meat: Manchester

meat Manchester: men of the north get naked

There is nothing like a northern bloke. I know this because I am one.

There’s a particular kind of energy you find in men from the north. It’s warmth, humour, openness, and just a little bit of mischief. Less fuss, less posing — just men who show up as themselves. It’s something you recognise immediately, and it’s exactly what I found again when meat returned to Manchester.

This project started with the NKD Manchester calendar. Each guy captured during a week of shoots in the city. But as soon as the calendar was finished it was obvious that one image of each man simply wasn’t enough.

Because the real magic of those shoots wasn’t just the final photographs. It was the atmosphere.

My overriding memory of that week is laughter. Proper belly laughter. The kind that fills a room and breaks down any nerves in seconds. These men were funny, charming, relaxed and completely themselves from the moment the camera came out. Each shoot quickly turned into its own little world, music playing, cups of tea or the occasional beer, stories being told, and plenty of friendly northern banter flying around.

Of course they’re sexy, you’ll see that for yourself in the pages of this book. But the appeal goes far beyond that. The real attraction is the mix of confidence and ease, the humour, the generosity of spirit. Northern men have a way of giving you everything when you photograph them. Not in a performative way, but in a trusting one. They lean into the experience, relax into their own skin, and suddenly the camera becomes the easiest thing in the room.

meat Manchester: men of the north get naked is the natural continuation of the calendar project — the fuller story behind those images.

Across 104 pages, eleven of the North’s finest strip off for the camera, revealing far more than a single calendar photograph ever could. These are the full shoots: more skin, more personality, more of the warmth and humour that made that week in Manchester so memorable.

What you’ll find here is a celebration of northern masculinity in all its forms; playful, relaxed, confident and occasionally cheeky. Beautiful bodies, yes, but also the personalities behind them. The laughter between shots. The quiet moments when someone forgets the camera is there.

In short: a group of brilliant men getting naked and having a very good time doing it.

And honestly, that’s exactly what meat has always been about.

meat Manchester: men of the north get nakedA4 softcover · 104 pages

Eleven northern men. One unforgettable week of photography. Plenty of charm, mischief and Manchester spirit.

If you liked the calendar, you’re going to love the book.

Pre-order the book HERE