John Robertson Photography

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

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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

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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 ...

23/01/2026

I photographed artist Paul James for Artists & Illustrators magazine in his studio, starting with the straightforward images editors expect: Paul at work, painting, and interacting with his materials.
Alongside those, I’m always looking for something a bit less obvious. Paul had a finished, framed painting of a Highland bull titled Big Yin, and I noticed his reflection sitting subtly within the surface of the work. By repositioning him, I was able to combine artist and artwork in a single frame.
It’s a simple idea, but it adds another layer to the story. The aim isn’t to replace the standard editorial shots, but to deliver those and one image that feels a little more considered and creative.

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.

18/01/2026

Gate expectations-
Taking this photograph of George James & Sons blacksmiths repairing a decorative wrought iron gate for Hampton Court Palace was a reminder of why I love documenting skilled trades at work.
I’ve photographed the craftsmen at this Broughton blacksmiths forge several times over the years, each project telling a different story. From an old car awaiting restoration in the orchard outside their forge for The Independent, to forging weather vanes for St Pancras Station featured in The Guardian, and even a surreal editorial image of the village church clock split into two halves, also published by The Guardian.

People often say photography is a dying trade, much like blacksmithing. But just as photography continues to thrive where quality, experience and storytelling matter, this particular blacksmiths business is thriving by taking on high-quality, high-value heritage and architectural metalwork for historic landmarks.
Craftsmanship, whether behind a camera or at a forge, endures when it adapts, specialises and refuses to cut corners.
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.

16/12/2025

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10/11/2025

I finally watched the film about Lee Miller yesterday. Personally, I didn’t feel it lived up to the hype, though Kate Winslet played the role convincingly. Too many parts of Miller’s life were either glossed over or rushed through as if the filmmakers were working through a checklist. Then again, it’s a feature film, not a documentary—entertainment first, accuracy second.
As a former Rolleiflex owner (how I wish I’d kept mine!), I couldn’t help noticing that—unlike me—Winslet’s character didn’t wander around with a battered old lens hood hanging off the front. Aaargh—flare!
They did, however, get the flash solenoid right. No Contax anywhere, sadly.
In my second newspaper job, I was handed a Rolleiflex and told to stop using my own Nikon 35mm “toy.” Infuriating at the time, especially since I’d already used it at the Stratford-upon-Avon Herald, alongside their Pentax bodies and Hasselblads. But that clunky old Rollei taught me a lot about composition—and about making all twelve frames count.

15/10/2025

Colour or black and white? It’s a creative choice that can completely change the feel of an image. In my latest blog post, I explore when monochrome brings more impact — and why, sometimes, less really is more.
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