Jay Mawson Photographer -_JM12057.jpg — ON E-COMMERCE

A brief look at e-commerce photography in 2021

On E-commerce Photography

Jay Mawson August 24, 2021

Everything’s E-commerce now. Ecomm. Ecommerce. E Commerce. However you spell it, it’s all ecomm.

A true child of the internet, demand for e-commerce photography has grown exponentially over the last 20 years. Everybody sells online so everything is technically e-commerce. Front. Back. Side. Detail. Change. Makeup selfie. Next. Within that simple framework a whole genre was born. But whilst the internet buckles under general critique of fashion photography, e-commerce imagery is like the dirty family secret that’s rarely discussed in public.

Jay Mawson Maldives — Swimwear Photography

The Rotherham - California Scale

Swimwear Photography

Jay Mawson January 31, 2018

The Rotherham - California Scale

Within the last year we’ve had the good fortune to visit both the Caribbean and the Maldives. I shot a small test swimwear fashion editorial in each location. I mean - you would wouldn’t you. Given the choice between filling your swimwear portfolio with a blue tinged model on a misty Formby beach or some Insta-pretty island nearer the equator it’s not a difficult decision to make. Nobody is going to panic about half a dozen extra swimsuits in the 23Kg allowance. The only advantage Formby offers is being able to take more kit and a crew to share the misery with you. When push comes to shove I’ll take my chances with golden sand and turquoise waters over somebody to hold my reflector.

jay mawson _ _JAY5522 _ 20150919.jpg — Lady Diamond in the Sky

70s Editorial Test

Lady Diamond in the Sky - Manchester Fashion Photography

Jay Mawson November 18, 2015

There are a few things I really really need to do...

Update my site...a years worth of great images to select from since I last had chance
Blog more...editorials languishing on my hard drive and thoughts burning my brain
Step away from the 70s...

jay mawson _ _JAY6745 _ 20140729.jpg — United States of Manchester

Fashion Editorial

The United States of Manchester - Fashion Editorial

Jay Mawson August 1, 2014

Once in a blue moon I get to post my photography before anybody else. There's lots of reasons why this never usually happens. For commercial work it goes without saying that you wait for the images to be released, but for personal work it just slips out there. During the shoot the team will Instagram behind-the-scenes shots, previews or 'sneak peeks' get trailered onto Twitter and blogs, models want to use the images in their books for a 'last minute casting' and before you know it the shoot is old news, fragmented parts of the whole drifting around cyberspace in a digital fashion jigsaw.

jay mawson _ JAY8560 _ 20140601.jpg — Bridal Editorial

Bridal Editorial in Manchester

Jay Mawson July 23, 2014

I just don't get enough time to do proper full blown bells-and-whistles tests. The exciting ones - full team of people, cool location & great styling. It's a good thing. As much as testing should always remain something every photographer should be doing, if it's the only thing you're doing you start to worry. Come to think of it, there's generally a lot of worry involved in being a freelancer.

jay mawson _ _JAY5914 _ 20111210.jpg — Tag Me

Image credits on Social Media

A Guide to Social Media Credits for Photographs

Jay Mawson June 19, 2014

It's 22˚C outside. Sticky city hot. But no sun because this is, after all, Manchester. I have a coffee (always), a new table to work at and 30 minutes downtime to put some thoughts down.

As my blog posts often do, this relates to test shoots and is less relevant for commercial work. It's about the currency of credit rather than that of Her Majesty.

Basically, we all test for three main reasons. Creative itches, speculative pitches and maintaining social visibility. The first is easily satisfied. The latter is easily frustrated. So here's a handy cut-out-and-keep* guide to how to do the small things that keep everybody happy and feeling warm inside. Because believe me - nothing creates quietly festering resentment in somebody like giving a day to creating something beautiful and then being socially erased from the end result. Rarely will the person actually say anything incase they come across as a diva. They'll just remember it next time you ask them…

Editorial Fashion Photography - Manchester

Jay Mawson June 16, 2014

Recently I've been more and more seduced by everything late 70s/early 80s. Beautiful warm colours, soft edges...I don't know, blame Instagram.

Boda Skins

Jay Mawson June 15, 2014

This month I was delighted to work again with luxury leather label Boda Skins and see how much the brand had grown and matured over a short space of time. Their classic takes on a wardrobe staple are designed in Manchester and traditionally crafted in the hills of Turkey , so it was fitting that we shot the campaign images under Manchester's characteristically grey light...