished my degree in 2010, and did my summer job until the end of the season, then started working at Prodoto the next day!

2. What does a great day at work look like for you?

There are two really. One would be doing roomsets, I love how hands on it is and you can bounce ideas around with everyone involved. It's great to see how the photograph evolves through the process of lighting and styling. The other would be a mannequin day. T-shirts ideally! I can get my headphones in and just crack on. I enjoy listening to books while I'm working as I don't have time to read anymore with three children.

3. What's in your kit that you couldn't live without — and it doesn't have to be a camera?

My fill board! And a clean tidy desk. If I've been off and someone else has been working in my bay I always give my desk a tidy up and a clean before I can get going.

4. How has your role changed in the time you have been here?

Well I started in goods in and as a photographer's assistant, so I was mainly preparing the stock and making sure things were ready to be handed over to the photographer to be shot. If a photographer needed help for the day I would assist them, and that's were I learnt the majority of what I know now. Then I became a photographer here in 2013 when a position opened up, and I haven't looked back.

5. Outside of work, what are you passionate about?

I'm a mum of three, who keep me very busy. I spend most of my time outside of work taking them to their variety of clubs, including football matches and dance competitions. My passion is what my children are passionate about!

1. How did you end up working in this industry?

I always loved art at school, which led me to art college where I specialised in photography, and from there, I went on to do a photography degree. I worked in a family portrait studio as my first photography job, and as much as I loved working with so many different families (including some very unusual pets) it got to a point where I needed a new challenge, and that's when I joined Prodoto.

2. What's one thing clients never see that you wish they could?

I wish they'd see how long it took to style a hood up on a mannequin shot.

3. What does a great day at work look like for you?

I love people, so for me, a model shoot with a couple of models, a makeup artist, a stylist and a client or two is perfect, as I get to meet so many different people all while doing my job!

4. What's the shot you're most proud of, and what made it difficult to get?

There's been some really creative and well styled shoots that I've done for Bradshaw Taylor over the years. We shoot at their head office in the midlands, so I'm the only person there from Prodoto. I've only got the kit on me that I've taken, so when we try and create a different lighting style than usual, it's a real thinking on the spot challenge!

5. Outside of work, what are you passionate about?

I love hiking, especially in the lake district, and I love having my camera on me for when there's a beautiful view from the top! I'm also very passionate (obsessed) about my cat Mango, a handful to say the least, but the absolute love of mine and my husband's lives.

1. How did you end up working in this industry?

I have always had an interest in media and photography from a young age, I used to love making home movies on an old Sony handy-cam. I would spend hours bossing everyone around telling them what their character would be and what they HAVE to do, so media was something that I always chose to study throughout high school and college. I then started leaning more into photography, so went on to university to study fashion photography, and here I am now.

2. What did you think this job would be like, versus what it actually is?

Before working here, I thought this job would be a lot more intimidating, as it is my first job in the industry. I was very nervous to start working in a professional studio environment. However, now that I work here, I've realised that there is no reason to feel worried, because you get to spend your days creating cool imagery and working with fun creative people. You realise that everyone is just human, and through that you meet loads of wonderful people from all different kinds of backgrounds.

3. What's in your kit that you couldn't live without — and it doesn't have to be a camera?

Fruit teacakes and a reliable tether cable.

4. What's the shot you're most proud of, and what made it difficult to get?

One of the shots I am most proud of was probably one of the long exposure shots that I captured on my recent model shoot with OMM. The shoot was for their new running shoes, so consisted of covering the models in mud and having them run across the set. We used lighting trails in camera to create a motion effect in the images. There were many technical challenges as we wanted the models to look in motion, but they needed to be still for a duration to make sure that the image was sharp. Luckily everyone worked together perfectly and we were able to create some cool images with the light trails in camera, saving post production some editing time!

5. Outside of work, what are you passionate about?

I spend a lot of time doing aerial arts, hanging upside down and clinging onto random apparatus, LOL. However, this obviously builds up an appetite, so I also like to go out and try different foods and then try and recreate those flavours in my kitchen at home.

1. How did you end up working in this industry?

My mum owned a cafe in Mytholmroyd and Will’s father-in-law came in, and they got chatting. I’d recently been made redundant, and she told him my situation and that I was interested in photography. He said his son-in-law had a photography studio, and he’d see if I could pop up and have a chat with Will to see if he had any work. I did pop up and have been here now for 16 years.

2. How has your role changed since you started at Prodoto?

When I started, I was in goods in so would just help when the other set builder needed a hand. Now I’m in charge of the Set Build department.

3. What's the most ambitious set you've built, and how did you approach it?

The most ambitious set I’ve built is the woodland set for Mamas & Papas. It had a log cabin, a stream, a bridge, a load of real trees that we had to make stand up and a lot of fake snow. We started by mapping out where we needed the log cabin to be, then grew the woodland from there.

4. How has technology changed your work in the last five years?

MDF, nearly everything is made from it. People are shocked when you say it’s just made from MDF.

5. Outside of work, what are you passionate about?

Family and Leeds United.

1. How did you end up working in this industry?

After 16 years as an entertainment manager in the world of cruising, I landed a role, (on land), managing commercial photographic studios.

2. What's one thing you know now that you wish someone had told you at the start?

All can change at a moments notice.

3. What does a typical week look like — and is there such a thing as a typical week?

Every day is different with various articles of clothing arriving for photography, along with toys, carpets and crockery. It all comes in different shapes and sizes.

4. What's the logistics challenge that still makes you slightly anxious to think about?

At the last minute, a client requests their samples be returned immediately. We will always drop everything and do our best to accommodate them, sometimes that even means driving to the nearest courier depot because we have missed the last pick-up.

5. Outside of work, what are you passionate about?

Music is my go-to, and I don't go a day without being creative on the keyboards.

1. How did you end up working in this industry?

By chance really. I spent 30 years in construction & surveying, commuting all over the north of England & Scotland in my previous role. A couple of years ago I decided for a change I'd like to work locally and spend more time at home, and luckily Prodoto were advertising and I've been here since. Even better, my commute is now 4 minutes, which is bliss!!!

2. What did you think this job would be like, versus what it actually is?

I was looking for a change, but thought it might be a little repetitive. Actually, no two days are the same for the most part.

3. What's one thing clients never see that you wish they could?

Since joining the company in Goods In, I've had the chance to split my time between that and set build, where I assist with the builds and undertake a lot of the painting when needed. Many of the sets probably have upwards of 100-200 person hours behind them, but the client just gets to see the lovely finished article, not all the hard work that went in!

4. What's the logistics challenge that still makes you slightly anxious to think about?

Preparing 220 extremely fabulous prom dresses, they really did take some steaming to get them looking their best after they'd been cooped up in garment bags.

5. Outside of work, what are you passionate about?

Family life is my main priority, with teenagers and elderly parents to look after. Whenever we have chance we just like to get out in nature, which we are fortunate to be surrounded by, for a good few hours hiking, making sure there is always a pub at the end!