About decoy_
I’m Alex Mead, the photographer behind decoy - a Manchester-based photography studio with a focus on commercial, portrait and event photography. With 15+ years in the industry, I bring experience, a creative eye and a solutions-focused mindset to every shoot.
I started decoy in 2011 with a simple belief: professional photography should be as seamless as it is creative. Over the last 15 years, I’ve navigated everything from complex, multi-room corporate events and precise executive headshots to reactive PR shoots.
In that time, I’ve been trusted to deliver for a diverse range of organisations, whether it’s providing headshots for Amazon, documenting public sector milestones for the Cabinet Office and Manchester City Council, or capturing interiors for Specsavers.
My approach is solutions-focused, whether that is finding the perfect light in a challenging space or ensuring your PR shots are edited and delivered before the morning news cycle hits.
Partnering with the UK's leading brands
Big enough to deliver. Small enough to care.
While I lead the creative direction, some stories require a larger canvas. Over the years, I’ve built a hand-picked network of Manchester’s finest creatives. When a project demands it, I pull in a trusted team to scale our capabilities:
- Specialist Photographers for multi-stage or large-scale events.
- Videographers & Animators for integrated digital campaigns.
- High-End Editors for rapid-response, high-volume delivery.
You get the personal touch and accountability of working directly with me, bolstered by the horsepower of a full-service production house.
Professional Photos
Projects & Shoots
Clients Partnerships
Years experience
Read what clients have said about decoy_
Rated 5 stars on Google & Trustpilot based on over 100+ reviews.
High-quality photography and outstanding service.
Alex and the team have supported all our regional photoshoots for the last couple of years and have consistently provided incredible shots! High quality output, great post-prod, professional, efficient and flexible when we've needed them to be. Could not recommend enough!
Top notch photography and lovely to deal with.
I can't recommend Alex Mead and Decoy Media highly enough. He has a fantastic eye and his photographs of our theatre rehearsals really captured the spirit of the room. Top notch photography and lovely to deal with.
Consistently professional with excellent results.
Decoy Media were helpful and professional when dealing with our (often last minute) requests and tricky briefs. Followed the briefs and delivered the images as agreed and on time.
We always appreciate his professionalism and efficiency
Alex has covered a number of our events over the past year and always delivers a very high standard of images. We always appreciate his professionalism and efficiency. Thank you so much for capturing the moment so well at all our shows. We look forward to working together again in the future.
Highly recommended.
Really great service from first meet to delivery on the night for our Yep event. Alex is a really friendly guy and the snaps were quality. Highly recommended.
A few reasons to partner with us_
Benefits of working together.
Experienced Pro
Years of experience capturing events, people, places, and moments.
Competitive Rates
Professional photography without the inflated price tag.
Quick Turnaround
Receive a preview edit the next day, with the full set of edited images delivered via a cloud gallery in 3-5 days.*
Excellent Rep
Trusted by global brands including Amazon, Microsoft, and the BBC, with over 100 5-star reviews.
Personal Touch
A relaxed, approachable style that makes guests feel comfortable.
Flexible & Adaptable
From boardrooms to banquets, we work seamlessly in any setting.
Photography Services
We specialise in capturing events, photographing people and content generation for businesses but undertake work in many areas through our varied experience.
FAQs
decoy is committed to delivering exceptional visuals with creativity and precision. We take the time to understand your goals, ensuring every image reflects your story and strengthens your brand.
Do you charge extra for travel?
Yes. However, to keep things simple for budgeting, all of our quotes are inclusive of travel and expenses across the UK.
The rate we provide is the final price you pay.
Who owns the image rights?
For the vast majority of our projects, we provide full, unlimited usage rights as standard. You are free to use your assets across press, social media, and marketing materials indefinitely.
How quickly will I receive my files?
We offer a small selection of edits for comms/social media on the same or the next day. The full edited gallery is typically delivered within 3–5 working days, with priority next-day delivery available as an upgrade.
Do you offer video as well?
Yes. We can scale our team to provide interviews, highlight reels, and B-roll alongside our photography to ensure a cohesive look for your campaign.
