CONSIDERED, ELEGANT, ANALOGUE
Thrive Brighton by Daniel Knight Harris
“Cameras are just paintbrushes – what matters is the picture you create with them” – Daniel Knight Harris
When Daniel Knight Harris joined us at Thrive Brighton, he brought with him a career shaped far beyond weddings. Over the past 13 years, Daniel has worked as a photographer, film director, producer and art director across music, advertising and fashion, creating striking visual work for brands including Dior, Nike, Netflix, Dr Martens, Spotify and Leica.
His roots sit firmly in music. Early in his career, Daniel was dreaming up set design and art direction for artists on major and independent labels, building worlds rather than simply photographing them. That instinct for atmosphere, narrative and visual intention has never left him.
Daniel photographed his first wedding in 2016 for one of his artists and quickly fell for the theatre of it all – the emotion, the fashion, and the sheer importance of what was being captured. Nine years on, weddings now sit at the centre of his practice, attracting couples who lean in creatively and want an invested, art director-centric photographer to help shape their celebration from the inside out.
One of the defining elements of Daniel’s work is how deeply involved he is with his couples before the wedding day ever arrives. He talks with them year-round, helping shape decisions around fashion, design and creative direction so that when the day comes, everything already aligns visually and emotionally.
He shoots an even split of film and digital, arriving with what can only be described as a smorgasbord of cameras, each treated like a different paintbrush. Every tool has a purpose. Every format brings something unique. This mindset carried directly into his Thrive sessions.
Daniel chose to host his Thrive shoots at Tichborne Studios, a former Victorian bakery in Brighton, rich with tiled walls, generous natural light and beautiful original windows. It was a considered choice – a space that rewarded patience and precision rather than speed.
Shooting entirely on medium format film, Daniel slowed the pace right down. This wasn’t about volume. It was about intention.
Daniel Knight Harris – Directing with Clarity and Calm
Daniel’s directing style is confident but measured. He knows exactly what he’s looking for, and he communicates that clearly, without rushing or overwhelming the subject. This was invaluable for attendees to witness up close – particularly those newer to directing or working with fashion-forward portraiture.
The focus on bridal portraits allowed photographers to see how Daniel balances strength and softness, structure and flow. How he uses light not to flatter blindly, but to sculpt. How he allows space for the subject to inhabit the frame rather than fill it.
His sessions focused on:
- confident directing
- beautiful, fashion-led bridal portraiture
- ambient light and continuous light scenarios
- gaining confidence shooting on film
- dialling in creative preparation
THRIVE
THE SHOOT EXPERIENCE
Learning Film by Doing
One of my favourite moments from Daniel’s sessions came from attendee Katie Rogers, who booked onto his shoot at the very last minute. Thirty minutes before the session began, she ran to Clocktower Cameras and picked up a reconditioned medium format film camera so she could take part fully.
That’s Thrive in a nutshell.
These sessions aren’t about watching from the sidelines. They’re about stepping in, trying something new, and learning through action. Daniel’s calm, considered approach created the perfect environment for photographers to slow down, trust the process and build confidence working with film.
The Takeaways
Daniel Knight Harris showed our community that creative preparation is not restrictive – it’s liberating. When you’ve thought deeply about light, space, tools and intention, you’re free to work with confidence when it matters most.
His Thrive sessions reminded photographers that:
- directing is a skill you can refine
- film rewards patience and decisiveness
- fashion and portraiture thrive on clarity of vision
- slower doesn’t mean less powerful
It was one of those workshops that quietly recalibrates how you approach your work.
Experience Thrive for Yourself
This is exactly why Thrive exists. Small-group sessions. World-class mentors. The chance to observe, question, shoot and experiment in real time.
If you want to learn from mentors like Daniel – seeing their process in real time and experimenting alongside them – then you’ll want to join us at the next Thrive Conference.
THE TEAM
- Photography & Mentorship: Daniel Knight Harris for Photography Farm
- Bridalwear and Styling: My Bridal Stylist
- Hair: Big Hair Energy
- MUA: Joanne Hook
- Model: Anna Cher
