Creative, commercial photographers.

Is the threat of terrorism affecting commercial photography?

February 19, 2010

Commercial photography is an important sector in the UK. Commercial photographers are often employed by businesses to provide photographs for their advertising campaigns and their contributions can be vital. Professional photographs and videos created by commercial photographers can make a huge difference to the marketing efforts of a business and thus our economy.

A great deal of commercial photography takes place in cities like Leeds. Built up areas with their different buildings, environments and scenes often make suitable backdrops for commercial photographs. However, with the threat of terrorism and the increased awareness of police operating in urban areas, commercial photographers have been stopped and searched when carrying out their work. Police are interested in those photographing buildings and areas within cities because information like this can be used by terrorists to help with the planning of an attack.

Commercial photographers have complained about such treatment as they believe they are being targeted and treated unfairly. A selection of amateur and professional photographers even joined together in protest about this behaviour in late January this year.

Commercial photography is necessary for many businesses. However, with commercial photographers regularly being told they cannot work in certain areas, the quality of commercial photography in this country may suffer.

It is not only in London that these developments have been taking place. Commercial photographers in Leeds and other cities in the UK have also been stopped, questioned and searched.