Photographing people in a way that lets them recognise themselves.

Manchester Portrait Photographer

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A man with long, curly hair and blue eyes, wearing a white t-shirt, sitting with his arms extended toward the camera, in front of a neutral gray background. Portrait of an actor photographed in a Manchester studio by James Melia

A portrait of a mature woman with short blonde hair and blue eyes, wearing a grey top with a blue section and a brown cardigan, against a dark background. Portrait of an actor photographed in a Manchester studio by James Melia

Close-up portrait of a woman with reddish-brown hair, wearing a satin sleeveless top, against a dark background. Adele Silva

Woman with dark brown wavy hair, tattoos on both arms, wearing a plaid short-sleeve shirt, leaning her head on her hand against a brown background.

Black and white portrait of a man with dark wavy hair, wearing a light-colored button-up shirt, looking directly at the camera with a serious expression, against a dark plain background. Portrait of an actor photographed in a Manchester studio

A woman with blonde hair, light skin, and a nose piercing, sitting with her hand resting on her chin, wearing a brown and patterned top, against a dark background. Tanya

Lauren McQueen Portrait of an actor photographed in a Manchester studio by James Melia

Nicole Evans Portrait of an actor photographed in a Manchester studio by James Melia

Young man looking thoughtfully to the side in black and white Portrait of an actor photographed in a Manchester studio by James Melia

Georgia May Foote Portrait of an actor photographed in a Manchester studio by James Melia

Black and white portrait of a young woman with dark hair tied back, wearing earrings and a light-colored sweater, looking directly at the camera. Portrait of an actor photographed in a Manchester studio by James Melia

Portrait of a woman with blue eyes and reddish-brown hair wearing a yellow pleated blouse against a dark background. Jenna o'hara

Blurred image of sunlight casting shadows through a window onto a wall.

Ali Kahn Portrait of an actor photographed in a Manchester studio by James Melia

Close-up portrait of a man with brown hair, brown eyes, and a beard, wearing a light-colored T-shirt and a silver chain, against a dark background. Tom Follows

A woman with styled hair wearing a dark blazer standing against a plain dark wall.

Portrait of a woman with red hair wearing a white turtleneck, looking to her right against a plain light gray background.

A woman with short dark hair and blue eyes wearing a black shirt, looking directly at the camera.

Close-up of a man with short dark hair, wearing a black coat and turtleneck, against a light gray background.

Person with short hair and earrings stands inside a vehicle, looking at a man outside on the road.

Dark clouds in the sky with a hint of sunlight illuminating the edges of some clouds.

Portrait of a young woman with blonde hair and blue eyes, wearing a black top, looking slightly to the right against a neutral background.

Ellie Leech Portrait of an actor photographed in a Manchester studio by James Melia

A woman with long, curly dark hair and a big smile, wearing a black lace top, posing against a plain gray background. Portrait of an actor photographed in a Manchester studio by James Melia

A woman with blonde hair and freckles looks contemplative, standing indoors against a greenish wall, wearing a black spaghetti strap top. Portrait of an actor photographed in a Manchester studio by James Melia

A black and white portrait of a young man with wavy dark hair, wearing a dark shirt, looking directly at the camera. Portrait of an actor photographed in a Manchester studio by James Melia

Close-up black and white photo of a woman's face with closed eyes and flowing hair.

Black and white portrait of a young man with wavy hair, wearing a dark sweater, looking at the camera.

A woman practicing yoga or stretching on a gray studio floor, with her arms extended forward and head down.

A young woman with long, wavy brown hair sitting on a wooden chair with a gray background, wearing a white tank top, blue jeans, and brown boots, looking at the camera. Portrait of an actor photographed in a Manchester studio by James Melia

A woman with curly brown hair wearing a sleeveless black vest and matching black pants, standing against a plain white wall, adjusting her earring.

Black and white portrait of a woman with dark hair, wearing large hoop earrings and a patterned scarf. She has a contemplative expression and light-colored eyes, with natural makeup and visible freckles.

A woman with blonde hair looking to her left with a neutral expression, wearing a coral top. The photo is taken through a glass window, causing reflections.

Close-up portrait of a man with glasses, short brown hair, and a beard, wearing a light brown button-up shirt, looking into the camera with a serious expression.

Close-up portrait of a woman with long brown hair, blue eyes, wearing a green top and hoop earrings, with a red accessory in her hair, looking directly at the camera.

