William Shatner – A Portrait of Ease, Presence, and Iconic Character (Rory Lewis Photographer 2016)
My second portrait sitting with William Shatnerremains one of the most memorable. Our very first session years earlier had been a whirlwind—just five minutes before he had to rush off to a film set. In that brief moment, I had worked quickly, shaping light and expression at extraordinary speed. But this session was entirely different.
This time, we met in his Studio City offices, and Shatner was wonderfully at ease. Dressed in light linen trousers and sandals, he embodied the effortless charm of a man fully at home in California—despite his proudly Canadian roots. Los Angeles has a way of growing on everyone, even legends.
With the gift of time, I was able to direct him through a range of looks and expressions, exploring tone, attitude, and nuance in a way our earlier session never allowed. Shatner was open, focused, and deeply present—slipping between charisma, contemplation, and playfulness with the ease of an actor who has lived a thousand lives on screen.
The resulting portraits capture not just the icon, but the man behind the legend. They remain among my favourite images, and I’m pleased to say that William Shatner himself was equally delighted with the results.
