Coronation Street’s photographer, Danielle Baguley, has a dream job. “On a standard day,” she says, “I’ll have numerous different scenes put in my diary. I go onto different sets photographing the scenes which get sent to all the different magazines, newspapers and onlines.” But Danielle’s work isn’t limited to everyday scenes. “Sometimes we have special shoots in for the front covers of magazines,” she reveals, “other days I’ll be photographing the actors for their cast cards, working with our sponsors or collaborating with design and shooting bespoke promo photography.”
Danielle Baguley has even had the privilege of photographing royalty. “I’ve been lucky enough on other days to photograph the Queen and Princess Anne!” she exclaims. “So every day is different, no two days are ever the same, which I love.”
But how did Danielle land this exciting role? “When I was younger I always wanted to be a photographer,” she explains, “but I got told photography wasn’t a real job so I put it to the back of my mind.” It wasn’t until she saw a photographer’s gallery in Australia that her dream reignited. “[I]t made my mind up that this is what I wanted to pursue,” she says. Determined, Danielle went back to university and eventually became an assistant for a leading photographer in Manchester. “That’s how I got into what I’m doing today,” she smiles.
Danielle has now been at Coronation Street for five years, and it’s the people that keep her there. “When I was freelance, even though I loved it, I’d be in a different place every day and then at home editing alone,” she remembers. “Whereas here I come to work, I’ve got friends here, every day I’m having a laugh and every day is different. It’s nice to have a big family unit at work and every day is varied. It’s just a nice vibe and nice people.”
As a woman in a competitive industry, Danielle is proud to see so many other women succeeding. “I’m all about equality and female empowerment,” she says, “so it’s nice to see so many women thriving at ITV.”
Coronation Street continues at 8pm tomorrow on ITV1
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