Documentary storytelling for organisations that need to be understood, not ignored.

I work with arts organisations, community projects and public sector teams to document what they do through photography, writing and content – so their work connects with real audiences. You can see my photography work below and across this website.

I don’t just take photographs. I document organisations in a way that shows what they actually do, why it matters, and who it affects. I get commissioned for jobs because clients love the way I photograph people.

I have a background in journalism and the arts. I’ve worked across editorial, public sector and cultural projects, producing content used for press, promotion and documentation. For businesses and organisations, I document them in a way that shows what they actually do, why it matters and who it affects.

I’ve also worked with hundreds of performers and business people, helping them develop their profiles and careers. I know the value of great promotional images and how it can make a huge impact on the career of on individual.

If you’ve got a project, event or programme that needs documenting properly, get in touch.

Find me across social media as @gazcook.
Contact me here: gazcook@googlemail.com // 07976 579 522

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There are two main ways I can work with you:

1. One-Day Content Capture

A fast, structured shoot designed to give you a bank of high-quality images for immediate use.

• Events
• Programmes
• Teams and organisations

Outcome: 40–80 usable images within 48 hours.

2. Documentary Storytelling Campaigns

A deeper, narrative-led approach combining photography and writing to create a complete story about your work.

• Long-form story
• Documentary image sets
• Social and press-ready content

Outcome: A body of work that supports visibility, funding and engagement.

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A little bit about me:

I’m based in Lancashire, UK.
I work across the UK at short notice. Weddings considered, if you’re really nice.
I also produce film and videos, using both mobile phone and high-quality DSLRs, including interviews.
If you’re looking for a documentary photographer with photo storytelling techniques, or are looking to hire a photographer in Lancashire or across the North of England – I’m your snapper!

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Editorial Photography

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Lockdown in Yorkshire Dales National Park

In 2020 and 2021 I documented the effect of lockdown at some of North Yorkshire’s busiest tourist destinations. Visiting several sites in Yorkshire Dales National Park I photographed the emptiness of places like Malham during the initial lockdown.

I was able to photograph the few people who dared to leave their homes at a time when essential travel was not permitted in the UK, then continued to photograph peopel as they returned to outdoor spaces in huge numbers.

As the first lockdown lifted in the summer of 2020, I documented the gradual arrival of people to sites like Malham, Linton Falls near Grassington and Burnsall – where tourist numbers reached record levels.

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People and the Landscape

This long-running project documents people in the outdoors, focused mostly on the North of England.

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Performers

I have photographed 100s of performances, shows, festivals and gigs across the UK. As a producer I have also created several festivals including Lancashire Fringe Festival and Lancashire Photography Festival. More details about these festivals can be found at the website Enjoy The Show UK.

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Portraits

I take portraits of people. Sometimes these are done in a studio. Sometimes they are done at exhibition openings. Sometimes on location.

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Palestiniana

Palestiniana is a book. It’s part diary, part analysis of the horrific conflict between Israel and Palestine. The book is available from Amazon and for Kindle (from Amazon). It topped the charts in it’s categories on Amazon.

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Blackpool

This is from my long-running project Brilliant Blackpool. It was exhibited at FYCreatives in Blackpool (2011). Several of these images were shortlisted for the Travel Photographer of the Year Award (Homeland) in 2009.

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Smoking

Mostly photographed in the summer of 2007, this study of smoking took place before and after the ban on smoking in public places came into force (which was July 1, 2007, in England).

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Travel

I have published several books of travel images, most notably Palestiniana (available on Amazon and for Kindle, which is very cheap). I’ve also written travel articles for Express Newspapers and Northern & Shell publications.

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Performance

In 2015, I began delivering photography projects as live art theatre-based performances. The idea was that very few people see photography projects, particularly in exhibitions and specifically documentary photography. For over a decade I have experimented with presenting photography in new ways to reach bigger and more diverse audiences (audio slideshows, documentary Christmas cards, books, zines and podcasts).

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