This is what we do.
It's an expertise that has been developed over the past two centuries. We take the same care over a class group of ten excited six year olds as we do over a very large group of 1800 older and wiser children and adults. House, Sports, Complete School, Class, Music, Year groups. We do them all!
Get in touch today to discuss your project: 01869 328 200 or action@gillmanandsoame.co.uk
Whether it is rearranging the lighting, deciding upon the best background, getting that posture just right or coaxing out a reserved smile, our photographers ensure our portraits compliment on every level.
Get in touch today to discuss your project: 01869 328 200 or action@gillmanandsoame.co.uk
We are four historic brands, four extraordinary archives. Two Victorian trailblazers, one 20th Century innovator and one legendary photographer and calligrapher. Brought together to preserve the legacy of these ground breaking companies, each with a proud history and unique place in the photographic landscape, now moving forward together. Dedicated to the art of photography, sharing our wealth of historic images and preserving memories for future generations, all in the very best traditions of our founders.
Our archive is at the heart of Gillman & Soame, preserving a history of photographic passion. The forever snapping shutters of our coveted cameras continue to ensure that the window to the past stays open.
Two centuries in the making, our treasury of monochrome photographs are no less colourful than the characters captured and preserved in them. From Stephen Hawking and Albert Einstein to Oscar Wilde and Mick Jagger, our archive has seen it all.
With a broad database stretching back many decades, it is not just the Gillman & Soame family history we are proud of; we are always delighted to explore our archive for our discerning customers, perhaps your ancestors are waiting to be rediscovered?
Imagebank is an easily accessible, bespoke service set up by us to curate and make readily available the photographs we have taken of your school. Maximising the potential of this convenient database we also encourage you to upload your own images, to be stored alongside the ones we have taken, (be it photographs of sports days, theatre productions or school trips which you would like to have archived and available to view/order online) we will optimise and store these images as part of our complimentary commitment to help nurture and build the legacy of your institution. A secure service, available to parents, pupils and alumni alike, we consider preserving these visual annals of your school to be of utmost importance.
Stunning, creative photography, ideal for prospectuses and marketing materials. Let us show you the fantastic range of photography we have taken recently.
Shaped group images are a great way to celebrate an anniversary celebration.
We have photographed over 70 schools outside the UK!
Photographs can be viewed and ordered online with a secure login and password, any queries are dealt with directly by Gillman & Soame, removing the time consuming admin often undertaken by schools.
If you have a creative brief or idea that you're currently wrestling with, give us a shout, we may be able to help. Email action@gillmanandsoame.co.uk, call 01869 328 200, or use the booking form.
Ever keen to take advantage of the newest technology initiatives, we are equally excited about our involvement in revitalising old traditions. Our popular hand illuminated photographs offer the opportunity to have the surrounding mount of your photograph adorned with exquisite calligraphy, executed by our own master calligraphists. This exclusive option has been reintroduced to make your personalised order feel even more special. We are committed to this artful craft to the extent that the only compromise we have made in this love-letter to our past heritage has been trading in our quills for some slightly less antiquated, specialist ink-pens!
Since 1856, and the painstaking process of hand-exposing photographs in cramped darkrooms, to the present, and the unveiling of our rapid turnaround, state-of-the-art digital photographic laboratory, our story has been defined by keeping one eye open for exciting new possibilities, with the other pressed keenly against our viewfinders, eager to capture fantastic new photographs.
From our humble beginnings in 1856 as Oxfordshire wigmakers who saw the promise of the exciting new medium of photography, to our first royal recognition from HRH Queen Victoria just ten years later, we had already begun to hone our craft. Our introduction of the first commercial service for colour school portraiture in 1964 was another of these milestones, the creation of our revolutionary, British Design Award-winning staging design in 1989 being another breakthrough that continues to inform our pioneering spirit.
We continue to undertake creative initiatives to complement and champion our clients to this day.
Top row: Left hand image features Ronald Reagan, right hand image features Oscar Wilde.
Bottom row: Left hand image features Stephen Hawking, right hand image features HM Queen Elizabeth II.
Unique. Safe. Efficient. We are the only company in our field to have designed our staging with the school group in mind. Not only do we take superb photographs but we are also able to photograph larger staged groups than anyone else in the industry.
Our commitment to convenience, ease and above all safety for all our clients led us to create and patent our own British Design Council award winning staging system. Intuitively designed and swiftly erected, the aluminium frame supports a staging model that has the largest capacity in the industry, providing countless prestigious schools with the perfect platform on which thousands of students have been encouraged to stand proud on.
Unlike other staging designs, ours is comfortable on all-terrain; grass or tarmac, flat or uneven. The large discs which the staging sits upon enable it to float upon any surface. Our efficient design makes the process run even smoother, ensuring that you are smiling long before our expert photographers prompt you to!
Our ethos of attention to detail and rigour runs throughout our work. From the secure fastening of our staging system to the all-important fastening of top buttons and ties, we will always ensure every aspect meets our high standards.
Long lasting client and customer relationships.
A desire to get the job done perfectly whatever the circumstances.
A pride in ensuring that our customers are satisfied and happy with the results of our work.
Dedication and commitment as standard.
We know how many of you give our photographs as presents. This has spurred us on to create a range of frames in really beautiful textured gift boxes. These are all available online when parents login to purchase their photographs.
I just wanted to say how pleased I have been with the recent service received by your company.
Your colleague Emma Kimber was a pleasure to deal with and couldn’t have done more to help me.
The service your company has provided was excellent. Your team were able to assist me in not only locating an old school photo but also editing, where I am sure other companies wouldn’t have been willing to do so.
The quality, packaging and timing was outstanding.
I am really happy with the photos; the composition and lighting are professional, and the printing and mounting are of high quality materials.
Great website, easy to navigate and order. Lots of options available too.
Just a note to say thank you, we have just joined Bedford School, and I can honestly say that is the best school photograph we have ever had of our son. Great work
Photo arrived promptly and well packaged. Photo is clear and mounting and school name is high quality.
Quality of the picture and the frame are really good and value for money.
Absolutely gorgeous quality photos with stunning frames.
Beautiful pictures. Staff really helpful. Buy every year and the quality is fantastic.
Gillman & Soame provide the best quality school photos, at a reasonable price (compared to other school photography companies). I am so pleased I'm able to purchase my son's photos from Gillman & Soame.
Great service, the effort put into producing beautiful group photos is evident.
Thank you
A big thank you for your very professional service, as I telephoned to make enquiries before placing my order. It was refreshing to be able to speak to someone (who, incidentally, was polite, patient and very helpful) rather than everything being automated online. As for the order itself, everything arrived within the time stated and professionally packed. We're also very pleased with the quality of workmanship...as in the photographs themselves, the frames and the Hand Illuminated wording.
Great photos and smooth process. Thanks
So easy to order photos and the variety of purchase options is excellent. Thank you.
The photos are excellent quality and well mounted - very happy.
Thank you for making this process so easy to order and for keeping records of past photographs that I’d always said I would get round to ordering!
Excellent service. Nothing is too much for the team. Thank you.
Very detailed professional picture, beautiful frame, large size. Nice memory.
Excellent photographs,beautifully mounted. Easy to order and swift delivery.
Absolutely fantastic photo and a lovely memory for my child to keep and look back on.
Very good value for money. It is a forever memory that will be cherished for generations to come. Thank you.
Excellent quality. Superb customer service. Excellent packaging and care taken with delivery. Thank you.