Architectural Photographer: trusted by leading architects, designers, developers and contractors in the North West.

Professional architectural and interior photography in Manchester

Professional architectural, construction and interior photography across Manchester City Centre and Greater Manchester Region.

Trusted by leading architects, interior designers and construction teams to capture built projects at their very best. Helping to build trust and credibility.

Manchester is one of the UK’s most ambitious and fast-moving cities. From commercial towers in Spinningfields to heritage restorations in Castlefield, education campuses, healthcare schemes and major retail developments: projects here demand accurate, high-quality visual documentation.

As David Millington Photography, I work with architects, contractors, developers and consultants to capture completed buildings, live construction sites and occupied spaces with clarity and authority.

I live in the region and have captured the changing face of Manchester and its diverse architectural landscape over the last 35 years. I have an intimate understanding of its distinct character:

• Commercial offices in Spinningfields and St Peter’s Square
• Residential towers in Deansgate and Ancoats
• Cultural and civic buildings around Manchester Town Hall and Albert Square
• Education and healthcare projects across Oxford Road and Salford
• Retail and leisure developments in Trafford and MediaCity

Each environment brings its own access, safety and lighting challenges. Experience working around live construction and fully operational buildings ensures projects are documented professionally, efficiently and safely.

Discuss a Project
Colorful modern apartment buildings along a waterfront under a blue sky
Modern empty lobby with glass revolving doors, reception desk, and high ceiling with glass walls and clean white tile flooring.
Modern urban plaza with colorful buildings, featuring a large red building with vertical windows and a smaller blue building, greenery, seating, and street lamps under a clear blue sky.
Modern building with wooden paneling and large glass windows labeled 'The Reef Leisure Centre' under a clear blue sky.
Aerial night view of a modern building with a large, illuminated, purple-lit fabric roof structure, surrounded by a landscaped courtyard with walking paths and nearby residential buildings.
Exterior of The Studios building with large glass windows and people walking outside.
Modern building with glass walls and a unique angled roof, labeled as the Northern Centre for Cancer Care in Northumbria, under a partly cloudy sky.
Modern interior of a spacious building lobby with large windows, a staircase, black and red chairs, and round tables.
Aerial view of a modern high-rise building with solar panels on the roof, situated next to train tracks, a parking lot, and neighboring industrial and residential buildings.
Modern building with angular black exterior, large glass windows, and surrounding landscaped garden with plants and a paved walkway.
Aerial view of a city with several high-rise buildings, including one under construction with cranes, and green parks.
Modern multi-story glass office building illuminated at dusk, with trees and a paved plaza in the foreground.
More Photographs →

Aerial & Drone Photography Across Greater Manchester

Aerial & Drone Photography Across Greater Manchester

Fully licensed and insured drone capability enables projects to be shown in relation to neighbouring developments, infrastructure, public realm and the wider city fabric.

Manchester’s international airport and controlled airspace require careful planning, airspace checks and, where necessary, formal authorisation. All flights are undertaken with the appropriate permissions, equipment and operational discipline to ensure safe, compliant and professional aerial documentation.

Working Across Manchester Coverage includes:

  • Manchester City Centre

  • Spinningfields

  • Castlefield

  • Ancoats

  • Northern Quarter

  • Deansgate

  • Salford

  • MediaCityUK

  • Trafford

Understanding how a building sits within its surroundings is critical — particularly in a dense and rapidly evolving city such as Manchester. From historic industrial structures in Castlefield to high-rise developments along Deansgate and the expanding skyline around Salford and MediaCityUK, aerial photography and video reveal the wider context and tell the full story of a project.

Discuss a Flight
City skyline with tall modern skyscrapers, some under construction, and a clear blue sky.
A modern cityscape featuring tall office buildings with glass and metal exteriors, green trees, manicured bushes, and a grassy park area in the foreground. There is a sign reading 'JAMES GRIGOR SQUARE' and a small construction site with orange cones.
Modern multi-story building with a grid-like facade, situated on a city street with pedestrians walking along the sidewalk and cars parked nearby.
Modern office lobby with large windows, metal security gates, a reception desk, and a staircase leading to an upper level.

Construction & Live Site Experience in and Manchester: Professional Architectural Photography

Construction & Live Site Experience Manchester

With more than 35 years of experience working around live construction environments, I have a deep understanding:

• Site safety culture and induction procedures
• CSCS requirements
• Programme pressures
• Weather windows
• Working alongside site managers and project teams

Architectural and construction photography records real materials, real detailing and real workmanship in real conditions — not just how a scheme was intended to look, but how it performs in reality.

This is particularly important in a city like Manchester, where large-scale commercial and residential projects operate under tight deadlines and public scrutiny.

Contact
Modern building with geometric, diamond-shaped patterned facade against a clear blue sky
Close-up of a modern architectural building facade with white geometric panels and perforated sections, set against a clear blue sky.
Modern architectural building with a geometric, triangular pattern on its white exterior, set against a blue sky.
A modern building with a geometric, triangular patterned facade illuminated with purple lights, located on a city street at dusk.

Why Professional Photography Matters in Manchester

In a city defined by regeneration and growth, competition is strong.

Now that anyone can generate an impressive CGI or AI visualisation, what matters more than ever is what has actually been built.

01 Builds Trust

Your project deserves to be shown at its best.

Professional architectural photography captures completed buildings with clarity, showing real materials, real detailing, and real workmanship so that design and construction quality are easy to see.

AI and CGI images suggest concepts and intent. Photography proves knowledge and skills.

02 Manchester’s Context Matters

Buildings in Manchester do not exist in isolation.

Professional architectural photography often takes place in active public and construction environments, requiring site awareness and safe working practice.

I capture buildings in context, showing how each project sits within its surroundings. CAA-qualified and authorised drone photography services provide legal, high-resolution aerial images for architecture, construction and property marketing.

03 Local Knowlage & Experience

Over 35 years of experience in construction and architectural photography, working across many live sites and completed buildings in the region.

I’m DBS and CSCS-accredited and fully insured, with proven on-site working practice.

All building photography is finished through an in-house post-production process for consistent, high-quality results.

Discuss a Project

Client Reviews

“David provided an excellent service in photographing some prestigious landscape and architectural projects we have delivered he listened carefully to our brief and exceeded our expectations in terms of results.”

Simon Ward - Associate Director, Head of Landscape and Urban design north of England and Scotland, Atkins

“David has photographed a number of our projects and the results have always exceeded our expectations. Our marketing materials have definitely benefited from his expertise.”

Helen Lafferty - Senior Marketing Officer, Arup

“David provides a great service, keeps us informed of progress and the results are great - they really help to show the projects off in the best light.”

Jonathan Partridge - Director, Hadfield Cawkwell Davidson