It was an honor and privilege to collaborate with the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), capturing portraits of its distinguished staff and cadets. This significant project was proudly funded by the Rory Lewis Non-Profit, founded by portrait photographer Rory Lewis, whose career spans more than two decades dedicated to preserving the legacies of military and service personnel through powerful portraiture and storytelling.
Read MoreIn 2021, I had the privilege of photographing Major GeneralChris Ghika CBE at Horse Guards, London — a setting steeped in history, once occupied by the Duke of Wellington himself. The portrait sought to capture not just a military leader, but a custodian of national pageantry and heritage.
Read MoreThe Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment is among the most distinguished mounted units in the world. Tasked with ceremonial duties, they embody centuries of tradition as part of the Household Division, serving as the Monarch’s official bodyguard and providing escorts at state and royal occasions.
Read MoreIn 2019, the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards commissioned a series of portraits of their Commanding Officer and Senior Warrant Officers, photographed in Windsor. These sittings form a vital addition to the Rory Lewis Non-Profit Military Portrait Archive, an ongoing effort to document the leadership and heritage of British and Allied service members. The project seeks to protect these likenesses for national history, museum collections, and future generations.
Read MoreOur 2019 sitting with Major General Benjamin Bathurst CBE of the Welsh Guards took place at Horse Guards, London, within the historic office once occupied by the Duke of Wellington. Seated behind the very desk that once belonged to the “Iron Duke,” Bathurst joined a long line of leaders who have shaped the ceremonial face of Britain’s Armed Forces.
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Colonello Reggimento "Lancieri di Novara" (5º) (Rory Lewis Photographer Italian Army Portraits 2018)
Soldati della Repubblica è il mio secondo grande progetto dedicato al ritratto militare. Sulla scia del successo di Soldiery – British Army Portraits, ho proseguito il mio intento di documentare il volto moderno, le tradizioni e la storia vivente dell’Esercito Italiano. Tra tutte le unità che ho ritratto, il periodo trascorso con il 5º Reggimento Cavalleggeri, gli storici Lancieri di Novara, rimane uno dei più coinvolgenti e indimenticabili.
Read MoreForged in the adversity of the First World War, the Royal Tank Regiment stands as the oldest tank unit in the world. Today, the Regiment is based at Tidworth and equipped with the formidable Challenger 2 main battle tank—an enduring symbol of British armoured warfare.
Read MoreIn 2018, I had the rare honour of photographing His Royal Highness, The Duke of Kent, in a portrait sitting that captured not only royal stature, but a lifetime of military service. Dressed in his ceremonial uniform as Field Marshal, His Royal Highness stood as a living symbol of dedication, discipline, and enduring legacy within the British Armed Forces.
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Carabiniere Scelto Reggimento Corazzieri – Rome Portrait Sittings
Il Reggimento Corazzieri, corpo d’élite e guardia d’onore del Presidente della Repubblica Italiana, è una delle unità militari più antiche, prestigiose e simboliche del Paese. Il loro motto, «Virtus in periculis firmior» — Il coraggio diventa più forte nel pericolo — riassume perfettamente la natura di questo straordinario reparto.
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Colonnello del Reggimento “Lancieri di Aosta” (6°) (Rory Lewis Photographer 2018)
Il 23 agosto 2018 ho raggiunto Palermo per ritrarre le donne e gli uomini del Reggimento “Lancieri di Aosta” (6º), nell’ambito del mio progetto non profit Soldati della Repubblica, realizzato attraverso la Rory Lewis Non Profit. All’interno della storica sede siciliana del reparto ho potuto riunire, davanti all’obiettivo, Ufficiali, Sottufficiali e Lancieri, in una serie di ritratti che celebrano al tempo stesso l’individualità e l’identità condivisa di questi Soldati della Repubblica.
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Caporale del Reggimento Nizza Cavalleria” (1st) (Rory Lewis Photographer 2018)
Il Reggimento “Nizza Cavalleria” (1°) occupa un posto di rilievo all’interno del progetto Soldati della Repubblica. Tra i più antichi reparti di cavalleria dell’Esercito Italiano, rappresenta perfettamente la continuità che desidero catturare: un ponte vivente tra secoli di storia e il volto del soldato moderno.
Read MoreOn 5 June 2018, Rory Lewis Non-Profit visited the 1º Reggimento Bersaglieri in Cosenza as part of its ongoing mission to document, preserve, and honour the human face of military service.
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Starting from left: 1^ Caporal Maggiore, Maresciallo Capo, Tenente, Maresciallo Capo, Lanciere (Rory Lewis Photographer) Rome 2018
As part of the Rory Lewis Non-Profit’s mission to document and preserve the people, traditions, and visual heritage of modern military forces, I was honoured to begin the Italian chapter of my project Soldati della Repubblica with the distinguished 8th Cavalry Regiment “Lancieri di Montebello”.
Read MoreAmong the many regiments I photographed, the 1st Battalion, The Rifles stands out for its deep-rooted traditions and enduring character. Little has changed for The Rifles since the Napoleonic Wars—they remain at the forefront of battle, defined by precision, independence, and quiet professionalism. True to their motto, Swift and Bold, they carry no flag; instead, their Battle Honours are worn proudly upon their uniforms.
Read MoreOne of the most meaningful opportunities through my non-profit archive has been the privilege of photographing senior figures within the British Armed Forces. Among these sittings, capturing a British Field Marshal stands as both an artistic milestone and a moment of profound historical significance.
Read MoreFor nearly a year I’ve been traveling across the United Kingdom and Europe as part of Soldiery — British Army Projects, an ongoing initiative through Rory Lewis Non-Profit to create a contemporary visual archive of the British Army. The aim is simple but vital: to preserve a truthful, dignified record of the men and women who serve today, before uniforms, traditions, and identities inevitably change.
Read MoreWorking with the 2nd Battalion, Royal Gurkha Rifles stands as one of the defining highlights of the Soldiery project, produced through the Rory Lewis Non-Profit. While many civilians have a general awareness of the Gurkhas, few fully understand the depth of tradition, discipline, and identity that defines this extraordinary regiment.
Read MoreAs Colonel of The Royal Regiment of Scotland, Major General Bruce has dedicated his life to leadership, service, and the embodiment of the Army’s values. This portrait session stands as a testament to his extraordinary contributions and the pride he carries in representing one of Britain’s most historic regiments.
Read MoreLieutenant General Bashall stands as a towering figure in both stature and reputation. A veteran of the Iraq War, he commanded the 1st Mechanised Brigade in Basra in 2007, leading with courage and distinction. Earlier in his career, he commanded the 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment (2 PARA) in Afghanistan, earning recognition as one of the British Army’s most experienced combat commanders. Deeply proud of his service with the Parachute Regiment, his career exemplifies leadership, resilience, and devotion to duty.
Read MoreThe 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh, based in Tidworth, represents one of the most historically significant infantry lineages in the British Army. Their iconic ceremonial uniforms—rooted in traditions dating back to the Victorian era and the height of the British Empire—carry centuries of regimental identity, inherited from the Royal Welch Fusiliers and the Royal Regiment of Wales.
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