Rory Lewis Royal Portrait & National Portrait Gallery Photographer Headshots & Portraiture

Los Angeles continues to draw creative talent from across the world, and recently the studio welcomed musician Alex Obvious for a portrait session exploring mood, character, and the quiet intensity that often defines artists working in music today.

There are moments in an actor’s career when a new headshot is not simply an update — it is a recalibration. A shift in tone. A refinement of identity.

Grant Southard returned to the studio ready to capture that shift.

From the West End to Hawkins: A Session at the London Studio

In my latest session, I had the pleasure of photographing the formidable Shane Atwooll. Currently commanding the stage as Chief Hopper in the West End hit Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Shane is an actor whose resume reads like a masterclass in versatility.

A powerful debut in New York.

Madison Pernell came into the studio for her first New York actors headshots with a clear intention — to create images that feel cinematic, honest, and casting-ready. In a city where first impressions are everything, your headshot must do more than show your face. It must suggest story.

Oscar Pavlo first stepped in front of my lens in 2019. At the time, we captured a powerful foundation: intelligent, watchful, composed. Since then, his range has expanded, deepened, matured. When he reached out for a second session in New York, it wasn’t simply for “new headshots.” It was because his casting had shifted — and his imagery needed to reflect that evolution.

In the high-stakes world of Los Angeles casting, a headshot needs to do more than just show a face—it needs to tell a story before a single word is spoken. Our recent session with Brazilian-American actor Haysam Ali is a masterclass in how cinematic lighting and intentional direction can capture the range of a truly transformative performer.

Recently, I had the pleasure of working with Sean Henney, a man who is as focused on the future of private markets technology as I am on the future of fine-art portraiture.

Lighting the "Data Obsessed" Professional

When Sean came to me, we talked about his mission—navigating the "hardest problem" in his industry: data. My goal as a photographer isn’t just to get a clear shot of a face; it’s to use cinematic lighting to reveal the character of the person solving those problems.

Since then, Steven has built a steady and varied career across British television, appearing in populist and long-running dramas including Death in Paradise and Doctors. In 2012, his career expanded onto the global stage when he joined the vast international cast of Game of Thrones, a production that redefined the scale and ambition of television drama worldwide.

This recent actor headshot session with Chauncey Allen was photographed at my Downtown Los Angeles studio, created specifically for casting, representation, and industry submission. The focus throughout the sitting was simple and deliberate: authentic presence, emotional clarity, and cinematic restraint.

This actors headshot session was designed to reflect that same sensibility: grounded, cinematic, and psychologically present. Rather than a generic studio headshot, the aim was to create imagery that feels like a still lifted from a film—something that speaks directly to casting directors, producers, and collaborators working in prestige film and television.

Portraits & Headshots with the Architect of the Chubbuck Technique

There are rare figures in the acting world whose influence extends far beyond the classroom—whose ideas shape performances, careers, and entire generations of artists. Ivana Chubbuck is unquestionably one of them.

Actor Tyler Huxtable visited my Downtown Los Angeles studio for a cinematic headshot session focused on truth, restraint, and screen presence. The aim was simple: to create portraits that feel authentic, contemporary, and immediately readable to casting directors.

At the New York studio, Rory Lewis captured a powerful new series of actor headshots with Jason Cliff, a dynamic film, television, and stage actor known for his emotional intelligence, restraint, and commanding screen presence.

New York Actor Headshots with Rory Lewis

In the heart of Midtown Manhattan, actor Jeremy Brena stepped into the studio for a focused, cinematic headshot session designed for today’s competitive New York casting landscape. Known for his work across acclaimed television and film, Jeremy’s session centered on clarity, presence, and authenticity—qualities casting directors consistently respond to in New York actor headshots.

With credits including Elementary, Power, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Jeremy brings a grounded, intelligent energy to the camera. The aim of this shoot was not spectacle, but truth—portraits that feel lived-in, confident, and unmistakably him.

