TIMES PORTRAITS
2005 – 2009
Between 2005 and 2009, I worked as a freelance photographer for The Times. My assignments were primarily based in and around London. This work often took place on very tight timings, with a limited ability to plan or set up. My goal was to create a range of portraits that served as an authentic visual record for editorial use. My focus was on capturing each subject's likeness and public persona in a way that was both truthful and suitable for publication.
Based in Newington Green, I was often completing two to three shoots a day, with the 73 bus serving as my main transport. Navigating a city still tense from the 7/7 bombings, I'd carry all my gear, my oyster card and an A-to-Z street atlas. I was sometimes even running between jobs to make a tight schedule. In between shoots, I'd often duck into cafes like Starbucks, using a slow internet dongle to send images and confirm my next assignment. I had to work quickly and intuitively. The resulting images are a direct reflection of that process: a record of people and places captured under the fast-paced, practical conditions of London life.
The assignments for The Times gave me a backstage pass to some of London's most iconic locations. My work took me from the grand stages of the Royal Opera House, the London Palladium, and the historic Old Vic to the intimate urban spaces of Gordon Ramsay's restaurant on Sloane Street and the legendary Groucho Club. I shot portraits in the creative hubs of the National Theatre and The Globe Theatre, but also in more personal settings, like Orla Kiely's shop in Covent Garden, Sam Taylor-Wood's Old Street studio, and even Bill Oddie's garden in Hampstead. The variety of locations was a constant reminder of the city's rich and ever-changing landscape.
Here are some of the people I particularly enjoyed meeting: Keeley Hawes (so beautiful and still my favourite British actress today), Michael Sheen (down to earth, very easy going and friendly), Michael Ball (I only had a few minutes with him, but super cheerful and friendly), Gok Wan (warm and cheerful), Mika (super stylish and sweet), David Gandy (extremely handsome and nice too), and Naomi Campbell (had just a very quick 5 minutes but she was lovely and beautiful of course!). And Danish film director Lars von Trier, just because he's so iconic (and we got a trip to visit his studio in Copenhagen)
Portraits included artists such as Tracey Emin and Sam Taylor-Wood (now Sam Taylor-Johnson). These assignments focused on creating portraits of key individuals who were shaping contemporary British art.
Working with actors and actresses from both stage and screen was a significant part of my portrait work for The Times. These assignments offered a chance to capture the individual behind the roles, and as a huge fan of Twin Peaks and having watched Grease countless times, photographing Kyle MacLachlan and Stockard Channing was a personal highlight.
The below portraits of Cyndi Lauper and Anton Du Beke from 2005 were among the first one-on-one assignments I was trusted with by The Times' picture desk. They mark the beginning of my professional portrait work, where the challenge was to quickly build trust and capture a compelling image under pressure.
A number of my assignments took place in the subjects' private residences. This provided a different backdrop than a public location or a studio setting. The home environment and personal items provided a context, allowing for a portrait that captured a less public aspect of the subject's identity. These images serve as a unique visual record due to the private access granted.
A significant part of my work involved creating portraits of public figures in the London arts scene. This included photographing celebrated writers and influential directors.
A significant part of my work involved creating portraits of public figures in the London arts scene. This included photographing celebrated writers and influential directors.
