Top 10 Best Locations for Photoshoot Manchester

About Me

As a photographer and filmmaker a Photoshoot Manchester around the city center is something Im more than familiar with. I have been shooting for a little over 12 years now and covered most of the usual haunts and also some of the less well-known areas. Manchester has a lot to offer the photographer. Whether you’re looking for a futuristic vibe for your images or more of a ‘grungy’ backdrop there’s always a location that will provide what you need for your Photoshoot Manchester.

I have been fortunate enough to shoot lots of fashion and street styles as well as landscape and architecture. I’ve also shot quite a few events so I’m pretty well versed when it comes to most genres. Manchester has some fantastic events throughout the year, check out What’s on in Manchester for more info. Granted the list of events isn’t what it used to be thanks to COVID-19 but there’s always something to photograph if you’re in the city.

It may be a while before things return to normal but don’t be discouraged, there are still lots to shoot. Check out some of the food markets for Photoshoot Manchester that spring up all over town, they are a hive of activity. Also Alfresco dining around the Northern Quarter is particularly eye-catching at golden hour. Hopefully, larger-scale events will return in the not too distant future and this is where Manchester really comes to life.

1. Salford Quays

I’ve had so many great shots at the Quays it’s hard to recall all of them. Whether you go early morning or just an hour or so before the sun sets you sure to get some amazing images. Media city forms part of the Salford Quays area and this is almost like a futuristic mecca with restaurants and shopping surrounding it. It’s an easy metro ride from the city center of Manchester to The Lowry center or if your driving park on the multi-story car park which provides easy access to the best part of Salford Quays.

I shot the above image of Katie Royle sheltering away from the wind (SQ does get quite windy sometimes). You can check Katies IG out @katieroyle, she’s a highly experienced model and a pleasure to work with.

If you decide to venture away from the main circle and further down the quays the scenery does deteriorate a little. I’ve noticed a change over the years in this area and it would be great if the council put more effort into renovating the outskirts more. The main areas of SQ can get quite busy sometimes and I find it’s always best to arrive either early morning. The light is also better in the evening as well. There are no restrictions on taking images in public spaces but you have to get permission if you are shooting inside at any of the venues around media city.

The lovely Ai demonstrating one of her many creative poses on a shoot by the canal at Salford Quays. You can check her IG out @alicethefairy6v6 and give her a follow.

Worth special mention is this area in the evening around Christmas/New year. SQ literally comes alive after dark in the winter months, so much so that I have devoted a special place in this top ten for it further down.

2. The Northern Quarter

Where do I start with the Northern Quarter in Manchester city center! This is Manchester’s trendy spot. Stretching out from Swan Street down to High Street as you work your way into the heart of Manchester. NQ is full of ever-changing graffiti and decorative art, with lots of small independent retailers. Shops sell a range of goods that you won’t see in the high street stores. I have shot here so many times I swear I could do a shoot with my eyes closed. There are so many popular spots and some lesser well-known areas, you are never lost for a creative back drop. It’s easy to come back time and time again with a different set of images on each shoot.

I shot the above on a 35mm film with Emily at the various spots around the city, this particular shot was around Newton Street somewhere. You can check out Emily on IG @gothbxby. If you’re into colors then NQ has the lot. Walk down High Street and there is usually a stunning mural on the side of a building. Also if you want to stray away from the graffiti some of the lesser well-known side streets all interlink. They have some incredible little alleys that resemble something of a movie set.

I could probably devote a whole blog post to the Norther Quarter but suffice to say there is plenty of opportunities. If you like a colourful and creative photoshoot its great. After the shoot head over to one of the many great eating establishments for anything from gourmet vegan food to sizzling steaks.

3. China Town

Now let’s get this straight, China town in Manchester is not the largest area to shoot (although it is the second-largest China town in the UK). It does however have some nice spots to shoot. I have to confess it maybe doesn’t compare to the sheer expanse of NQ or even Salford Quays but hey we are creatives right?

The many times I have shot around China town I have usually split the sessions up between two or three areas. Spending most of my time traveling around the city on foot. A good idea is to shoot in Chinatown followed by a quick pit stop for a coffee and then head down to Spinningfields (see below). Do this around 2 hours before sunset and you will get some amazing images.

The arch of China Town stands midway down Faulkner street and is a centerpiece for most of the tourist pics. Walk over to the corner of Nicholas Street and relax in the oriental style pagoda taking in the sights and grab a few relaxed shots in the shade. Whilst there, there’s lots to shoot on Faulkner street. The street is lined with Chinese and Asian restaurants, sushi bars, shops and takeaways. While here check out Chatime or Ohayo Tea just on the corner of Faulkner and Princess street. They make the best bubble tea if that’s your thing.

