The Times Editorial Portraits

2005 / 2006

Throughout 2005 and 2006, I worked as a freelance photographer for The Times, fulfilling commissions across the UK. Traveling by bus, train, and the Underground, I met a diverse range of subjects to produce environmental portraits on location for the Arts, T2, and Body & Soul desks.

volunteer Roy Crump at the Salvation Army homeless drop-in center, Westminster. Roy was formally homeless and used the center in the past

2005. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

Brat Camp Rosie (16yrs) photographed near her home in East London

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

free runner Blue by London's South Bank

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

refugee Michael, who has received emotional and practical help from the Red Cross since arriving in the UK. London

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

writer Nirpal Dhaliwal, Hackney, London

2005. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

Patrick Kinna, former Secretary to Churchill, pictured here at his home in Brighton

2005. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

London-based British writer, lecturer, and broadcaster Kenan Malik

2005. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

Matthew (15yrs) who has lost weight through a healthy eating program, pictured at his home in London

2005. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

The below images focus on documenting people within their own private or professional environments, providing authentic visual context for national feature stories.

Pestalozzi student. Disadvantaged teenagers from the world's poorest countries come to England to live at Pestalozzi Village in Sussex, where they get a two-year education and sit the International Baccalaureate exam.

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

Matthew Parris at L'Avenc, high in the hills of Catalonia. L'Avenc is an joint ongoing restoration project with Matthew's sister and brother in law

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

green wedding planner Ruth Culver, at her home in London

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

Mark Glide and his fiance Jen Hughes who are having a festival wedding in their field in Mumbles, Wales

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

Nancy eating a sandwich at St Dunstan's Church, London

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

Professor Kathy Sykes, Science Communicator and TV Presenter

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

landscape artist Marney Hall, in a Cambridgeshire garden

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

Ditch Monkey, who lives in woodland outside Oxford, by day he works as an auctioneer at Sotheby's

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

The below assignments focus on the intersection of personal health and professional care. The photographs document a range of specialised environments—from laboratories in France and fitness clinics in Wolverhampton to the intimate settings of post-natal support and home-based therapy.

midwife Katrina Caslake in her South London home.

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

Journalist Lucy Tobin enjoying the internet in her North West London bedroom

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

head of the slimming organisation Weight Watchers, Mel Stubbing (white jacket) with her PA Clare Pulling. Pictured at Weight Watchers UK Ltd, Maidenhead

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

Rosemary Squire with her three children, Kate (3yrs), Dan (18yrs) and Jenny (20yrs) who has Downs Syndrome, pictured at their home in Sussex

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

Dr Mandy Baum with her three sons. Mandy gave birth to the first baby in Britain to result from screening embryos for genetic disorders. She sought treatment after her second child Joe (pictured with check shirt), was born with tuberous sclerosis

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

Portraits featuring creative professionals in their London homes. The photographs share the theme of design and art, documenting the home environments of Interior Designer Katherine Poole, TV presenter Naomi Cleaver, and art dealer Caroline Wiseman in her South London home/gallery.

Interior Designer Katherine Poole in her London home

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

TV presenter, design consultant and founder of Echo Design Agency Naomi Cleaver photographed in her home, Clerkenwell, London

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

art dealer Caroline Wiseman's South London home/gallery

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

Dylan Jones in his bathroom, London

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

Simon Finch at his Portobello Road property

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

art dealer Richard Philp in his West London home/gallery

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

Steven (left) and Gareth, who are trying to get a new mortgage, in their North London flat with their dog Finn

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

Andrew Lamont in their West London home/gallery The Organ Factory

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

Bob Stanley (far left) and other residents standing in front of Highpoint, a 1930's block of flats in North London

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

Andrew Billen in his South London kitchen cooking recipes found in popular works of fiction

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

keen off gridder Donnachadh on his roof with his wind turbine, solar panels and rainwater harvester, Camberwell, London

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

Professor Christopher B Lynch at his home/surgery in Milton Keynes. Lynch has invented a new life saving technique for treating post partum haemorrhage during childbirth

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

This group of location portraits highlights the diversity of editorial assignments for The Times. From documenting celebrated artists like Quentin Blake in specialised clinical settings to sensitive portraits of individuals sharing personal stories of resilience, these images focus on a direct, observational approach to portrait photography.