Blurred city street scene with silhouettes of pedestrians walking, traffic signals, and railroad tracks.

Close-up portrait of a young man with curly black hair, light brown skin, freckles, and facial hair, wearing a light blue shirt, looking directly at the camera against a neutral background.

Black and white close-up portrait of a man with a beard and curly hair, looking down with a serious expression. Portrait of an actor photographed in a Manchester studio by James Melia

Black and white photo of a woman with long, wavy hair, looking at the camera with a slight smile.

A woman with brown hair tied back, standing against a white wall, crossing her arms and holding a pencil in her right hand, wearing a beige button-up shirt and black high-waisted jeans.

A young man with dark skin, short curly hair, and a goatee looking directly at the camera, wearing a black T-shirt against a gray background.

Collage of six photos of a bald man in a dark blazer and black shirt, making various expressive gestures and smiling.

Close-up of a man with long dark hair, a goatee, and mustache, wearing a gray shirt and a necklace.

A young woman with long brown hair, blue eyes, and hoop earrings sitting against a beige curtain backdrop, wearing a black top.

City skyline with tall buildings under construction seen through a window during sunset, with trees silhouetted in the foreground.

Black and white portrait of a woman with curly hair, wearing a necklace with a small pendant, and looking directly at the camera.

Dark clouds over a body of water with trees silhouetted along the shoreline and reflections on the water’s surface, indicating dusk or early evening.

A man with short brown hair and light-colored eyes wearing a dark blue denim shirt looks directly at the camera against a dark, blurred background.

A woman with long, curly dark hair poses with her hand on her face, wearing a white sleeveless top and a flowing skirt. There is a rainbow-like light effect across the image, creating a soft and artistic atmosphere.

Close-up portrait of a woman with blue eyes, brunette hair, and a neutral expression, wearing a black shirt.

A black-and-white photo of a woman with dark, wavy hair looking to her left, with soft lighting highlighting her facial features.

A close-up portrait of a man with curly brown hair, green eyes, glasses, a beard, and wearing a light blue shirt, against a plain background.

A young man with dark curly hair, a beard, and wearing a beige sweater, gold necklace, and earrings, looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression

A young person with short dark hair, wearing a translucent white blouse with a necktie detail, sitting on a wooden chair, resting their chin on their hand, looking contemplative against a plain background.

A woman with short blonde hair, blue eyes, and earrings, wearing a black zip-up athletic top, looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression.

Black and white portrait of a young man with curly hair, wearing a sleeveless shirt, looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression.

A close-up portrait of a young man with blue eyes, dark wavy hair, and light beard, wearing a gray shirt, looking directly at the camera.

Close-up of a young woman with light skin, brown eyes, freckles, and long, wavy blonde hair, wearing a white top and gold jewelry.

Close-up portrait of a young man with short brown hair, light skin, and blue eyes, wearing a black shirt and a gold chain, against a plain light background.

Black and white portrait of a woman with curly hair, seated, looking over her shoulder against a plain background.

A woman with short hair, earrings, and a septum piercing smiling while sitting with her arms crossed, in a black tank top. Black and white photo with a plain background.

Portrait of a woman with short curly hair wearing a black silk blouse and gold earrings, posing against a dark background.

Black and white portrait of a smiling woman with short, wavy hair, wearing a long-sleeve shirt, resting her chin on her hand with a ring visible on her finger.

Close-up of a person wearing glasses, looking downward, with a soft focus and light reflections.

Black and white portrait of a woman with short hair, looking over her shoulder, wearing a spaghetti strap top.

A portrait of a young woman with long dark hair, wearing gold hoop earrings and a black top with pearl buttons, standing against a plain background.

A black and white photograph of a woman's face with dark makeup and glossy lips, partially obscured by shadows and reflections.

City skyline at dusk with a tall building reflecting sunlight, partially obscured by dark silhouettes of trees in the foreground.

Close-up portrait of a woman with curly hair that is brown at the top and turns purple at the tips, wearing a white tank top, against a dark background.

A black and white portrait of a young man with curly hair, wearing a light-colored jacket over a white shirt, standing against a plain background.

Close-up portrait of a young man with short hair and a goatee, wearing a black shirt, touching the back of his neck with his left hand, with a neutral background.

A woman with blonde hair in a ponytail, wearing a patterned sports bra and black leggings, standing against a plain light background with one arm raised over her head.