4. Spinning Fields

Lots of really great spots around Spinningfields and I would highly recommend shooting here early evening. Stretching down from Deansgate and John Rylands library to the canal this area is worth shooting as part of a two-session shoot day. Mostly I will combine this with NQ or China town. Then make Spinningfields towards the end of the day.

I mentioned John Rylands Library which is a stunning place to visit and they are surprisingly relaxed about photography. I asked if we could shoot there and was met by a pleasant ‘Of course you can’, I love it when the staff will work with you and don’t restrict your movements.

The lighting in JRL is quite poor and it is quite challenging at times but well worth the effort. PRO TIP: Keep a steady hand and underexpose a stop with minimal gain. Try to use any available light to illuminate your subject of what you can and correct in post.

5. Heaton Park

I’m heading away from the city now and towards the Whitefield/Prestwich area. If you’ve never been to Heaton park your in for a treat, this place is huge. I once lost someone in there as the park was closing and they decided to head out a different exit. After receiving a frantic phone call saying they couldn’t find the exit and were lost. I had to contact security who went looking for them before locking the gates!

One of the other things I like about the park is the events that are on year-round. This is the location for ‘Party in the park’ a huge concert with many big-name artists. It also hosts lots of smaller events including funfairs. There is a boating lake and a couple of cafes as well as a vintage tram that operates throughout the park. Even if you’re not shooting I urge you to take a trip over there, it’s incredible.

There is lots of open space in the park and if you prefer to shoot some secluded woodland shots then HP is the place for you. You can venture into the woods and remain undisturbed while you enjoy the landscape. Conversely, shoot in front of the Hall but be prepared for passers-by to get in the way it does get quite busy!

You can head down to the lower part of Heaton Park where there is a boating lake and children’s soft wooded play area. If you here on a summer’s day expect it to be busy and plan for the crowds. Better still grab an ice cream from one of the many ice cream vans in HP.

Access to the park is free but you have to pay for parking if you park inside one of the four or so car parks. I tend to find the entrance at the top of the park off St Margaret’s Rd is the best and least busy. There are also two car parks along here, the first of which allows you to walk along the side of the woods to the higher most point of HP and also get the extra steps in if needed.

6. City Centre (excluding NQ and Spinningfields).

The greater city center is worth a mention as there are so many places to shoot when you venture outside the ‘normal’ areas. Follow Great Ancoats around at the top of NQ and there are a bunch of streets with some great locations for shooting. Also worth a mentions are the trendy coffee shops and cafes along this route. Great for doing a sneaky couple of images or while you grab a coffee and watch the world go by.

Slip behind one of the many shop fronts and it’s incredible what you can find. Hazel posed in the doorway of this eating establishment whilst on the shoot. You can check her IG out @hazelchocoholic.

Walk down Great Ancoats to Tibb Street and then head to Back Piccadilly from there. It’s about a 10-minute walk but lots to see and shoot on the way. Back Piccadilly is quite iconic (so I’m told). At the end of Tibb Street you around Affleck’s Palace and a short walk to Albert Square if you want to shoot there.

Manchester is great for a street-style fashion shoot. Sophie looked great rocking her Docks and pony tale, very Ariana Grande esque. You can check out her IG @sophshinton.

Once you move away from the city there are a number of areas that make for great photography. Stroll down Angel street and you will see St Michael’s Flags and Angel Meadow Park. It’s barely out of the city and it’s a beautiful little park with some benches and plenty of greenery.

From here you can follow Angel street round and go down by Victoria station and walking along Corporation Street and around the Cathedral. There are just so many spots in the small area it really needs a good hour within a square block to take it all in.

7. Fletcher Moss Botanical Gardens

Fletcher Moss is situated in South Manchester, Didsbury. Quite easy to find and well signposted. I’ve only visited on two occasions and both times were a very relaxed laid back shoot for the same model. There are a couple of caveats if I were to recommend it for a shoot. Firstly this place is not huge, so if you’re expecting it to be on a scale similar to Heaton Park you will be sorely disappointed. It is very well laid out and there are some lovely backdrops for shooting. I would recommend you go midweek as it can get busy at the weekends.

And the second caveat?

The second caveat would be to avoid visiting after heavy rainfall. The park can get waterlogged and it’s just no fun when the model is covered in the mud unless that’s the look you’re going for? If you visit late April there is usually a nice group of Cherry Blossom trees. Either plan a visit then or wait until around the end of June/early July. I have been both times and found there was lots of colourful scenery with a varying degree of colour.

