John Robertson Photography

21/08/2026

World Photography Day- a bit of a joke here in the UK as our government issues this leaflet to immigrants arriving on these shores. A leaflet that feeds the public perception that photography in public places without permission is illegal.
The leaflet says 'shouldn't' not 'illegal' to be fair.

A few years back I featured in a piece for the Guardian about photographing children when I worked for a company who made playground equipment.
Myself and an assistant travelled all over the UK photographing children on the manufacturer's play equipment. We both wore lanyards, an assistant, (usually from the council or the playground manufacturer), talked to the parents and had model releases for the kids signed there and then, (if they agreed). We even shouted out what we were doing every 15 minutes for new arrivals.

It didn't stop my assistant being attacked though and both of us being shouted at and called "paedophiles". I gave up the client- too annoying and upsetting for two bearded middle aged men with cameras who fitted the public's 'profile' of a paedo, despite both being fathers themselves.

Now you expect morons to not understand the law and to label everybody with a camera as 'paedos'. To imagine that all immigrants are child molesters and criminals.
But the Home Office should know better, even if they claim their leaflet was to protect immigrants and in their best interests.

13/08/2026

Do I miss my old Nikon 50mm f1.2 lens?
Nah!
It was as soft as butter.
Here is a photo I took for The Guardian using it, (although they never used it).....

08/08/2026

God paints with light. Photographers just learn how to see it.

12/07/2026

I really can't see the point in this. Unusable as a serious camera unless you have a team of ex-SAS bodyguards with you.
It's designed for those weirdos who like to keep things in glass cases or inside locked cupboards for others to bill and coo at.

We already knew that Leica had the Midas touch, but this gold-plated Leica M6 is a literal representation of the legendary German manufacturer’s golden legacy

11/07/2026

Twenty six years ago I photographed Ann Widdecombe for The Telegraph when she was Shadow Home Secretary. That was in Kent and she was very helpful- we even took some photos in her garden.
Years later I photographed her at a Reform national gathering in Birmingham and again she was polite and helpful. I may not have agreed with her politics, but I respected her and you certainly knew where you stood with her forthright views.

It's very sad that she met her end in such a brutal way- just like Jo Cox the Labour MP murdered up in Yorkshire.
I know the Haytor area well having holidayed a few times near there in the idyllic village of Lustleigh, although I had no idea Miss Widdecombe lived nearby.

I hope the police catch the person or persons responsible for this horrible crime. Ann was 78 and deserved to live her last years in the peace and tranquility of such a beautiful part of Devon.

Call now to connect with business.

26/06/2026

'One of the great problems with photography is that any tw*t you give a camera to can take a photograph - what that does to the photographer is immediately create an inferiority complex within him because anyone can do it, which of course they can. I worked this out very early on'
A quote from the late great Brian Duffy.

02/02/2026

One of the great pleasures of working in PR, portrait and business photography is meeting people who are exactly as you hope they’ll be.
Sir Michael Morpurgo is very much one of those people.
I was commissioned to photograph him during a visit to a London school for the PR department at Waitrose. Alongside the expected documentary and press imagery that jobs like this require, Sir Michael was refreshingly open to doing something a little different.
The alternative portrait was made inside a hut painted with vibrant street art - a backdrop that perfectly reflected both his imagination and his warmth. Rather than sticking rigidly to the “safe” shots, he embraced the idea with enthusiasm and good humour. A lovely chap, in every sense.

For me, this is where strong PR photography really earns its keep: creating images that still serve a business and communications purpose, but also feel human, authentic and memorable. Whether for brands, organisations or editorial clients, those moments of trust and collaboration are what elevate a portrait beyond the purely functional.
Assignments like this are a reminder that the best business and corporate portraits often happen when subjects are given the space to be themselves - and when clients are open to imagery that tells a richer story.

If you’re looking for a reliable, creative photographer, feel free to give me a call on 07850 931219 or get in touch via www.jr-photos.com.

29/01/2026

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/johnwattsrobertson_johnrobertsonphotography-commercialphotographer-activity-7422550508466315264-uQjA?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAGoaHEBgKoWytXDw6BMSpIRC3yii2dp_Bs

A little career moment I’ve been thinking about this week, as Carol Kirkwood announces she’ll retire from the BBC in April. There’s been an outpouring of genuine love for Carol - from viewers and from her colleagues at the Beeb. When I met her, I quickly realised why-every bit of it is true. S...

28/01/2026

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/johnwattsrobertson_johnrobertsonphotography-commercialphotographer-share-7422189452741087232-cc0E?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAGoaHEBgKoWytXDw6BMSpIRC3yii2dp_Bs

Humour, timing and contrast are things I try to bring into much of my photography — whether I’m shooting editorial, PR or commercial work. Both of these images were taken at Warwick Castle in my native Warwickshire, and both are about human moments. In the first photo, a small girl,(the tiniest ...