Case Study · Broadcast & Media
TV Stills Photographer for ITV Studios / MultiStory Media — ‘Come Dine With Me’
Since 1997, UNP has operated as a leading TV stills photographer partner for major broadcasters. Assignments for ITV’s long-running factual formats, including ‘Come Dine With Me’, are handled by our specialist unit stills team. We document the chemistry and chaos of the dinner table to provide high-impact artwork for press, streaming platforms, EPG listings, and social trailers.
Broadcasting deadlines are uncompromising. A TV stills photographer must deliver technically perfect imagery that meets the strict specifications of national listings. Tristan Hopkins, Commissioning Editor at Radio Times, highlights the importance of this reliability:
“We trust UNP with our sensitive editorial projects. Their photographers are professional and the images are always delivered perfectly for print deadlines.”
Capturing the Narrative: The Role of a Unit Stills Photographer
In the world of factual entertainment, the role of a TV stills photographer is to be a “silent observer.” For a production like ‘Come Dine With Me’, which relies on authentic, unscripted reactions, our photographers must work seamlessly alongside the crew. We capture the warmth, the tension, and the humour of the dinner party without breaking the “fourth wall” or disrupting the contributors.
These images serve as the primary marketing tools for the series. From editorial portraits of the hosts to “fly-on-the-wall” reportage of the kitchen prep, every shot is designed to stop the scroll on social media or catch a viewer’s eye on a digital EPG. Our work supports the show’s identity across press releases and streaming platforms like ITVX.
This assignment forms part of UNP’s wider TV stills and unit photographer service, supporting broadcasters, production companies and publicists across the UK.
For Come Dine With Me, the challenge is to capture genuine reactions, contributor personality and usable promotional frames without disturbing the rhythm of filming.
For Come Dine With Me, the challenge is to capture genuine reactions, contributor personality and usable promotional frames without disturbing the rhythm of filming.
Visual Approach — Cast, Homes & Real Reactions
Coordinating Nationwide Production Stills
Producing a series that spans the entire UK requires a sophisticated logistics partner. By utilising our multi-location photographer network, we provided ITV Studios and MultiStory Media with local professionals in cities from Belfast to Cambridge.
This approach ensures that a TV stills photographer is always nearby, reducing the environmental impact of travel and allowing for flexible scheduling as production dates shift. Every shoot is managed through our Picture Desk, ensuring the visual style remains consistent across the entire series.
Whether it’s a high-pressure kitchen scene or a relaxed lifestyle portrait, our team delivers the high-resolution assets required for international syndication and digital marketing.
Broadcast Press Coverage & Editorial Use
UNP’s work as a TV stills photographer has been regularly featured across national press and broadcast platforms. Our unit stills and on-location imagery have supported listings, reviews and long-form editorial coverage for major UK broadcasters.
Recent examples include bylined UNP photography used in national press coverage of Channel 4 and ITV productions, such as coverage of historian Alice Roberts filming Britain’s Most Historic Towns for Channel 4, published by Mail Online , with images credited to UNP.
Additional UNP photography has accompanied broadcast features including Channel 4’s Grayson Perry: This England, covered by Stylist , and comedy travel programming such as Along for the Ride with David O’Doherty, documented in listings on Comedy.co.uk and TVMaze .
Reliable Visuals for the Streaming Era
The transition to digital-first broadcasting has increased the demand for high-quality, varied imagery. A single episode now requires a vast array of assets to satisfy the needs of promotional events, social media trailers, and streaming platform carousels.
The success of our collaboration with ITV proves that a nationwide TV stills photographer network is the most efficient way to capture the British public in all their culinary glory. By combining local expertise with central management, we ensure that every dinner party—no matter how far-flung—is documented with professional precision.
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