Rory Lewis Photography Tuition
Based in Los Angeles, New York & London
Discover the artistry of portrait photography and unlock your creative potential with award-winning photographer Rory Lewis, recognized by the National Portrait Gallery, Portrait of Britain, and Hasselblad Masters 2023.
Behind the Scenes Rory Lewis Workshop
Work with professional models and learn how to build a portrait that looks like a still from a film.
Most portraits come out flat. The face is lit, the exposure is right, and the picture still sits on the surface of the frame with no weight to it. This class is about the opposite result: a portrait with depth, where the face is sculpted, the subject lifts away from the background, and the whole image feels three-dimensional.
Join award-winning portrait photographer Rory Lewis for an intensive masterclass at his London studio. Over an immersive day, you’ll photograph three professional models—including a well-known face or two—while mastering the craft of Portrait Lighting and portfolio-building setups. Saturday 14th November 2026
The week turns on one idea. A great portrait is not lit brightly. It is lit truthfully, from one direction, so that shadow carries as much of the picture as light. This is the language of Caravaggio and Rembrandt, and it is the foundation of everything you will make here.
Over two days in the studio, Rory Lewis teaches the methods behind portraits now held in the permanent collections of the National Portrait Gallery, London, and the Royal Collection. His sitters include five British Prime Ministers, members of the British Royal Family and reigning monarchs. His practice spans London, Los Angeles and New York, and its foundation is the light of the Old Masters: Holbein, Caravaggio, Van Dyck and Rembrandt.
About Rory Lewis
With a career spanning over two decades, Rory Lewis has photographed icons including Sir Patrick Stewart, Dame Judi Dench, and Sir Ian McKellen. His workshops offer a rare opportunity to learn directly from a photographer celebrated for blending classical lighting with cinematic storytelling.
One-to-One Workshops
Los Angeles, New York & London
Personalized, immersive instruction tailored to your goals, experience level, and creative direction. One-to-one workshops are ideal for beginners seeking a strong foundation or established professionals refining advanced portrait and lighting techniques.
Each private session is designed entirely around you — your questions, your pace, and your artistic ambitions.
Immerse yourself in practical learning — guided directly by Rory Lewis.
What You’ll Learn
Camera control and lighting mastery
Direction and posing for expressive portraits
Composition, mood, and visual storytelling
Soft vs. hard light, reflectors, and modifiers
Studio flash techniques and controlled location lighting
Every session includes collaboration with a professional model and produces portfolio-ready images.
One to One Tuition Los Angeles, New York and London
Locations & Options
Los Angeles — Studio
Workshops and one-to-one sessions take place at Rory’s Downtown Los Angeles studio.
Each session is designed as an immersive, hands-on experience focused on developing your technical precision, creative direction, and personal visual style.
✔ Studio-based, intensive instruction
✔ Real-world workflow and lighting setups
✔ Direct guidance on direction, expression, and composition
✔ Ideal for photographers looking to elevate their portfolio and client work
✔ Limited availability to ensure a focused, high-level experience
Schedule Session Link in Los Angeles
New York — Studio Sessions
One-to-one workshops are also available in New York City.
✔ Studio-based instruction
✔ Tailored, portfolio-driven learning
✔ Focus on lighting, direction, and client workflow
✔ Additional $100 fee applies due to New York operational costs
Schedule Session Link in New York
London — Studio Sessions
One-to-one workshops are also available in London.
✔ Studio-based instruction
✔ Personalized, high-level tuition
✔ Emphasis on cinematic lighting and portrait direction
✔ Designed for photographers seeking a refined and distinctive style
Schedule Session Link in London
Group Workshops
Experience hands-on, practical tuition designed to elevate your portrait photography. Each workshop includes:
Direction and feedback from Rory Lewis
Professional model collaboration
Lighting instruction using studio setups
Portfolio-building opportunities
Upcoming Workshops
Join award-winning photographer Rory Lewis for an immersive photography workshop on lighting and direction techniques.
What you'll learn:
Lighting techniques for headshots and portraiture
How to direct your subjects for natural, compelling shots
Tips to enhance your photography portfolio
This workshop is perfect for photographers of all levels, from beginners to seasoned professionals. Rory's engaging teaching style ensures you'll gain practical skills and knowledge that will elevate your portrait photography to the next level.
Work with professional models and learn how to build a portrait that looks like a still from a film.
Most portraits come out flat. The face is lit, the exposure is right, and the picture still sits on the surface of the frame with no weight to it. This class is about the opposite result: a portrait with depth, where the face is sculpted, the subject lifts away from the background, and the whole image feels three-dimensional.
Join award-winning portrait photographer Rory Lewis for an intensive masterclass at his London studio. Over an immersive day, you’ll photograph three professional models—including a well-known face or two—while mastering the craft of Portrait Lighting and portfolio-building setups. Saturday 14th November 2026
The week turns on one idea. A great portrait is not lit brightly. It is lit truthfully, from one direction, so that shadow carries as much of the picture as light. This is the language of Caravaggio and Rembrandt, and it is the foundation of everything you will make here.
