Our latest Headshots Matter StudioTalk featured John Ferguson, a photographer whose career stretches back more than forty years. From his start in the darkroom at a London press agency to shooting portraits of A-list celebrities, John has lived through nearly every shift in the photography world. His reflections remind us why headshots and portrait work—done with intention—still matter today.

Thank you to everyone who tuned in and joined us for this StudioTalk LIVE on Instagram.

Special thanks to John for sharing some great stories from his rich career in photography.

For those of you who enjoy a read in addition to a watch and listen, we’ve created a short blog excerpt below. [↓]

Please enjoy and feel free to comment with any questions.

Cheers, Dwayne.

Learning the Craft the Old-School Way

John began his career in the 80s, when photography was still apprenticeship-driven. He worked first as an apprentice printer, spending long hours handling glass plates and negatives before moving on to become a trainee photographer. That hands-on training taught him composition, lighting, and patience—skills that formed the backbone of his later work.

Sports photography was his first love. Covering football (soccer), tennis, rugby, and especially boxing, he learned to anticipate rather than react. “With boxing, you had to be aware of the boxer’s stance, his feet, his shoulders—you knew when a hook or an uppercut was coming” . That sharp instinct for timing would later serve him well in portraiture, where reading body language is just as important.

From Sports to Celebrities

John’s press work eventually opened doors to entertainment photography. He was headhunted by Piers Morgan at the Daily Mirror and began photographing international stars such as Bruce Willis, Mariah Carey, and David Bowie. These assignments were high-pressure—often just minutes with a subject—but they gave him confidence that has carried into his current commercial and headshot work.

He recalls even difficult shoots with a sense of calm. A Bowie session that went sideways forced him to adapt quickly and still deliver. Later, Bowie’s team apologised and invited him back. That resilience—learning to work under pressure and remain composed—remains part of how John approaches headshots today.

Storytelling in Every Frame

Whether shooting in a war zone, documenting an NGO project, or creating a simple headshot, John has always believed photographs should tell a story. That belief came through clearly in our conversation:

“It doesn’t matter who it is. It could be Prince or the local actor from my local drama club, I still try to produce the same kind of imagery. All photography is worthy of trying your best to tell a story.”

This idea—that a headshot is never “just a headshot”—is one that resonates across our Headshots Matter community. For John, photography has always been about layers: expression, environment, and human connection, all working together to capture something real.

Balancing Craft and Change

John has also seen how technology has reshaped the field, from transparency film to digital, and now to AI. He’s candid about his concerns: while tools change, he believes the human element—building trust, calming nerves, and catching fleeting expressions—can’t be replaced. That authenticity, he argues, is what separates enduring portrait work from fleeting trends.

Today, his commercial photography often blends editorial style with branding needs. Whether working with a gallery owner in Suffolk or capturing executives, he brings the same sensibility he once used on Fleet Street: attention to detail, respect for the subject, and a drive to tell their story in one strong frame.

A Photographer’s Lifework

Looking back, John admits he wishes he had slowed down at times, kept more negatives, or taken more time with certain shoots. Yet he also recognises that every assignment, whether glamorous or gritty, was part of his education. “At the end of the day, as photographers, we’re working on our life’s work—even if it’s a simple shot or a complex one” .

That sense of photography as a lifelong practice—more than a job, closer to a calling—is what continues to drive him. And it’s a reminder to all photographers, whether emerging or seasoned, that each frame adds to the larger story we’re building through our work.

You can view John’s work at: www.johnfergusonphotography.uk and follow him on Instagram at: @john_ferguson_photography

StudioTalk