Capturing the Portrait of Lord Monson for His Memoir Cover

I was honored to be commissioned to create the cover portrait for the forthcoming memoir of Lord Nicholas Monson a deeply personal work that reflects a life shaped by both privilege and profound loss. The memoir traces Monson’s childhood, inheritance, and the devastating tragedy of losing both of his sons, demanding a portrait that could hold emotional gravity without excess.

My approach was deliberately restrained. Rather than theatricality, the image centres on stillness—allowing quiet strength, contemplation, and resilience to surface naturally. Working with a simple, evocative setup, I sought to capture Monson in a neutral yet reflective state, one that mirrors the tone of his writing and invites the viewer into the psychological landscape of the book.

Capturing the Portrait of Lord Monson for His Memoir Cover (Rory Lewis Photographer 2024 Los Angeles)

This philosophy underpins my portrait practice: creating images that resonate with the sitter’s inner narrative. Each session is a collaboration, shaped by precise direction and an imaginative framework that encourages authenticity. In Monson’s case, the goal was to honour the tension between aristocratic heritage and lived experience—an honesty that cannot be staged, only revealed.

Across my career, I have photographed figures from across public life—actors, business leaders, statesmen, and royalty—including former Prime Ministers Tony Blair and John Major, as well as commissions for institutions such as JP Morgan and Lloyds Banking Group. Regardless of status, the objective remains constant: to create a timeless portrait that communicates character rather than spectacle.

Monson’s memoir offers a counterpoint to the contemporary wave of autobiographical publishing—less sensational, more reflective—standing apart from highly publicised accounts such as those by Prince Harry. It is a meditation on grief, endurance, and acceptance, and the cover portrait was crafted to echo that sensibility.

Projects like this reaffirm why portraiture matters. At its best, photography becomes a quiet historical record—one that preserves not only likeness, but the emotional truth of a life at a particular moment in time.