Capital Life Photo was formed in October 2003, as a professional UK commercial photography service - covering an array of corporate, social, sporting and fundraising events across the UK. Though based in Central London (in the Islington/ Camden vicinity), with customers across South East England - including Essex, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Oxfordshire - we can accommodate most requirements anywhere in Europe, or indeed, worldwide.

Capital Life is driven by Director Mike Sweeney’s 15 years of experience - covering just about every sector of photographic industry; including corporate, teaching, travel, photo-journalism, PR, weddings and studio portraiture. Capital Life delivers a flexible, cost-effective and personable service to all clients, regardless of the size or nature of the project.

We will work with you to ensure your needs are met throughout the event and, for larger events we’ll usually plan shoots in advance. Of course, should you want candid images of your private party or event, we’ll be unobtrusively present to capture your memories using the latest digital technology, and/ or conventional negative and transparency film (where required). And naturally, we respect our client’s privacy and confidentiality at all times.

Buy your pictures at the event – or view them online
At nearly all events, our pictures are on display for everyone to view immediately. For a very reasonable fee, high-quality souvenir pictures can be quickly printed and presented in a card-mount for guests to take away. Additionally, all pictures are viewable afterwards on our website, in a personal, secure My Event folder - allowing you to show your family, friends and work colleagues at the click of a button.

Community-orientated
Capital Life prides itself on playing an important role in the community, covering charity
fund-raising events, public-relations activities, hospitality functions and the like. We will provide our services free of charge and make a donation to the cause from a percentage of our picture sales.

Social and Leisure Events
Capital Life cover all aspects of social events across London and the UK - including private parties, graduation photographs, portraiture, local sporting events, family and staff portfolios. We also supply a comprehensive wedding photography service.

Marketing, PR and Advertising Photography
Capital Life is experienced in all areas of marketing and sales photography - covering product and service launches, conferences, reportage and public relations events, no matter how large or small. Any additional photographers and assistants we employ to cover larger events are highly experienced and qualified in their own field.

Russia and Eastern Europe
We are developing a wide range of contacts in Eastern Europe. Our second Director, Sweeney, of Russian nationality, is continuing to developing business relations with Russian and Eastern European businesses and the wider London-based community members. Please view our developing Russian Photo Library to learn more.

Private Photography Tuition
We can also provide private tuition to anyone interested in learning how to take great photographs. Company Director, Mike Sweeney, is a an experienced part-time teacher and course leader, (see personal profile) and can attend your College, University or Amateur Camera Club to provide an interesting talk about photography and his career, accompanied by a photographic slide presentation showing Mike’s past reportage and photo-journalism work, and travel photography from visits to Eastern Europe.

London Photo Gallery
With a strong a passion for social documentary work and reportage-style photo-journalism, we aim to develop a wide range of Photo Gallery Exhibitions within the Exhibition Gallery Page, revealing real-life, candid documentary-based photo stories about people and events across cosmopolitan London and Europe.

Do you have an interesting story?
Perhaps you have a story that you would like us to photograph and/ or report and show on our web site, or consider for publication or exhibition? Whether it is about an individual’s unique story, a group, a serious news issue, people with ambitions, or sometimes even amusing stories, please
tell us about it.

We are especially interested in any persons or groups who do a fantastic job in serving the community through their own unselfish acts. These are untold stories that need telling and which deserve more recognition for their own hard work and life dedication.

If you have any special request for photographs that you would like to see displayed on our site - or would like to commission us to carry out photographic work - please contact us with your proposal.

Mike Sweeney BA (Hons)
Founder member of Capital Life Photo.
Over 14 years photographic experience.

1990. Winner of the 'London Life' Open Photography Competition sponsored by Canon Uk, Photo Optix and L.B.C. Radio London, from over 2000 entries.

1991, to present time, a regular exhibitor of creative photography work for display in gallery exhibitions as a documentary photography and artist.

1994. By the end of his degree studies, Mike had two Documentary course projects published as a 'feature' in the prestigious 'British Journal of Photography' magazine, and in one issue, was chosen as their 'monthly shooting star', a feature dedicated to up and coming new photographers' in the UK.

1994. Mike Graduated from the University of Humberside with a B.A. (Hons), (Bachelor of Arts) Degree, in Documentary / Reportage Photography.

1994. Photography Assistant to American Photographer, Ira Block, when working on an assignment in the UK for 'National Geographic' magazine.

1996. Awarded a Regional Commission by Photo Arts 2000, (The organisers of the UK Year of Photography and Electronic Image) as the photographer chosen from the Yorkshire Region to produce a documentary exhibition about the Royal Armouries Museum, situated in Leeds, (Britain's largest post-war Heritage Museum, officially opened by the Queen).

1997 -1999. Mike and a colleague, founded 'Grassroots Photography' and managed a Regional Photography & Arts Educational Project in East Yorkshire, entitled, 'The Town and Country Project' which involved over 300 young people and disadvantaged children. Their work was also published in the British Journal of Photography magazine, and as quoted by the editor, "the results are quite remarkable'.
The project was funded by, the British Arts Council; the National Lottery;
Yorkshire & Humberside Arts; Boots; Rural Environmental Agencies; Local
Council and several Businesses.
This successful project was featured twice on Yorkshire television.

1997 - 2000. Managed an Exhibition Gallery in Princes Quay Shopping Centre, Hull. An opportunity arose to promote photography work in the region and provide a showcase for artists to display their work and gain recognition.

1997 - 2000. Mike taught Photography part-time, as a course leader and tutor, at three Colleges in East Yorkshire.

1999. Managed a commercial Photographic Studio in E. Yorkshire, undertaking Portraiture, Model Portfolios, Weddings, Press, P.R. and Advertising work. During this time, Mike also founded 'Pinnacle Model Agency' and managed fashion shows to promote the models, working with many of the well-known High Street Fashion retail outlets.

2000. Mike moved to London to develop new career opportunities as a Photographer and hopefully establish himself as one of the UK's leading contemporary Social Documentary / Reportage & Wedding photographers'.

2000 - 2003. Mike worked as a photographer for the NHS as a Press and Public Relations Photographer undertaking Annual Reports to Exhibitions.

2003. Mike founded Capital Life Photo, a new 'Social Photography Company', that works with other professional freelance photographers' to provide a photographic coverage service at Charity Functions; Corporate & Hospitality Events; P.R functions; Presentations; Sports and Outdoor events; Dinner Balls, Weddings, Parties and Dances, etc.

Nevertheless, with all of Mike's past photographic experience in many different areas of photography and as a documentary maker of work, as an artist, a teacher, a commercial photographer, reportage photographer, he is still very passionate, highly committed and remains very enthusiastic when it comes to producing new photographic work. He looks on this as another challenge to produce great creative photography work for his customers.