The Journal

Blog

Angela Heenan | Studio Portraits with James Melia

A Note on Silence, Process, and Responsibility

Adele Silva / Studio Portraits with James Melia

Portrait Session with Lucy-Jo Hudson / photographed by James Melia

A Quiet Studio Afternoon with Amy James Kelly

“Great photographer, really personable and chatty, made for some really natural-looking headshots. James was also excellent at ensuring you had photos you would be proud to share. ”

About

I’ve been a photographer for over fifteen years. Which sounds very established and sensible, but really it just means I’ve spent a long time being quietly obsessed with light and people.

Before this, there was film. Travel. A lot of watching. I’ve always been curious about people. The small stuff. The micro expressions. The tiny shifts in energy when someone relaxes and forgets they’re being looked at.

That’s the good bit.

I’m not massively interested in the overly performed version of you. I like the quirks. The almost-smiles. The moments where you stop “doing your face” and just exist for a second.

I shoot in a calm, collaborative way. Which means I’ll guide you, but you won’t feel like you’re auditioning for your own life. And you definitely won’t be left wondering what to do with your hands. That’s a promise.

I love early mornings. Good light. That soft quiet before the world gets loud. And making portraits that feel like you on a really solid day. The day you feel clear. Like yourself.

Oh, and I have a daughter called Mango.
Officially Margot.

Mango just… happened. And now it’s legally 50 percent of her personality.

Portrait of an actor photographed in a Manchester studio by James Melia

Portrait of a contax T2 photographed in a Manchester studio by James Melia

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Completely.
Some people want lots of direction, others prefer a quieter approach. I tend to adjust depending on the person in front of me. The goal is always the same though, photographs that feel confident but still like you.
Most studio sessions last between one and two hours. That gives us enough time to relax into the shoot, try different looks, and create a strong selection of images without things feeling rushed.
Once you’ve booked, I’ll send guidance on clothing and preparation. Generally, simple outfits that feel like your everyday best version of yourself work really well. We can also discuss options before the shoot if you’re unsure.

Not at all. In fact, it’s probably the most common starting point.

A big part of the session is slowing things down enough that you stop performing for the camera. The goal isn’t perfection, it’s creating photographs where you recognise yourself and think, “oh… that actually feels like me.”
I work with actors, creatives, business owners, founders, and people building personal brands. Often people who value photography as something a bit more thoughtful than just “getting a photo done.”
If you need images for a website, press, branding, or simply want portraits that feel like you, you’re probably in the right place.
Rather than rushing through poses or producing hundreds of similar images, sessions are designed to give space for real moments to happen.
Lighting, conversation, and pacing all play a part. Often the best photographs happen once people stop trying quite so hard to look photogenic.

Look for work that feels consistent and honest rather than heavily posed or overly filtered. It’s also worth considering how a photographer works during a session, not just the final images.
A good portrait session should leave you feeling comfortable, understood, and surprisingly relaxed in front of the camera.
Definitely not.
Some clients arrive with moodboards and very clear ideas. Others just know they need photographs that feel more like them than what they currently have. Part of the process is figuring that out together.
Choosing a photographer is often less about price or location and more about whether you feel comfortable being photographed by them.
If you’re drawn to natural, thoughtful portraits and prefer a calm, collaborative approach rather than lots of forced posing, we’ll probably work well together. Most people book after recognising something in the work rather than just needing photos quickly.

How it Works

You can book a session online or send me a message if you’re not quite sure what you need yet. Most people aren’t. We’ll figure out what kind of portraits make sense for you, where they’ll be used, and how you want them to feel.

01. Get in touch (or just book straight in)

Before the session, we’ll chat about clothes, locations, and the overall vibe. Studio, outdoors, somewhere meaningful, or a mix of everything. You don’t need a mood board unless you secretly love making mood boards.
This is optional but there if you need.

02. Plan the shoot together (Optional)

This part is much more relaxed than people expect. I’ll guide you when needed and step back when it’s working naturally. No awkward standing around wondering what to do with your hands. We’re basically looking for the moments where you forget the camera exists.

03. The Shoot it’s self

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04. Choose your photographs

After the shoot, you’ll receive a private gallery to view your images and select your favourites. Take your time. Most people change their mind at least twice.

04. Final images delivered

Your selected portraits are carefully edited and delivered ready for websites, press, casting, LinkedIn, book covers, or wherever life takes them next.