The Storage.co.uk Award for Self Storage Photography

When Storage.co.uk set up the Award for Self Storage Photography, we had in mind some kind of artistic interpretation that would bring visual magic to an industry not normally seen in such terms. A flight a geese slices through misty pink dawn still lit by a full moon, Ansel Adams-style; in a warehouse below, beneath a large sign announcing Self Storage, a member of the night-shift staff is caught (à la Edward Hopper) in the orange glow of the office lights, bidding farewell to customers who have taken advantage of 24-hour access…

Well, we didn’t receive that one, quite. But we did nonetheless have plenty of excellent photography to choose from. Some of this showed a clear artistic eye. Some was designed for the functional purpose of communication, to tell website visitors what to expect from self storage, and did so to a high standard. Some managed to mix functionality with artistic qualities, seen for example in clever composition or lighting.

A shortlist was selected from a mixture of submissions, recommended links to websites, and our own review of over 500 self storage websites. And here are the five winners, in alphabetical order:

Inner Spaces ‒ The website (www.innerspacesuk.co.uk) contains excellent commercial photography throughout, commended especially for its use of people as well as crisp detail, always closely keyed into the subject of self storage. It brings the same qualities to all aspects of this interestingly diverse company: based in Cowes on the Isle of Wight, it offers yachting self storage as well as personal and business self storage.

Shopwhyke Storage Centre ‒ We love the saturated blues in this website photography (www.chichesterselfstorage.co.uk). Simple, elegant, striking. Container storage has never looked so beautiful!

Speedy Self Storage ‒ Speedy Self Storage submitted the photograph at the top of this article. You see a lot of corridors like this in the self storage industry, and indeed there is one on Speedy Self Storage’s own website (www.speedyselfstorage.co.uk); but clever manipulation of this image has imbued it with a mysterious beauty. It could even be a Christmas card!

Westfields Ltd ‒ The Westfields website has a photo gallery containing over 200 images (www.westfields-storage.co.uk/photogallery.php?sp=0). Based in Dinton, near Salisbury, Westfields is very diverse storage company (as their website puts it: “Self Storage, Furniture Storage, Domestic Self Storage, Undercover Caravan Storage, Winter Caravan Storage, Long Term Storage, Motorhome Storage, Car Storage, Boat Storage, Rib Storage, Yacht Storage, Double Decker Bus Storage, Carriage Storage, Train & Carriage Storage, Locomotive Storage, RV Recreational Vehicle Storage, Motorbike Storage, Military Vehicle Storage, Secure Motor Bike Storage, Trailer Storage, Lorry Storage, Motor Vehicle Storage, Caravan Storage, Furniture Storage.”) The photo gallery shows a real passion for the big machines; they are portrayed with a good eye for impact through composition and crisp detail. There is similar interest in the portrayal of people too, who sometimes fit into the composition in a surprising way. Some of the images may just be visual records, but many have a poise or drama that could stand up in their own right for their artistic merit. See, for example: www.westfields-storage.co.uk/photo.php?pid=15493, www.westfields-storage.co.uk/photo.php?pid=15587, www.westfields-storage.co.uk/photo.php?pid=15723, www.westfields-storage.co.uk/photo.php?pid=16649

Wrekin Removals & Storage ‒ Watch the slide show on the home page of their website: http://wrekinremovals.co.uk/pages/home.php. This is an excellent set of 15 photographs that brings to life their business of removals and storage, in part because the images are not generic and overly polished. The images of people are particularly well constructed and selected, and the result is collection that conveys both visual information and a strong sense of a positive and friendly company ethos.