News - Michael Wharley Portrait & Advertising Photographer | Michael Wharley Portrait & Advertising Photographer

Latest news

Sparks Fly in Autistic-Led Drama Campaign

Going behind the scenes on the large-scale production of my imagery shot for groundbreaking drama A Kind of Spark, that both centres neurodivergence & is led by neurodivergent teams.

Moor Passion: shooting Emma Mackey as Emily

Scaling wuthering Yorkshire heights to capture poster imagery of Emma Mackey in Emily, Frances O' Connor's feature debut about the 'strange' Brontë, out now from Warner Brothers.

Fry Up! Jim Broadbent strides into new poster campaign

My campaign featuring an adventuring Jim Broadbent & stoic Penelope Wilton hits the streets & screens, shot with Creative Partnership for eOne & Embankment.

Footballer Sean Clare’s changing face in Portrait of Britain

My portrait of Charlton Athletic footballer Sean Clare, shot hours before a life changing operation is selected for Portrait of Britain 2022.

Gold…GOLD! Classical Beats Wins at the AOP Awards

Portraits from my 'Classical Beats on Brixton Streets: the Brixton Chamber Orchestra' project won Gold in the Documentary Category at the AOP Awards, in a night packed with stunning imagery and a whole lot of people!

Unfortunate suckers the competition!

My tentacled tcampaign for Unfortunate wins the Advertising category at The Spotlight Awards

Photographer WITH portfolio

Toting a standout new book to meetings in autumn 2022 courtesy of the team at Delta Design Studio.

Call Their Agent! Feuding David & Jessica Oyelowo shot for Ten Per Cent

Shooting the Hollywood power couple David & Jessica Oyelowo as bickering versions of themselves in the film franchise they 'star' in for the British Call My Agent remake.

Charlie Brooker for Netflix, featured in The Guardian

Portraits of the Black Mirror & Screenwipe writer shot for Netflix to accompany the release of interactive homage-to-Tex-Avery animation Cat Burglar.

Gugu in Grazia

Moody portraits of The Girl Before star Gugu Mbatha Raw hit Grazia's first ever digital cover

‘Classical Beats’ a Finalist at AOP Awards 2022

It's the photography BAFTAs/Oscars: a series of 5 of my portraits from the 'Classical Beats on Brixton Streets: the Brixton Chamber Orchestra' project selected as a Finalist in the Documentary Category of the AOP Awards 2022.

Oh Mr Wickham!

My painterly portrait of Pride & Prejudice actor actor Adrian Lukis selected for BJP Portrait of Britain 2021.

Into the Night – Remembering the Penlee Lifeboat Tragedy 40 years on

A 'slow' photography approach for portraits to accompany ‘Into the Night: The Story of the Penlee Lifeboat’, the Original Theatre production commemorating those lost & the Cornish community left behind.

Doctor Who’s Who: Close Encounters in the Whovian Multiverse

Doctor Who's Who: Daleks, Cybermen, Ood Assassins, Leonardo da Vinci & Elizabeth I shot for the time-bending, immersive world of Doctor Who: Time Fracture.

The Street Orchestra Bringing Classical Beats to Brixton

Exhibition: my portrait series showcasing the diverse young musicians of Brixton Chamber Orchestra, while celebrating Brixton's history & present, is released with a bang. Updated April '22: The series is a Finalist in the Documentary Category at The AOP Awards 2022.

Hurray for Hollywood: Portraits of the Bake Off star as he goes on tour.

Shooting portraits of the celebrity baker as he prepares to go out on a 'Baking Bonanza' tour across the UK, but sadly not a crumb of cake in sight...

Neil Maskell chills in brutal, subversive revenge thriller BULL.

Shooting Neil Maskell as the revenging Bull in Paul Andrew William's brutal & subversive new thriller, released by Signature and debuting at the BFI London Film Festival in the 'Thrill' theme.

All the Feels: photos with heart put & Juliet back in the West End

A new photo campaign for smash hit musical & Juliet, focuses on finding the feelings to entice theatre fans back for the West End reopening.

Dramatic Spy Portraits in Lürzers 200 Best Advertising Photographers

My dramatic portraits of the actor Stephen Boxer as traitor Kim Philby in A Splinter of Ice, selected for Lürzers 200 Best Ad Photographers 2021-22!

Stills in Motion: illuminating singer-songwriter Fantastic Mr Marcel

Using brilliant colours & tight shafts of light across both stills & motion portraiture to tell the story of musician Fantastic Mr Marcel in 3 different ways.

First Look: Sex Education’s Emma Mackey in Emily

Scaling Wuthering Heights to capture imagery of a stunning location & cast for Frances O' Connor's feature debut about young Emily Brontë.

I, Spy: creating Kim Philby on camera with Graham Greene.

Author meets traitor shooting atmospheric portraits of The Crown's Stephen Boxer & Star Wars' Olivier Ford Davies as retired Cold War spies with a shared history.

