Andrew Davis
The Capital Market's Photographer
A Passion turned Profession
Andrew Davis’s career in photography showcases resilience in his professional evolution, illustrating how he adapted a childhood hobby into an international portfolio of Capital Markets Legends. Let us explore together his inspiring journey to this point!
Early Beginnings and Education
Andrew’s journey began at age 13 when he received his first camera, igniting a passion that led him to shoot ‘rolls and rolls of film.’ His desire to go further prompted him to acquire an SLR, which taught him essential technical skills he still uses today. When I chatted with him about it, he reminisced about how difficult it was at first!
In childhood, he developed a friendship with Justin Lawson, the publisher of Securities Finance Times, and later enjoyed playing field hockey together in college in Boston, Lincolnshire. Justin and Andrew went off in different career directions, but they always stayed loosely connected over the years.
After college, Andrew entered the art industry and secured his first full-time job at Jessops’ print lab in Leicester. He credits his time there as a significant learning experience, noting that he likely learned more in that practical environment than during his prior college course.
From Nightclubs to Conferences
Like many creatives, Andrew faced difficulties entering the self-sufficient professional art market. His initial breakthrough was unconventional; he found work photographing people in nightclubs. While not his ideal role, this experience proved crucial for building his confidence, as he learned to arrange distracted subjects into composed images amidst chaotic environments.
This “stepping stone” gave him the impetus to launch his own business. Andrew’s first venture was a studio in Newport opened with a business partner, but differing visions led to the studio’s closure in 2007. Undeterred, he worked from home for several years—a period that allowed him to spend time with his young children—before opening a successful new studio in Pencoed.
Undoubtedly, the nightclubs and studio work prepared him well for the opportunity that later arose through his old friend, Justin Lawson, in the capital market conference environment in which he thrives today. A few years ago, Justin reached out while hosting his inaugural awards evening for Asset Servicing Times and asked Andrew to photograph the event.
Following its success, Andrew was then asked to cover the Securities Finance Times Awards and, later that same year, the SFT Symposium. Those events were his “first real exposure to the capital markets conference environment,” and they allowed Andrew to network, build his own relationships, and begin securing further work in the financial industry.
A Strategic Pivot
2025 marked a new chapter in Andrew’s career. While maintaining a studio and family photography, he consciously shifted his focus from wedding photography to expand his work in the commercial and corporate sectors, especially in the Capital Markets, demonstrating his adaptability and resilience worldwide.
By the end of 2025, Andrew’s career focus had shifted significantly, inspiring others with his ability to adapt and pursue new opportunities.
His 2025 portfolio reflects this international capital markets and corporate expansion, including:
• International Events: Andrew photographed symposiums in Riyadh, Boston, and London for Black Knight Media.
• Corporate Clients: He produced headshots for Euronext in Canary Wharf and covered events for Absolute Collateral in London and Frankfurt.
• Architectural Work: He undertook architectural photography for the Wernick Group Limited.
Personal Life and Resilience
Andrew cites his family—specifically his wife and two sons—as significant influences on his outlook on life, adding a genuine and relatable dimension to his story that resonated with me.
His professional achievements in 2025 occurred amid intense personal hardship, demonstrating his resilience and inspiring confidence in his ability to adapt and grow.
Andrew navigated his expanding corporate workload while coping with the loss of his mother and his father’s hospitalisation. Amidst these challenges, he found joy in watching his grandson grow, noting that this personal perspective became more important than ever.
Looking forward, Andrew aims to continue building relationships in the commercial sectors, producing work he is proud of while reducing his volume of wedding commissions. Andrew is becoming the ever-present Capital Markets photographer.