author Michael Cox, Michael has lost the sight in one eye due to cancer. Pictured at Browns Hotel, London

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

The Times 2006 Sudoku Champion Rachel Roth in London

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

Quentin Blake at the Chelsea Mental Health Centre, London. Blake has done a series of paintings for the psychiatric wing

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

Holly Sheldon who was kidnapped, held and robbed at gunpoint whilst travelling with her mother in Bolivia. Pictured at her home in South London

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

Belinda Mbaba. Belinda's mother Marie Therese Nlandu, a human rights lawer, is in gaol in the Congo facing execution. Belinda lives in Lambeth, London

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

Captain Andrew Payne at Felixstowe Dock

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

Alice Hoglan, mother of Mark Bingham who died on United Flight 93, September 11th 2001

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

Fiona Neill, author of the Times column 'Slummy Mummy' and the book 'The Secret Life of a Slummy Mummy'

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

This selection of environmental portraits documents subjects ranging from prominent historians and authors to local community members. These assignments for The Times capture people within the spaces that define their work and personal lives—including the Temple Church, private London residences, and modern retirement developments.

pensioners Madeleine Kekwick (76 yrs) and Sybil Reid (69 yrs, top red) at the Southwick Pensioners Centre, South London

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

British historian, Professor Felipe Fernandez-Armesto and his wife Lesley at their home in London. Felipe was arrested for jaywalking in Atlanta, Georgia

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

Robin Griffiths-Jones, Master of the Temple Church where the Da Vinci Code was set

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

Health Sciences' Marianne Legato author of "Eve's Rib" and explorer of the health differences between Men and Women, Stafford Hotel, London

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

Liz Anderson at her home in West London

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

Eileen Chorley, Eileen decided to opt out of buying a traditional McCarthy & Stone retirement house and instead purchased a flat in the modern development next door, Hoddesdon, Herts

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

Beatrix Potter expert and author of 'Beatrix Potter: Artist, Storyteller and Countrywoman' Judy Taylor, pictured at her home in North London

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

Commissioned by The Times, this series explores the professional partnerships between high-profile executives and their personal assistants. Photographed on location in London, these portraits document the collaborative relationships within major business, real estate, and healthcare organizations.

Jonathan Shopley, Chief Executive Officer of The CarbonNeutral Company and his PA Ashleigh Dunn. London

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

Adrian Wyatt, chief executive of Quintain at his London office

2005. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

Professor Sir Michael Rawlins, Chairman of the National Institute for Health & Clinical Excellence (NICE) with his PA Angela Cain, London

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

Abdulah Ebadi (23yrs) who arrived from Afghanistan in 2002 escaping persecution. After spending six months registered with a job centre, he completed courses in English and Computing

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

rising tennis star 17yr Czech Nicole Vaidisova, who has just recently joined the Reebox 'I AM What I Am' campaign, pictured at the Westway Tennis Centre, West London

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

chef and restaurant founder Aldo Zilli, with his PA Louisa Alves, Zilli Fish Resaurant, Soho, London

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

This series, commissioned for The Times, documents business journalists and professionals within the London Stock Exchange and various corporate environments. The work focuses on the intersection of professional life and the personal spaces of those within the financial and media sectors

Times business writers Magnus Grimmond and Mark Atherton, London Stock Exchange

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

Gary and Jenny Boreham at their home in Surrey

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

Royal Hospital School Headmaster Howard Blackett with his PA Isabel Ashley-Riddle, Royal Hospital School, Suffolk

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

Frederick Randall outside his house on Adley Street, Hackney. Local estate agents Felicity J Lord predict a 50 per cent rise in property prices over the next 5- 7 years in Adley St, due to its proximity to the proposed Olympic village

2005. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

Hannah Betts, Click Studios, London

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

Stefanie Marsh photographed in The Times office

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

Eva Novakova who used to work in London as an au pair. Pictured in Kennington Park, London

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times

tennis player Andrew Murray, photographed at David Lloyd Leisure Raynes Park, Wimbledon

2006. Photograph by Sophie Laslett, The Times