Creative Fusions…

Exploring the spaces between artist & art in a playful personal project pitting creatives against their creations to seek the sparks of inspiration.

A Barnes-storming start to 2021…

Kicking off the year making a mess with 'behind the scenes' images for OTC's online production of Peter Barnes' People, captured over 4 socially-distanced shoots.

New Year, New Me. A fresh brand. A brand spanking new website.

Taking a look at the process of rebranding the business & redesigning my website, working Aitch Creative and SugarZoo.

Fly us to the Moon: a perilous space journey with the Apollo 13 crew.

Blasting off on a mission with ace creative retoucher Vahakn Vorperian to capture striking images for streaming show Apollo 13: Dark Side of the Moon.

‘These Four Walls’ AOP Exhibit

Portrait of Britain Winner: Alice Krige aka The Borg Queen

Celebrating a win in the BJP's prestigious Portrait of Britain award, the UK's largest photo exhibition, for a portrait of the brilliant actor Alice Krige.

The Doctor in the House

Forcing my teenage sci-fi fanboy self to breathe deeply, shooting none other than The Doctor for exciting immersive show Doctor Who: Time Fracture

On the BBC – The Photo That Made Me…

Grave News: In a Green Shade with Lev Parikian

My 'In a Green Shade: The English & Nature' green portrait project opens by meeting nature writer Lev Parikian in West Norwood Cemetery.

How to build a Film Poster: Summerland campaign reopens UK Cinemas

Behind the Scenes: building pont d’Amelie

Talking Advertising Photography for Theatre

Joining the Kings Head Theatre #KHT Online Lunchtime Session to discuss how teamwork makes a great promo campaign.

My, my, my my, Corona: a lockdown photo journal

BIPP Photographer of the Year 2018!

BTS: Free Flow Fro: A Natural Hair Project shoot day

Going behind the scenes on a shoot day for 'Free Flow 'Fro: A Natural Hair Project,' a photo series celebrating natural hair in all its nuance and diversity and hoping to promote change in the acting industry through the power of positive representation.

BTS: shooting & Juliet

Going behind the scenes on the advertising photoshoot to create the poster for the exciting new Max Martin musical '& Juliet' starring Miriam-Teak Lee.

Call for subjects: ‘In a Green Shade’: The English & Nature.

Spotlight on…well, me!

A rare moment out from behind the camera, talking life, work & the switch to Phase One digital medium format with Teamwork.

Sent to The Wall…

Hanging about shooting dramatic new press & poster imagery for ice climbing thriller Touching the Void, based on Joe Simpson's book and film, from Warhorse director Tom Morris, & Fiery Angel

Mindful Mum’s the word…

Seeking moments of mindful zen amid a gaggle of under 15s on a location shoot with comedian Olivia Lee and Decca Records...

It’s all a blur…

Using creative motion blur and gels to step inside the tortured mind of Sergei Rachmaninoff, for musical 'Preludes.'

Behind the Scenes video: this Sleeping Beauty is wide awake…

Our Lady Who Art in Stratford East..

Enjoying a visitation from the Our Lady of Kibeho team, attempting to work miracles on a new poster for the Rwanda-set play exploring faith and doubt...

You used to be my Romeo.. cast portraits for & Juliet

Portraits of stunning cast of new Max Martin musical '& Juliet', opening in Manchester &coming to London soon, in beautiful costumes by designer Paloma Young.

& Juliet poster wins big at WhatsonStage Awards

Celebrating a night when the new Max Martin West End hit won six awards, including one special to my heart: best graphic design.

Free Flow ‘Fro – Natural Hair Project Mini Exhibit

Sharing images from my Natural Hair Project; portraits that celebrate afro-textured hair in all its nuance and variety, a mini-exhibit as part of Make Space Open Studios 2019, 3rd-6th Oct.

Running with the Pack – Wolf of Wall Street shoot

Natural Hair Portrait Project: Call for Subjects

Seeking subjects for a portrait project celebrating natural hair and black skin in all their nuance and variety, through capturing the diverse British community of contemporary Black and Mixed Race actors

Oliviers ‘Joy’ all round!

Celebrating nominations and a win for colleagues and friends at The Olivier Awards 2019 via recent portraits.

Going all Mushy over a Moving Image

Going down the tubes…

Four advertising campaigns for theatre featuring my photography currently hitting the London underground and buses, with another up North to boot.

Natural Hair Portraits Project: background

Video: behind the scenes on the Amelie advertising photoshoot

Just messin’ about on bikes…

What a Hassel; just going through a Phase One….

Entering a new Phase (One)

Embracing a new medium format world of detail and nuance with Phase One IQ4 150MP

Hail Mary! Our Lady of Kibeho wins big in the Spotlight Awards

Hail Mary! Campaign shot for Stratford East show 'Our Lady of Kibeho' wins the Advertising prize judged by creatives from McCann, Adidas, DHL & more.