Capturing a compelling actor headshot is never about performance alone — it is about presence. For actor Devin McElvogue, our recent session at my Downtown Los Angeles studio focused on exactly that: stripping away artifice to reveal clarity, confidence, and character.

Lacota Shapley came into my Downtown Los Angeles studio for a model headshot session built around clarity, confidence, and longevity—portraits that feel contemporary and editorial, while remaining timeless enough to carry a portfolio forward for years.

Actor Adam Wesley is known for performances marked by intensity, restraint, and psychological depth. With credits including Where the Shadows Wait (2025), The Lonely Crowd, and Not Every Woman, his work consistently inhabits the quieter, more complex spaces of character—where tension lives beneath the surface rather than being declared outright. That sensibility formed the foundation of his recent theatrical headshot session at my Downtown Los Angeles studio.

Born in New York, Lakshmi Devy is an accomplished actress, director, screenwriter, and producer of Indian descent whose career moves fluidly between New York and India. Deeply attuned to both cultures, Lakshmi brings a rare sense of balance, intelligence, and emotional clarity to her work—qualities that were immediately evident during her recent portrait sitting at my New York studio in Manhattan.

I recently welcomed actor Francis Price to my Los Angeles studio for a set of fresh, cinematic actor headshots. Francis, a graduate of the CalArts Theater School and Middlebury College, brings a grounded presence and disciplined technique shaped by years of stage and screen experience.

Capturing new headshots for Todd Jeffries at my Downtown Los Angeles studio was an exceptional experience, working with an actor whose career spans award-winning stage work, memorable film roles, and appearances across some of television’s most iconic series. In a city where a headshot is often the first introduction to casting directors, producers, and agencies, Jeffries brought a depth and presence shaped by decades of performance.

I recently had the pleasure of photographing actress Echaka Agba at my Midtown Manhattan studio. Echaka is an exceptional talent whose work spans film, television, and theatre, with standout performances in We Grown Now (2023), Chicago Med, South Side, Work in Progress, and the award-winning short Runner. Her ability to move effortlessly between drama, comedy, and deeply human storytelling has made her a rising presence across the industry.

Capturing actress Kayelyn Hull at my Manhattan studio was a reminder of why New York continues to be one of the most exciting cities in the world for performers. Every actor who steps in front of the lens brings their own blend of ambition, vulnerability, and untapped potential—but Kayelyn brought something especially compelling: a quiet intensity paired with a natural ease, the kind of presence casting directors remember long after the audition has ended.

In the heart of Midtown Manhattan, I recently had the pleasure of photographing Dominic Bracco — a dynamic YouTuber, post-production specialist, and content creator whose work spans global campaigns for major brands, agencies, and media platforms. With a background in video editing, post-production, branded content, TV commercials, mobile media, and corporate storytelling, Dominic brings a rare blend of technical mastery and creative vision to every project he touches.

This week in Los Angeles, I had the pleasure of photographing Emmy Award–winning composer James Michael “Jim” Dooley, one of the most prolific musical storytellers working in film, television, and games today. Known for his work with Hans Zimmer at Remote Control Productions and for scores spanning Pushing Daisies, inFAMOUS, Epic Mickey, Secret Obsession, Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions, and The Da Vinci Code, James has shaped the soundscape of modern screen music for over two decades.

Last month in my Central London studio, I had the pleasure of capturing a series of cinematic headshots and portraits of Jonathan Sacerdoti—a British broadcaster, journalist, producer, and prominent voice on issues of extremism, antisemitism, race relations, Middle Eastern affairs, and the British royal family. Known for his sharp analysis and measured commentary across networks including Fox News, i24news, Cheddar, E! Daily Pop, and Us Weekly, Jonathan brings a unique blend of intellect, lived experience, and clarity to contemporary public discourse.

Matthew Margeson — the acclaimed American composer known for his dynamic, emotionally charged scores — joined me in Los Angeles for a refined, character-driven headshot session.

This month, I had the pleasure of photographing American actor Ryan Rottman at my Central London studio, creating a new series of cinematic headshots that highlight his range, presence, and unmistakable on-screen charisma.