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I’m Toby Lockerbie, a freelance filmmaker, director of photography and photographer based in London.

I specialise in making engaging, high production value looking films for brands, companies and individuals, either on my own or as part of a small production team.

I mostly make small, commercial films but I also work as a Director of Photography on larger shoots and I still take photos for select clients.

I’m based in London though travel a lot for work.

Bespoke visuals

 

I film a variety of subjects for clients. The best way to get an idea of the diversity and quality of what I shoot is to take a quick look at my showreel here:

I specialise in making high production value looking, creative, beautiful images for clients that are instantly engaging and crafting a story around them. If that sounds like something you might like then get in touch.

 
 
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I’ve been shooting professionally since 2008. Before I focused on fimmaking, I was a full-time photographer and my first passion was in landscape photography at night in exotic locations around the world. From Everest Base Camp, to the Great Wall of China, to temples in South East Asia. I did this for half of my year while focusing on reportage wedding photography the other half.

I made a mini documentary about one of my photography and filming trips in 2013 which was picked up by multiple blogs and chosen as a Vimeo Staff Pick. It was also nominated with 8 others as the best video online by the Webcuts 2013 film awards. It gives a good introduction to myself and my attitude to work and creativity:

I shot more than 150 weddings over those first few years, including the wedding of the oscar nominated Hollywood actor Stanley Tucci to the literary agent Felicity Blunt. I also specialised in food photography for a time as Stanley Tucci also asked me to photograph his second cookery book, The Tucci Table.

Toby was the best and most willing conspirator on our book. He made food photography, immersive and most importantly fun! Not an easy task when you are presenting the same dish for 8 different angles. He dealt with the chaos, the noise and the furore of being in a part studio part family kitchen with equanimity and humour. We didn’t want him to leave the house at the end of the days (and definitely kept him later than a union would allow).
— Stanley Tucci and Felicity Blunt

While I still take photos for select clients, around 2010 I started to transition towards making films rather than taking photos and my first music video helped an up and coming band get management and signed to Island Records. They went on to Platinum selling success as Rizzle Kicks and I was nominated for a MOBO in 2011 among five others for ‘Best Music Video’ for ‘Down With The Trumpets’.

TOBY LOCKERBIE YOU LEGEND - Without your skills we genuinely don’t think any of this would have happened, at least not for a while longer.
— Jordan and Harley - Rizzle Kicks - on the inside of their debut 'Stereo Typical' album sleeve

I directed, shot and edited 12 music videos for Rizzle Kicks and then started moving on to more commercial shooting.


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In 2016 I was recognised by Sony Europe as an Independent Certified Expert in filmmaking and have given masterclasses for them on filmmaking to up and coming filmmakers and appeared on their Sony Pro Show.

I’ve filmed food, fashion, aerial, hyperlapses, music videos, jewellery, travel, documentary, wildlife, 360, underwater and more. I often edit and grade myself from my editing studio.

My focus on my films and DoP work is very much on beautiful, engaging visuals. I feel that in a world where so much media is consumed on phones, sometimes with no sound, immediately engaging visuals are more important than ever. However click-bait or meme style videos don’t represent the values and messaging of most good brands. So I work in the complex but rewarding world of high-end visuals with quickly engaging stories, for small, often online projects, where value for money goes a long way but without compromising the client’s values and professionalism. Basically making online films for brands look like the very best TV adverts while also being affordable.

A successful project for me isn’t one where I just fulfill my own creative ambitions, it’s one where I use my creativity and experience to make something that my client says ‘wow’ to and is successful for them.


As a quick example of some of my work I’ve selected four films I’ve made below that represent some of the diversity of my shooting:

  • A travel film I made for Skyscanner showing the highlights of Indonesia.

  • A music video I was the Director of Photography for, ‘House of Moody’, for Jimmi Charles Moody.

  • An event I shot for British Polo Day in India. (currently with 1.5 million views on Facebook here)

  • A commercial I was the Director of Photography for, for Puma.

We have worked with Toby on events all over the world, from India to China to Mexico. His skill at capturing beautiful, elegant and engaging imagery is only matched by his dedication and charm that makes him a joy to work with.
— Head of Marketing and PR - British Polo Day

To give a quick idea of one of the projects I’ve been working on in the last year, in 2018/19 I’ve shot and edited 50+ destination films for Bicester Village, from longer form films playing in their villages to short, 10 second instagram films. Combining my travel, food, luxury, brand, DoP/lighting and hyperlapse experience.


Please don’t hesitate to get in touch.