Multi-Location Rebrand Photography for Softwire

When a premier technology consultancy undergoes a major rebrand and website relaunch, every visual asset needs to align perfectly with their new identity. So, when Softwire reached out to plan an overhaul of their team imagery, they needed a photography partner who could match their scale without adding a mountain of administrative work to their plate.

You might not immediately recognise the name Softwire, but there’s a very high chance you’re familiar with their work. As an elite independent technology consultancy, Softwire is the engineering powerhouse behind some of the UK’s most critical digital infrastructure.

From building and scaling the UK’s national voter registration service for the government to managing  data feeds that safeguard billions in rail pensions, they specialise in solving massive, complex technical challenges for household names. When a company whose entire business is built on flawless digital delivery decides to launch a brand-new website, the pressure is on. Every single detail has to be sharp, modern, and perfectly executed—including their team photography.

The brief was ambitious: deliver cohesive staff headshots and a library of authentic corporate lifestyle imagery across three locations—their London head office, Manchester, and Cambridge—all while maintaining visual consistency and delivering in time for their website launch.

Managing a photography project for over 300 people across multiple cities can quickly become a logistical nightmare for internal marketing or HR teams. Softwire needed a seamless execution that wouldn’t interrupt daily operations or drain internal resources. Furthermore, because these images were destined for a brand-new website launch, visual consistency was non-negotiable. Whether a team member was photographed in Cambridge, Manchester or London, the lighting, crop, and overall feel had to be identical to ensure a unified brand presence online.

With Donna managing the scheduling, logistics, and communications, we mapped out a multi-day shoot across the UK. To ensure no one was left out due to annual leave or client meetings, we remained completely flexible. London actually required three separate visits to catch every last team member!

Alongside the staff headshots, James captured a comprehensive library of corporate lifestyle images at each site. We captured natural interactions, collaborative meetings, and the genuine energy of Softwire’s culture to populate their new website and recruitment materials.

We knew the marketing team needed ultimate flexibility for their new layout. Alongside providing fully retouched headshots on a standard background delivered directly to each team member, we also provided the entire catalog as transparent PNG files to the marketing team. This allowed Softwire’s web designers to quickly lay the portraits into custom gradient cards across their new site.

To eliminate any administrative headaches for the Softwire team, we utilised our instant delivery workflow. Each individual photographed was instantly emailed a link to their own private gallery after their session, allowing employees to select their favorite shot for retouching in their own time. The final, polished files were delivered directly to the team members, while the marketing team received the transparent files ready for the site. The result was a true “zero admin” workflow with absolutely no back-and-forth emails or spreadsheet coordination required by the client.

What the Client Said

“Couldn’t recommend this team highly enough. From start to finish, the whole experience was brilliant.

Donna handled all the logistics and was an absolute star – she was so patient with my 100 questions and she explained everything thoroughly, so we knew exactly what to expect on the day.

James was our photographer and he was equally fantastic. He’s incredibly friendly and has a real knack for putting people at ease in front of the camera, which made a huge difference, especially for those who were a bit nervous about being photographed.

The headshots themselves came out brilliantly, and we’re absolutely thrilled with the results – which were delivered nice and promptly. A genuinely great experience all round. Would recommend them to anyone.”

– Softwire Marketing Team