Trending Now: This entertainment story covers the latest buzz, reactions, and updates surrounding Trending Now: I’m a local press showbiz and celebrity snapper from St Annes and have won photographer of the year – Fans React..
A local press showbiz and celebrity photographer from St Annes has recently been ranked 31st in the world.
Dave Nelson has also been placed as the highest-ranked photographer in the UK in the prestigious Lifestyle Photographers Association Awards 2025.
Dave, 61, continues his work as a leading press photographer while embarking on an exciting new venture in lifestyle photography.
Moving beyond the traditional studio environment, his latest work embraces the great outdoors, offering greater flexibility, authenticity, and creativity in portraiture.
Throughout his career, Dave has photographed countless features for OK! Magazine, major TV listings publications, and national newspapers.
He remains a regular presence at the UK’s biggest events and festivals, such as the Brit Awards, Pride of Britain and the odd James Bond premier.
He also continues working as an official photographer for many of the highest profile awards in London.
Most recently Dave was comissioned by ABBA on Voyage, instructed to capture the last ever official photograph of the supergroup on stage.
His career thus far seen him photograph an extraordinary range of artists, including Michael Jackson, The Rolling Stones, James Brown, Prince, to name but an impressive few, and almost every other major name in music and entertainment, within the last 25 years with his images syndicated worldwide.
One of Dave’s long-standing passions is television drama, particularly the soaps.
In 2026, he plans two exhibitions – the first being Soap Stars, which will showcase iconic soap actors and the often outrageous and memorable moments he has captured with them over the years. While some of these legends are no longer with us, their memories and images live on.
The second exhibition will focus on live music, a subject close to Dave’s heart.
He has been photographing gigs since the age of 16, starting at the Gazette, developing his own film, and catching the bus to the office to meet tight deadlines — the beginning of a career that would span decades and be part of a body of work that would come to shape British entertainment photography.
Dave said: “I love what I do as every day the lens captures something new. 2026 I am ready for you!”
If you would like to view some of Dave’s body of work click here.