Boss Eyewear Launch at Dakota Manchester with Raphael Varane | Manchester Event Photography
When global eyewear manufacturer Safilo Group chose Dakota Bar, Manchester to launch the latest Boss Eyewear collection, the evening brought together luxury fashion, media, VIP guests and one of football's biggest names.
I was commissioned to provide professional event photography throughout the launch, capturing everything from the venue styling and product details to guest interactions, speeches and appearances by former Manchester United and France defender Raphael Varane.
Whether you're organising a luxury brand activation, PR launch, corporate event or celebrity appearance, documenting the atmosphere without interrupting it is what professional event photography is all about.
Photographing a Premium Brand Launch
Luxury brand events demand a different approach to photography.
It's not simply about documenting what happened. The images need to reflect the quality of the brand itself, creating photographs that are suitable for:
PR distribution
Press coverage
Social media marketing
Internal communications
Future marketing campaigns
Sponsor and partner publicity
For this event, every image needed to feel polished while remaining authentic, capturing genuine conversations and reactions rather than staged moments.
Dakota Manchester: An Ideal Venue for Corporate Events
Dakota Manchester provided an intimate yet sophisticated setting for the launch.
Its modern interiors, warm lighting and stylish cocktail bar created an ideal environment for guests to experience the new Boss Eyewear collection while networking with industry professionals, media representatives and invited VIPs.
Throughout the evening I photographed:
Arrival photography
Venue details
Boss branding
Product displays
Guest networking
VIP interactions
Group photographs
Speeches
Natural candid moments
These different styles of photography ensure organisers receive a complete visual story of the event rather than simply a collection of posed photographs.
Photographing Raphael Varane
A major highlight of the evening was the appearance of Raphael Varane, former Manchester United defender and World Cup winner with France.
Celebrity appearances require photographers to work quickly while remaining unobtrusive.
There are often only seconds to capture key moments such as:
Guest introductions
Handshakes
Press opportunities
On-stage interviews
Audience reactions
Informal conversations
Rather than relying solely on posed media photographs, I also focused on documenting the genuine interactions between Varane and guests throughout the evening, helping tell the complete story of the event.
Balancing Documentary Photography with PR Coverage
One of the biggest challenges during a corporate launch is balancing documentary photography with the images required by PR teams.
The final gallery included:
Brand Photography
Clean, professional images featuring Boss branding, product displays and venue styling.
Networking Photography
Natural conversations that demonstrate guest engagement and create authentic marketing content.
VIP Photography
Portraits and interaction shots featuring Raphael Varane alongside invited guests.
Atmosphere Photography
Wide images capturing the energy of the event and helping communicate the experience to those who weren't there.
Why Professional Event Photography Matters
For luxury brands, every event represents an investment.
High-quality photography allows that investment to continue generating value long after guests have gone home.
Professional event photography can be used across:
Company websites
Press releases
LinkedIn
Instagram
Facebook
Annual reports
Marketing brochures
Future event promotion
Strong photography also helps reinforce brand perception by ensuring every published image reflects the quality of the event itself.
Event Photographer in Manchester
Based in Manchester, I regularly photograph:
Corporate events
PR launches
Awards evenings
Product launches
Networking events
Conferences
Gala dinners
Brand activations
Charity events
VIP appearances
My approach is relaxed and unobtrusive, allowing guests to enjoy the event while I capture genuine moments that tell the full story.
To find out more about my event photography, check out my event photography page
And check more corporate photography case studies at:
The Manchester International Bubble Festival
Remal Restaurant, Prestwich
Vink UK’s 50th Anniversary
Manchester Uni Law Society Summer Ball
Gary Neville visits Rayburn Trading
Looking for a Manchester Event Photographer?
If you're planning a corporate event, product launch or PR activation in Manchester or anywhere across the UK, I'd love to hear more about it.
From intimate networking evenings through to large-scale brand launches and celebrity appearances, I deliver natural, polished imagery that works equally well for press coverage, marketing and social media.