Over two days in the studio, Rory Lewis teaches the methods behind portraits now held in the permanent collections of the National Portrait Gallery, London, and the Royal Collection. His sitters include five British Prime Ministers, members of the British Royal Family and reigning monarchs. His practice spans London, Los Angeles and New York, and its foundation is the light of the Old Masters: Holbein, Caravaggio, Van Dyck and Rembrandt.
Speaking Engagements
Rory Lewis is available for speaking engagements, offering captivating talks on the art and philosophy of portraiture. With over two decades of experience photographing royalty, military leaders, politicians, and celebrated figures from film and business, Rory provides rare insight into the craft of portraiture — from directing subjects and mastering light to capturing character and presence.
His engaging presentations feature behind-the-scenes stories from landmark sittings and explore how portraiture continues to shape our understanding of history, leadership, and identity. Rory has delivered talks and lectures at esteemed institutions including the National Portrait Gallery, the National Army Museum, Notre Dame University, and The Photography Show.
Samy's Camera welcomes Rory Lewis for a compelling, in-person lecture exploring 23 years behind the lens—from royalty and Hollywood icons to senior military leaders.
For $29.00, join us for an inspiring afternoon as Rory shares the creative philosophy, lighting techniques, and direction methods behind his signature cinematic portraits. His work includes defining images of Sir Patrick Stewart, William Shatner, Dame Judi Dench, Sir Ian McKellen, and Sir Tony Blair.
Samy’s Camera is proud to host an exclusive talk with acclaimed portrait photographer Rory Lewis—a master whose 23-year career has captured the faces of royalty, world leaders, Hollywood legends, and senior military command.
Past Workshops
I would like to extend a sincere thank you to everyone who attended my recent Portrait Photography Workshop. The energy, focus, and creative ambition in the room made it a truly exceptional two days.
I was delighted to be invited by B&H Photo to give a lecture at their New York home. In it I talked through some of the portraits that matter most to me. These include the ones people know best, and a few that hold a quieter place in the archive. The full talk is now on their YouTube channel, and you can watch it here.
Cinematic Portraiture in the Old Master Tradition
Light is the story
On Sunday 1 November, I’m teaching a two-hour live masterclass on Zoom: Cinematic Portraiture in the Old Master Tradition.
It is a private Telegram group, open only to people who have taken a workshop or one-to-one tuition with me. It is not a general photography forum. Nobody posts their holiday snaps or argues about camera brands. Everyone in it has stood in the studio, worked with the same principles and speaks the same language.
Private, intensive photography tuition led by Rory Lewis — an award-winning portraitist recognised by the National Portrait Gallery, Portrait of Britain, and Hasselblad Masters.
A dedicated space for my workshop and tuition clients to continue their journey with ongoing support, resources, and direct access.
After years of running headshot workshops and one-on-one tuition sessions in New York, London and Los Angeles, I’ve created a private Telegram group exclusively for my tuition clients.
This is not a general photography community — it is a focused, members-only space where you will find:
I'm delighted to be back at my Midtown Manhattan studio from Thursday 5 to Saturday 7 November, with a limited number of sessions available across three days.
My portraits are held in the permanent collection of the National Portrait Gallery, London, and in the Royal Collection. I have photographed Sir Ian McKellen, Sir Patrick Stewart and Dame Judi Dench, along with five British Prime Ministers, Tony Blair and Theresa May among them, and I am a four-time winner of Portrait of Britain. What I teach at Samy's is exactly what I practise in those sittings. Nothing is simplified and nothing is held back.
On Saturday 19 September I am teaching a one-day portrait masterclass in New York, at Young Studio on 8th Avenue. It runs from ten in the morning until four in the afternoon, models and lighting are provided, and you need bring nothing but a camera and a short lens.
Join award-winning photographer Rory Lewis for an immersive photography workshop on lighting and direction techniques.
What you'll learn:
Lighting techniques for headshots and portraiture
How to direct your subjects for natural, compelling shots
Tips to enhance your photography portfolio
This workshop is perfect for photographers of all levels, from beginners to seasoned professionals. Rory's engaging teaching style ensures you'll gain practical skills and knowledge that will elevate your portrait photography to the next level.
There's a moment, going back through the frames from a sitting, where you can feel the difference between a photograph that merely records a face and one that holds the room. It is rarely a question of the camera. Almost always it comes down to two things: how the light falls, and how the person in front of you was directed in the seconds before the shutter.
On Saturday 23rd May 2026, from 10am to 3pm, I'll be running a one-day portrait workshop at the Downtown LA studio on Recreating Caravaggio. Five hours, two lights, professional models, and a small enough room that nobody can hide at the back. Tickets are $450, places are limited, and the date is closer than the calendar makes it look.
Join award-winning photographer Rory Lewis for an immersive photography workshop on lighting and direction techniques.
What you'll learn:
Lighting techniques for headshots and portraiture
How to direct your subjects for natural, compelling shots
Tips to enhance your photography portfolio
This workshop is perfect for photographers of all levels, from beginners to seasoned professionals. Rory's engaging teaching style ensures you'll gain practical skills and knowledge that will elevate your portrait photography to the next level.