Capturing Character: Actress Jennifer Riker at the London Studio

This week, I had the pleasure of photographing Jennifer Riker, an accomplished American actress whose striking versatility spans television, film, and voiceover. Best known for her compelling portrayal of Dr. Helga Jace in the Warner Bros/DC Entertainment hit series Black Lightning, Jennifer brings an incredible depth of intelligence and nuance to every role she inhabits.

Capturing Character: Actress Jennifer Riker at the London Studio (Rory Lewis Photographer London)

Jennifer’s career has flourished across some of television’s most acclaimed productions. From her haunting performance in The Walking Dead (AMC) and tense turns in The Purge (USA Network) and House of Cards (Netflix), to her warm and grounded presence in Nashville (ABC/CMT), she continues to captivate audiences with her dynamic screen presence.

Earlier credits include memorable guest roles in Castle, Monk, Law & Order: Los Angeles, Criminal Minds, and the Golden Globe-winning Mad Men, each underscoring her ability to adapt seamlessly between drama, comedy, and thriller genres.

Capturing Character: Actress Jennifer Riker at the London Studio (Rory Lewis Photographer London)

Beyond screen performance, Jennifer’s voice work reveals another layer of her artistry. With her calm authority and emotional resonance, she’s become a sought-after voiceover and narration talent—lending her voice to documentaries, commercials, podcasts, and audiobooks. She currently narrates the children’s podcast Otter Space and has brought depth to audiobooks such as Cold Blooded and The Lake Contract.

Capturing Character: Actress Jennifer Riker at the London Studio (Rory Lewis Photographer London)

Her vocal range stretches from warm and alluring commercial tones to gritty, authoritative reads—embracing projects from IKEA and Volvo to Harley Davidson and Cointreau. Fluent in American and Russian accents, Jennifer’s heritage and skill make her a unique voice across international storytelling.

Our session in the London studio was all about authenticity and texture—drawing out the facets of a performer whose face tells a story before she even speaks. Jennifer’s expressions moved effortlessly from quiet reflection to commanding strength, each frame revealing a different layer of her emotional range.

Her natural ease before the camera made the shoot fluid and inspired. I worked with subtle directional shifts to capture the balance between authority and empathy, mirroring the qualities that make her performances so resonant both on-screen and in voiceover.

Jennifer Riker is the definition of a multi-dimensional performer—an actress whose voice, expression, and spirit align to create unforgettable characters. It was a privilege to capture her at this exciting chapter of her career, blending classical lighting with contemporary nuance to produce portraits that feel cinematic yet deeply personal.