"In 2010, whilst shooting a coffee table book with interior designer Kelly Hoppen, I was asked to make a short film with her about one of the projects we were photographing. It was my first experience of making a commercial video - straight in at the ‘deep end’, and luckily all turned out very well - which then led to dozens more video commissions.

Now I either make promotional films with my company Reel Curious, or shoot just stills, or - more often than not - shoot both stills and moving image on the same shoot. I see the two as both very different but also very compatible. Made by the same team on the same shoot, with the same aesthetic and same level of quality, just different mediums.

And the best project is always our current one, whatever that is.

Our clients include British Airways, Cole & Son, Dior, Harrods, The New York Times, Patek Philippe, Vogue and many more, but most of all we love new projects. So if you’d like to chat through anything please speak with me direct, or my producer Freya."

“My last job in March 2020 was at a quiet London Heathrow Airport for British Airways, shooting their First Class lounges. I needed my passport to go ‘airside’ but, with lockdown soon declared, that was the closest I got to leaving the country for quite a while.

Being so used to shooting internationally I focused on commissions in the UK, discovering many wonderful projects close to home: including making a film about a Grade 1 Listed estate; photographing the new building by French architects Barthélémy Grino at the Glenmorangie whiskey distillery in Scotland; making films for arts organisation Sussex Modern; a film in the Cotswolds for US brand Insinkerator; shooting Cole & Son’s new wallpaper collections in an historic house; photography in London for The Crown Estate; the new Manchester hotel by Kimpton…

I’ve also continued my close working relationships with several highly talented interior designers and architects including Kelly Hoppen, Goddard Littlefair, Shalini Misra, Gregory Phillips, Jorge Canete.

Although proud of an A-Z client list that ranges from Architectural Digest, to Dior, Harrods, Patek Philippe, Vogue, to the Zoological Society of London, with my work roughly 50/50 shooting stills / making videos, it’s really always the next commission that’s most exciting.”

"It is predicted that 82% of internet traffic will come from video streaming by 2023. So, not publishing video will mean only targeting 18% of web users.

Reel Curious has so far made over 50 short films, ranging from one minute to five minutes, for clients in the design, interiors, luxury and travel sectors - for brands such as British Airways, The Four Seasons, Harrods and Patek Philippe.

We have an á la carte approach to film making - only bringing on board the exact skills required for a particular project, making the process both efficient and cost-effective. Each member of the Reel Curious team was already very accomplished in their respective disciplines, and brings a wealth of experience.

We can take care of the whole process - from writing a script to writing original music - plus all the other stuff like production, set design, drone flying, editing, grading, motion graphics, etc.. On location, however, we like to keep the team small, nimble and unobtrusive.

Most of all we love working on our projects, and each film we deliver is to the highest quality standard - on budget, on brief and on time.

Curious? Do get in touch!"

Originally trained as a product designer at Central St Martins, London-based photographer and director Mel Yates shoots stills and short films for clients internationally, including recent commissions from Vogue, Dior, Patek Philippe and Harrods.

His agent in London is One Represents.

Vastly experienced, Mel Yates sees each new shoot, whether it be stills or video, as both an exciting challenge and a fresh opportunity.

Very recent commercial clients have included Dior, Harrods and London’s Olympia development, as well as editorials for Architectural Digest and Vogue.

He has also been shooting for several leading architects and designers, as well as luxury hotel brands.

He is represented in London by One Represents.

After image-makers Mel Yates and Glenn Aitken successfully collaborated on a long shoot producing the stills and videos for One & Only’s resort Reethi Rah in The Maldives in 2016, they decided to team up on certain projects and merge their skills - shooting both on ground level and above from the air.

Combining a huge wealth of experience and creative vision with the latest in image making requirements, and with many many commissions from the likes of Etihad Airways, The Four Seasons, ME Hotels, Architectural Digest, Elle Decoration, Vogue and The New York Times, as well as shooting new projects for designers such as Philippe Starck, Kelly Hoppen and Kate Moss, and developers including Mount Anvil, Native Land (both London), The Sino Group (Hong Kong) and Lodha (Mumbai), Glenn and Mel prepare depending on the particular needs of each individual shoot.

With commissions being anything from half a day to several weeks, On + Above offer a range of services including stills, video, 360 degree tours, and collaborate with several other related skills such as CGI artists.

If you have an upcoming project you’d like to discuss please contact them via email.

Mel's recent shoots include photographing the projects of all 25 designers who participated in the amazing Holiday House, London for Breast Cancer Awareness (designers shown here: Amelia Carter, Roselind Wilson, Rachel Laxer, Invisible Collection, Hazel Collins and Susan White), as well as shooting a variety of new sites with designers Shalini Misra, Kelly Hoppen, Rose Uniacke and Studio Reed.

His other commissions over the past few weeks have been with Harrods, Sonos, Etihad, Elle Decoration, Indigo Living, Graham & Green, House of Peroni and Mr & Mrs Smith.

Mel has also been making videos, including a series of films for an exclusive new development in London’s Chelsea, "The Glebe", which include several interviews with the designers, architects and craftspeople.

Mel Yates is represented by One Represents.

Although often shooting overseas, much of photographer and director Mel Yates’s work takes place in or near his home city of London - his knowledge of which rivals that of a London cabbie!

Featured in this Showcase is a selection of ‘local’ shoots. Other recent clients have included Harrods, House & Garden, Mr & Mrs Smith, The New York Times, One & Only Resorts, Patek Philippe and many more.

Mel is represented in London by One Represents.

Originally trained at Central Saint Martins as a designer, Mel Yates has a highly developed understanding of design and the way it relates to people.

He has shot portraits, interiors, architecture, lifestyle and videos for clients around the world including Architectural Digest, Domus, Elle Decoration, The Four Seasons, Harrods, House & Garden, Marie Claire Maison, ME Hotels, One&Only Resorts, The Sunday Times, Vogue, Yoo, and many others.

All images shown here are recent and are for The One & Only, Reethi Rah in the Maldives, The House of Peroni, Sanderson, Kelly Hoppen featuring lights by Lee Broom, Shalini Misra (and Squat), Mount Anvil, David Linley (with Nazir Razak), SEE**DS for The New York Times, the Wardian development for House & Garden, and being watched whilst shooting a house in India.

His agent is One Represents.

Mel Yates has been commissioned to shoot portraits, lifestyle and interiors for Architectural Digest, Conde Nast, Corriere Della Sera, Elle Decoration, The Four Seasons Group, GE, InStyle Home, Marie Claire Maison, Melia Hotels, Sony Pictures, The Sunday Times, Vogue and many others.

Although a regular traveller, he is the London contact for a number of international clients, shooting both stills and video.

At ease leading a large team or working solo, his aim is to allow for spontaneity within a well planned framework. A creative director recently observed "Mel has a gift for making everything look beautifully natural and not contrived, even when it’s all set up!"

Mel’s agent in London is One Represents.

Working closely with many designers, developers, hotels and brands, Mel Yates’ recent work includes the publicity images of the first interior design project by Kate Moss, the stunning new home of Kelly Hoppen (with whom he is also currently shooting a third book) and the completion of a series of videos of all ME Hotel’s properties around the globe.

Originally trained at Central St Martins as an industrial designer, Mel has a highly developed understanding of design and the way it relates to people. He has shot interiors, architecture, lifestyle and portraits for a range of clients worldwide including Architectural Digest, Domus, Elle Decoration, The Four Seasons hotel group, House & Garden, Marie Claire Maison, The Sunday Times, Vogue and Yoo.

In the past few weeks alone Mel has shot commissioned work in Hong Kong, India and the USA.