MCFLY / UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP
FIVE-YEAR CREATIVE PARTNERSHIP · MUSIC
Shaping McFly’s visual identity across albums, arena tours, merchandise and fan culture.
From 2010 to 2015, Tom worked closely with McFly, their management and Universal Music Group, translating ideas from the band and label into photography used across albums, singles, arena tours, merchandise, official calendars, press and fan-facing campaigns.
The long-term relationship required more than a series of individual shoots. Each release needed a distinct visual chapter while remaining unmistakably McFly—balancing commercial ambition with the personality and energy their audience connected with.
ROLE
Creative Director · Producer · Photographer
THE WORK
Campaign concept · Art direction · Photography · Lighting · Styling direction · Studio and location production · Live and documentary imagery
THE CHALLENGE
McFly’s visual output needed to support major commercial releases while remaining authentic to the personalities of the band. Album campaigns, tour imagery, merchandise and press content all had different purposes, but everything still needed to feel part of one recognisable identity.
The challenge was to create images polished enough for record-label campaigns and large commercial formats without losing the humour, character and accessibility that made the band meaningful to their fans.
BUILDING LONG-TERM CREATIVE TRUST
Working directly with the band, management and Universal Music Group, Tom developed concepts and translated often informal ideas into complete visual productions.
Over time, the relationship created a valuable creative shorthand. Ideas could be explored quickly and confidently because the personalities of the band, expectations of the label and emotional connection of the audience were already understood.
MAKING EACH ERA FEEL DISTINCT
Every album, campaign and tour needed its own mood, styling and visual references. The creative direction could evolve between releases without disconnecting from the larger McFly identity.
This created a visual system that was consistent without becoming formulaic—allowing the band to change, experiment and mature while remaining immediately recognisable.
FROM CAMPAIGN TO LIVE EXPERIENCE
The visual identity extended beyond campaign assets into the live experience. Each release needed to connect naturally with the energy and scale of the stage.
Live and documentary photography then carried that experience back into press, merchandise and fan-facing content—creating an ongoing visual relationship between the band and its audience.
THE OUTCOME
Across the five-year partnership, Tom helped create a cohesive body of imagery spanning multiple releases, campaigns and arena tours.
The resulting work demonstrates what becomes possible when creative direction is given time to develop: imagery cohesive enough to strengthen an artist’s identity, flexible enough to work across numerous commercial formats and personal enough to remain meaningful to fans.
Need a visual identity people recognise and remember?
60–90 minute consultation · Full report in 7 days · £800 investment