A working life - in pictures

Crystal Costa was photographed in rehearsals for an English National Ballet version of The Snow Queen. 'The schedule is pretty full on,' she said. 'The training is longer hours than a proper working job because we do classes from 10.30am until 6.30pm Monday to Friday, and a half-day Saturday.'
Photograph by Sarah Lee for the Guardian, January 2010
Photograph: Sarah Lee for the Guardian

4ft 2" tall, chimney sweep Albert Boat worked for Kirk McLenaghan’s company Auld Reekie. McLenaghan said: 'The biggest threats are roofs that are wet, "green" or frosty. People look at the top and bottom of the chimney and see a 9in opening, but they don’t know what’s in the middle.'
Photograph by Murdo Macleod for the Guardian, December 2008
Photograph: Murdo Macleod for the Guardian

The department store Santa we profiled has received plenty of quirky requests from children over the years: 'The best was from a five-year-old. She said "I really want a boyfriend for mummy." I said "I can’t promise – it may not be this Christmas, but we will do our best,"' he said.
Photograph by Graham Turner for the Guardian, December 2011
Photograph: Graham Turner for the Guardian

'When I first started in floristry, a bride wanted sprays of purple, red and yellow with white gypsophila,' said florist Storm Emin. 'She obviously didn’t know what she was talking about, but she insisted we go ahead, and when she came and saw the results just before the wedding she burst into tears. Since then I always warn people if I think their ideas won’t work,' she said.
Photograph by Frank Baron for the Guardian, October 2011
Photograph: Frank Baron for the Guardian

Hypnotherapist Anthony Jacquin’s clients include those with a fear of spiders and baked beans. 'It’s about relaxing and using your imagination, and when you harness that ability you will experience some incredible things.'
Photograph by David Sillitoe for the Guardian, November 2010
Photograph: David Sillitoe for the Guardian

Mounted police officer Cath L’Anson is one of 150 officers using 120 horses at eight stables across London. She described her work-life balance as 'good', but added that certain occasions can throw the balance out of kilter. 'During the riots we were at work 24/7, and we expect the same with the Olympics, too.'
Photographed by Martin Argles for the Guardian, December 2011
Photograph: Martin Argles for the Guardian

'It’s important to understand that the top of your hand is where the eyes are and your focus is,' explained puppeteer Corina Bona, 'so it’s really key to make your thumb do the work. Otherwise, you flap the head up and the eyes lose the focus.'
Photograph by Sam Frost for the Guardian, September 2011
Photograph: Sam Frost for the Guardian

Queen-lookalike Margaret Southcoat said that while there can be 'a lot of just sitting around and smiling,' she had 'travelled to places I would never have been to and I’ve met so many people from all walks of life. It has given me something to get up for in the mornings – a reason to enjoy my retirement.'
Photograph by David Sillitoe for the Guardian, May 2012
Photograph: David Sillitoe for the Guardian

Mark Poulton is a modern-day Punch and Judy performer. He said: 'I see it as a cross between The Simpsons and a Carry On film. Some of the lines go straight over the heads of the children, but help to keep the adults engaged.'
Photograph by Sam Frost for the Guardian, August 2008
Photograph: Sam Frost for the Guardian

Tennis umpire Matt Porsz described a typical day in the life of a job that can attract volleys of abuse from some players: 'McEnroe thought I’d made the wrong decision and he exploded. He came marching over to chew me out, he called me the worst umpire ever and wanted to know how much I was getting and why I had overruled a call at this stage of the match.'
Photographed by Frank Baron for the Guardian, June 2011
Photograph: Frank Baron for the Guardian

For air ambulance paramedic David Fletcher, every working day is different. 'About four months ago a plane took off from right here, and crashed into some nearby flats. We took him to the burns unit at Wythenshawe Hospital, but it didn’t have a happy outcome.'
Photograph by Christopher Thomond for the Guardian, May 2012
Photograph: Christopher Thomond for the Guardian

Flower grower Mark Eves looks after 163 acres of tulips, which he sells to major supermarket retailers: 'Because we plant so far ahead, we have to guess which colours are going to be popular in three years time,' he said. 'It’s difficult to judge.'
Photograph by Fabio de Paola for the Guardian, May 2012
Photograph: Fabio de Paola for the Guardian

Undertaker Martyn Ginder began his career after replying to a job advert stating: 'Chauffeur required, must be able to carry a coffin.' He now has a funeral empire that completes at least 500-600 funerals a year. 'Many’s the time I’ve stood at the back of a church during a service, for children especially, and I’ve felt emotions well up inside me,' he said.
Photograph by David Mansell for the Guardian, May 2007
Photograph: David Mansell for the Guardian

For 12 years Bob Muir has painted the Forth bridge, and has been shaped physically by the work: biceps swollen from handling the pneumatic hoses of the 120psi blasters: "It's like arm-wrestling an anaconda," he said. The painters operate in gangs of up to a dozen, their spray guns and grit blasters and dog-leg brushes rejuvenating between 3,000 sq ft and 5,000 sq ft of Victorian mild steel a week. "Do not point the blasters at a colleague. They'd rip you down to the bone in milliseconds."
Photograph by Murdo Macleod for the Guardian, July 2009
Photograph: Murdo Macleod