Break off at some point or if it is wet and head for the café which is beautiful. I’m not sure of the date but it appears Victorian in style with old wooden floors and a bookcase. It looks a little quirky but delightful. There is a tree-lined path that runs through FMBG which eventually joined the river Mersey and runs down the side of it. If you arrive early morning you are likely to get the best shots due to low attendance and great lighting, on cooler days mildew forms on some of the moss and it can look quite cinematic.

8. Chorlton-on-Medlock

Ok, How many of you saw this one coming? Not many Im guessing.

I’ve added this area to the list as I have shot quite a few graduations around here. If you graduated from Manchester University no doubt you will be familiar with the area also. Whitworth Hall is a focal point here for all the graduation photographs. Also gotta do the mandatory ‘Manchester University’ sign in the background. It is a grand building with an arch leading into a courtyard lined with trees. Don’t miss the Tall building to the right covered in Ivy which looks stunning as a backdrop.

Beyond the courtyard and to the left is a huge open space, depending on when you go will depend on how many people are here. Most days it gets quite busy but shoot in a quieter section first rather than heading straight for the Faculty of Arts building (also known as the Samuel Alexander building). This looks quite impressive with its huge front columns on either side of the entrance.

You can literally spend a couple of hours shooting a range of shots around here. There are so many stunning buildings and little areas. The tree-lined street down the side with its black railings looks awesome. or the futuristic-looking building adjacent to the Faculty of Arts looks equally impressive. On rainy days stay under the trees and prepare the shoot. Nip out when the rain breaks and you’ll be amazed at what can be achieved with a bit of planning.

9. Barton Arcade

Fancy a trip back in time to the Victorian era for a bit of shopping? and of course, take some very cool pics. This stunning architectural masterpiece is well worth a visit. You could quite easily fit this in with one or two of the other more central spots above, making a great shooting session.

Barton Arcade has a lovely ornate staircase that has to be seen. Try shooting ultra-wide in the beautiful place and watch the structure tower above you. The arcade has several restaurants and shops, some of them quite artsy. Why not stop off for a coffee and relax in the arcade before disappearing to one of the other locations.

Small but beautiful

My shooting has always been limited in here, it’s not huge but there is so much to photograph. I have always wanted to do a Victorian-themed shoot with models dressed in traditional outfits but never had the chance, anyone up for it?

Head up to the second floor and shoot from the end looking down the arcade. This view is spectacular. The lighting is quite challenging, a mix of light flooding in from outside and soft yellow tones. lots of artificial lights muddy the shots a little, but hey that’s why we have Lightroom right!

Get the permission if you can

If you are lucky enough to get permission to shoot in one of the restaurants, cafes, OR even Barberbarber (the barbershop inside the arcade) your in for a treat. They have a retro feel that’s not specifically Victorian but has more of an Americana feel to it. Great lighting and mise-en-scène make for beautiful images. The far entrance leads out onto Deansgate so if your heading over to Spinningfields this is a good route whilst on your ‘photo-crawl’.

10. Chew Valley

Chew what? you might say. Well, it may be a little off the beaten track but Chew valley is a little way beyond Mossley. Classed as Saddleworth in Greater Manchester I think this beautiful spot really qualifies as one of the nicest places to shoot dramatic landscapes. Chew Valley follows Chew Brook to the west of Black Chew Head, where it joins the River Tame at Greenfield. This picturesque location is breath-taking on a summer’s day and one of the more easily accessible landscapes available in greater Manchester.

Exploring the beauty of this landscape

The reservoir, named Chew reservoir is easily explored and you can head up Blindstones Moss and get a spectacular view out across to their reservoir. There are numerous rock formations on the hills. The most notable being Ravenstones which is iconic and makes for a great profile shot if that’s your thing. Take great care around here and only experienced climbers should attempt to get up onto Ravenstone’s. There are plenty of other much safer formations for that perfect photo opportunity. Being on the fringe of the peak district, this is a well-traveled path that will appeal to the landscape photographer more than portraiture.

Achieving some stunning imagery

As always the best time to visit is either dusk or sunrise, there is something about that warm glow that enriches your images with color and soft tones. Avoid winter visits as this area is susceptible to inclement weather and can also change in a matter of minutes. I have witnessed feeling the warmth of the sun on my back and then within half an hour felt the cold rain start to fall as the wind picks up. I would advise traveling with a companion if possible and make sure you don’t go beyond your comfort zone in terms of distance. Takes some food and liquid with you for your journey and enjoys the splendor of Chew Valley.