Rory Lewis: Portrait & Headshot Photographer

In this newly unveiled portrait of former Prime Minister Tony Blair, portrait photographer Rory Lewis explores not the image of power but its human cost. Years after their first sitting, Lewis captures Blair with a softened expression yet undiminished intellect—an introspective study of conviction, consequence, and time.

I was commissioned by The Free Press to photograph Usha Vance, the Second Lady of the United States. The session took place at her residence on Observatory Hill—a quiet morning where pale spring light slipped through bare branches and drifted softly across cream silk and wide-leg tailoring. The atmosphere carried both intimacy and a quiet sense of national importance.

Former Mayor of Los Angeles and current U.S. Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, became my latest portrait subject during a recent session at my Los Angeles studio. As with all my political portraiture, the sitting was shaped not simply by technique, but by a deep well of artistic influence—most notably the indelible mark left on me by Hans Holbein the Younger. Holbein’s work has been woven into my visual consciousness since childhood.

A portrait by Rory Lewis of Black Rod Sarah Clarke OBE has been shortlisted for Portrait of Britain 2022, presented by the British Journal of Photography.

Photographing Prime Minister Theresa May stands as one of the most significant political sittings of my career. Lady May is the fourth British Prime Minister I have had the honour to photograph—an opportunity that places this session within a long-standing tradition of documenting national leadership for posterity.

Ugbana Oyet serves as the Serjeant at Arms of the House of Commons, a role steeped in centuries of parliamentary history. The office dates back to 1415, when the Serjeant was responsible for enforcing the orders of the House—including making arrests. Today, the role is defined by both authority and tradition, with ceremonial duties such as carrying the mace in the Speaker’s Procession and during the State Opening of Parliament.

Sarah Clarke OBE made history in November 2017 when she was appointed Black Rod—the first woman to hold the position in its more than 650-year history. She formally assumed her duties as Lady Usher of the Black Rod in February 2018, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of one of Parliament’s oldest offices.

Throughout my career, I have been commissioned to photograph a wide range of political figures — from local councillors and Members of Parliament to peers of the House of Lords and former Prime Ministers. Yet this sitting was particularly meaningful, offering a chance to create work within one of the most iconic settings in British public life.

Simon Hart MP is a British politician who has served as Secretary of State for Wales since 2019. A member of the Conservative Party, he was first elected to Parliament in the 2010 general election.

Gavin Williamson CBE MP is a prominent British Conservative politician, first elected as the Member of Parliament for South Staffordshire in 2010. At the time of this sitting, he was serving as Secretary of State for Education and required a contemporary set of portraits that reflected an approachable, professional, and forward-looking image ahead of the General Election.

Inviting former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair to sit for a portrait in London was a remarkable opportunity. Serving as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2007, he was the third former leader I have photographed—an exciting and significant moment in my ongoing work documenting contemporary political history.

This picture has actually lost me a few jobs. Plus I think I might even have lost a flat because of it. I was looking at a property and was chatting to the estate agent and told them that I’d recently shot David Cameron. We put an offer in – for the asking price – but it was turned down. So yes, I do suspect people don’t like David Cameron.

This portrait of former Prime Minister David Cameron was one of the most demanding yet rewarding sittings of my career. Captured in London, the session offered a rare opportunity to portray a figure who played a defining role in a turbulent chapter of British political history. Serving as Prime Minister from 2010 to 2016, David Cameron remains a complex and often polarising figure, shaped by the pressures of leadership and the legacy of Brexit.

This portrait of Councillor Malcolm Kennedy, former Lord Mayor of Liverpool and long-serving councillor elected in 1998, was created many years ago and now forms part of my political portrait archive. During his tenure as First Citizen, Councillor Kennedy acted as a vital representative for the city—promoting Liverpool, strengthening community engagement, and building national and international connections.

I was commissioned by the UK Government to create an official portrait sitting with Baroness Rona Fairhead CBE, one of Britain’s most accomplished business leaders and public servants. As Minister of State for Trade and Export Promotion at the Department for International Trade, Baroness Fairhead played a vital role in shaping the UK’s global commercial strategy, following a distinguished career across media, finance, and international business.

In 2016, I reached out to Sir John to request a sitting. We initially planned to photograph in Autumn of that year, but the seismic events of Brexit—where Sir John played a prominent role as a vocal Remain campaigner—delayed the session. It wasn’t until July 2018 that our schedules aligned and the portrait could finally take place in London.