Biog, Testimonials and Clients
Multi award winning photographer, I pride myself on being friendly, good humoured, articulate and approachable.
I hold a BSc in Photographic Sciences and MSc in Marketing. I shoot people and places, locally and globally from bases in central Edinburgh and North London. My clients range from large conglomerates to small independent businesses and individuals.
In my career I have closed down streets, hung out of helicopters, been chased by lions, saved from drowning and had armed protection in Bangladesh.
My commissions have taken me to locations as diverse as Greenland to The Seychelles, China to Chile.
I began my career shooting landscapes around Scotland, sleeping in my car then tents. I am at home in wild open spaces off the beaten track.
Then despite intially being uncomfortable with people I found that I loved portaiture. I aim to reveal the humanity in my subjects. Everyone has a story to tell and as a portrait photographer you need to be curious.
I have spent years shooting portraits of rock stars, Royalty, Nobel Prize winners, actors and members of the Russian mafia I would like to think I now have an ability to connect with people from all walks of life.
I have won multiple awards for my photography including the Albert Watson Portrait Award for my portrait of the Booker Prize winning author James Kelman. The year before I won the People's Choice award for my portrait of Nobel Prize winning scientist Peter Higgs.
At The Edinburgh International Book Festival I have produced a unique portrait exhibition annually since 2009. Between the Lines.
Some years ago I was on a cross political commitee that looked at establishing the first major photography centre in Scotland. Sadly, with the best will in the world this did not come to fruitition. I was chair of the AOP(Scotland) for 4/5 years and helped establish the an annual photography festival called Retina.
Asides from photography I enjoy films and screenwriting and I read a fair amount. Ben McIntyre is my most read author.
I play tennis, (once had a hit with Goran Ivanisovic) golf a bit (once played The Old Course with an Oscar winning actor) and previously played rugby for London Scottish. I took part in the first 4 mass participation open water swims in the UK on Lake Windermere. It was meant to be a mile but given my sense of direction think it was nearer a mile and a half. No records were broken!
In contrast I have 'tread the boards' at the Edinburgh Festival in several Shakespeare plays. No Oliviers were won!
Testimonials
"You don't need props. You are the prop," Melvyn Bragg, TV and radio broadcaster.
"You are a photographic love God and I adore you" Broadcaster, writer Kathy Lette
"A big thanx. Damn it's a good pic!" - Charley Boorman Actor, Presenter, Adventurer
"Your portraits are so, so beautiful. I've just spent a happy half hour leafing through them. Thank you. :)" - Lorelei King, screenwriter, actress
"I really am thinking you are some kind of genius. I love, love, love your pictures." Celia Imrie, actress
"I think they came out really good! I see what you meant by the game room being a very busy background, would not have been my first choice either. But they work, I really like the simplicity of the shots against white and the more I look at them the more I like them."
Jesse - Art Editor, Sports Illustrated USA
"Firstly, just want to thank you for a great job - everyone is v chuffed, so happy days!" Stewart - Creative Director, Atalanta
"Your amazing photo of me is hanging in my living room" - Ben Mezrich (Author - The Social Network, Once Upon a Time in Russia).
"Just downloaded the shots from yesterday's shoot. Great job. The shots are just what I was looking for, and right on brief. I particularly like the shots of them both on the track with it curving off towards the stand. They'll look really good against the feature."
Nick - Senior designer, Wardour
"Thanks Chris,
A corker of a shoot. Well done!"
Mel - Picture Editor, Economist Productions
A Few Clients
Rolex
UK Government
Continental Airlines
Seychelles Tourist Board
Visit Scotland
Pilkington
Cairn Enery
Condé Nast
Numis
RBS
Muir Maxwell Trust
Capability Scotland
Forth Ports Authority
Edinburgh Book Festival
Bank of Scotland
Insider Publications
Intelligent Life
Standard Life
Royal London
Scottish Power
Scotrail
Famouse Grouse
Skene Whisky
Glenmorangie
Clydeports
British Heart Foundation
442
Arkle
Visit Fife
Historic Scotland
Moray Feu
Thorntons
Tilley
Network Rail
Radisson Hotels
Carlson Inn Suites
Missoni Hotels
The Edinburgh Collection
British Midland