ABOUT
My background in product design at Central Saint Martins shaped an approach that connects design thinking with visual storytelling. What began with stills photography has evolved into a practice balancing stills and film, alongside immersive formats and podcasts - always with equal attention to concept and execution.
We create content for a wide range of clients - an A–Z from Architectural Digest to the Zoological Society of London. Many partnerships continue year after year, built on trust, collaboration and the shared understanding that strong ideas are most effective when delivered well.
At the heart of my work is a simple intention: to create imagery that feels considered, honest and enduring - and to share it with the world beyond the spaces in which it was created.
In a fast-moving visual landscape, what endures is work that feels distinctive, authentic and lasting.
My focus is on imagery that communicates not just how something looks, but how it feels.
The aim is coherence - across platforms, mediums and moments. Often within a single shoot, we produce photography, film and supporting assets together, ensuring a unified visual language and a clear, efficient route from concept to delivery.
I work with brands and designers to communicate their work through considered visual storytelling, crafting stories that elevate spaces, products and experiences beyond the moment itself.
Studio Mel Yates is a collaborative practice, led and directed by me. I shoot the photography and direct the films, working with a trusted circle of editors, graders and retouchers who help refine the final delivery.
Mel captures personality… with a depth and authenticity that connects seamlessly to the wider brand. His work communicates what it feels like to be there. He brings fresh perspective to every shoot while maintaining the reliability and care of someone who deeply understands his craft and his clients.
– Hamish Kilburn
Owner, Kilburn Communications
Former Editor, Hotel Designs
