40 years behind the camera at Charles Ward Photography
CW today
Where has the time gone? It only seems like yesterday when I gave up a secure job, drove up to Pelling and Cross in London and bought some photographic gear to launched Charles Ward Photography (CWP). I remember asking my Father if I could borrow a space in the corner of one of the farm barns for a makeshift studio. “How long do you want it for?”enquired Father. “Oh, about 6 weeks” I hastily replied. It was 1985 and 40 years later, I am still in the same barn shooting away!
People often ask me what is was like setting up a commercial photographic studio back in the mid eighties and I often describe it as follows: Big hair, big mobiles, big cameras and big budgets. I was lucky - shortly after starting CWP a friend of mine decided to start an advertising agency in Northampton called CSP and it wasn’t long before they asked me if I would like a job photographing Hobart dishwashers in various commercial kitchens around the country. I had no formal photographic training, having been a keen amateur and taking a few rolls of Kodachrome 64 each month with my trusty Pentax Spotmatic. The commercial world was very different. I had now equipped myself with a Bronica SQA (medium format camera), a Benbo tripod and a Multiblitz flash system and exposure meter. The Hobart photoshoots gave me a chance to learn on the job and face the challenge of lighting busy kitchens with wired flash, exposing dozens of Polaroids and rolls of 120 transparency film, all while avoiding grumpy chefs and staff in busy kitchens. This job also introduced me to the world of food photography and it wasn’t long before I installed a small commercial kitchen within my studio and became known for food photography with local companies and advertising agencies around the UK.
I was now employing staff and my role had changed from being the sole photographer to running a busy studio and gaining additional work. We had heard about new digital cameras and in 1997, so I decided to take a gamble and purchased our first one - The Leaf DCB II.
CW behind the camera back
The digital camera back and the IRIS printer cost a small fortune and I began to wonder if I had made the right decision, especially when the salesman delivered it to us in his Ferrari! Being an early adopter of technology can have its advantages and it wasn’t long before people started to hear about our new camera. I can remember arranging a demonstration for Airwair, the owners of the iconic Dr Martens boots, as their factory was based near to my Earls Barton studio. Their boots were currently being photographed on 5x4 inch transparency film and then scanned, so it was quite a time consuming and expensive process to photograph for a catalogue - (no websites yet). We invited a member of their marketing department to bring over a pair of cherry red 1460 boots for a demonstration of digital photography and they loved it. Our relationship with DMs lasted for 27 years and we probably photographed over half a million of their boots. In hindsight, I am glad that I took the risk and ‘went digital’ when we did.
The past 40 years at CWP have been filled with so many memories I can honestly say that I have enjoyed almost every day. Most people would use an anniversary such as this to retire, but I still love the creative process of photography that allows is to leave behind a ‘small moment in time’ and I want to keep going for many more years to come.
Finally, I would like to use this short blog to take the opportunity to thank my wife Katie, my boys James and Freddie for putting up with the long hours that are often necessary to run a business. My huge thanks also must go to you all - my wonderful customers and suppliers for your custom and support over the past 4o years. I can’t possibly mention you all by name, but please excuse me if I mention a few:
To Dana at CSP - for giving me that early break into commercial photography and for being such fun to work with. The Sealed Air Corporation - who incredibly, have been my customer for the full 40 years. To the Griggs family at Airwair Doc Martens for supporting my business so loyally. To everyone at Keane in Birmingham for commissioning so many wonderful food and drink photoshoots at the Farm. Lastly, I must just mention my current shoe client Trickers, whose beautifully made boots and shoes are always a delight to photograph and for being such a great team to work with.
Our first digital camera, the Leaf DCB II back in 1997
Future work
Although I now run CWP on my own, my final thanks must go to my past employees and freelance staff who have worked alongside me at the Farm over the past 40 years. It has been a real pleasure to see so many of you go on to run your own photography companies and I wish you every success for the future.
Although, I do take life a little easier these days, I am back shooting at the studio now and I am planning a few exciting projects for 2025. I have made a start on a book and I am planing a spot of vlogging about commercial photography and my customer’s success stories - watch out for ‘Charlie’s Chats’ coming soon.
CW
