Martin Bamford Photography

Martin Bamford Photography Portrait photographer in and around Cranleigh, Surrey. I help founders, consultants and creatives look credible and confident in photos that win them work

Round two with Barney.Back in the studio to update his headshots after a new haircut, but it would have been rude to sto...
29/08/2026

Round two with Barney.

Back in the studio to update his headshots after a new haircut, but it would have been rude to stop there.

So once we had the headshots in the bag, we switched things up and created some new editorial portraits for his portfolio. Different lighting, different styling, a bit more attitude and, eventually, a spray bottle to get the wet look.

Sometimes the simplest bits of kit are the most effective.

Another excellent session with Barney. Loads of variety, and some of my favourite portraits we’ve made together so far.

28/08/2026

“I hate having my photo taken.”

It’s one of the most common things people tell me before a headshot session.

Usually followed by:

“I’m awkward in front of a camera.”

“I never know what to do with my face.”

“I’m not photogenic.”

None of this worries me.

Knowing how to stand, where to look and what expression to make isn’t your job. It’s mine.

I’ll direct you in small ways. We’ll chat. We’ll try out different angles and expressions. I’ll show you the photographs as we go, so you can see what’s working.

You don’t need to perform for my camera. You don’t need to practise poses in the mirror before you come to my studio. And you definitely don’t need to smile constantly, until your cheeks ache.

Some of the best portraits happen in the moment after a laugh, during a conversation, or when you briefly forget there’s a camera pointing at you. Times when you let your guard down.

A good headshot session might not turn you into somebody who loves having their photograph taken.

That’s fine.

Success is looking at the finished images and thinking:

“That’s me.”

Or, even better:

“I actually really like that.”

Or, one of my favourites, and taken in the spirit in which it was intended:

“That’s not terrible.”

So, if you’ve been putting off updating your headshot because you hate having your photograph taken, don’t wait until you suddenly feel confident in front of a camera.

Just turn up.

We’ll figure out the rest together.

Those who know me will know two things.I hate wasting a day.And I really dislike public transport. 😂So having my car stu...
27/08/2026

Those who know me will know two things.

I hate wasting a day.

And I really dislike public transport. 😂

So having my car stuck at the garage all day for its annual service was never going to be ideal.

I decided to make the most of it. I walked for a couple of hours in the general direction of home, eventually admitted defeat and got a bus for the final stretch, then headed back out with my camera for some street photography this afternoon.

Quite glad I did.

As the bus pulled into Guildford, I spotted a couple of ponies casually “parked” outside The Friary. Later, a fire engine arrived at The County Club. And just before I climbed aboard bus number three of the day, a chap kindly stopped for a portrait with his gorgeous eight-week-old puppy.

So, day not wasted.

Far too much public transport.

An eye-watering annual service bill.

And another date with the garage already booked for next month.

But at least I got some photos out of it. 📸

I’ve had a lot of brilliant assignments this summer, but this one goes straight onto the favourites list.This afternoon ...
26/08/2026

I’ve had a lot of brilliant assignments this summer, but this one goes straight onto the favourites list.

This afternoon I was shooting for Surrey Hills National Landscape and Surrey Hills Enterprises at Denbies Wine Estate for the launch of the Surrey Hills Sheep Parade.

Fluffy clouds in the sky. Fluffy sheep in the field. Beautifully decorated sheep everywhere. And, for good measure, the actual Dorking Cockerel, Charles.

Add in a whole host of dignitaries, artists, organisers and lots of lovely people, and it made for a pretty perfect afternoon with a camera.

What a fab event to photograph.

Then straight back to the studio afterwards to get the gallery edited and delivered while it was all still fresh.

Love my job. 🐑📷

26/08/2026

Dolly Parton apparently once told a photographer:

“I got three angles. That’s all I got.”

I love that.

Because even one of the most photographed and recognisable people in the world had opinions about which side of her face worked best.

I hear versions of the same thing all the time.

“I hate having my photo taken.”

“This is my good side.”

“I never like photos of myself.”

The job of a good portrait photographer isn’t to force someone into a perfect pose.

It’s to get past all of that self-consciousness and make photographs that actually feel like them.

Dolly Parton died this week, aged 80.

What a life. What a legacy. And, apparently, at least three very good angles.

Faith absolutely smashed this shoot.Lots of what we created together are acting headshots, so the whole point is that th...
25/08/2026

Faith absolutely smashed this shoot.

Lots of what we created together are acting headshots, so the whole point is that they still look like Faith.

Casting directors need to see the person who’s actually going to walk into the audition room, which means keeping the editing light, natural and believable. No changing features. No overly polished skin. No retouching things to within an inch of their life.

That doesn’t mean I can’t use a tiny bit of subtle magic where it helps, but the best acting headshots should feel honest first.

Faith made that part very easy. She’s brilliant in front of the camera, her skin is flawless, and we came away with such a strong mix of expressions and looks.

Loved working with her, and I’m already looking forward to shoot number two.

Which frame is your favourite?

Third shoot with Jessamie this year, and apparently we’ve decided to make a habit of choosing the hottest possible days ...
24/08/2026

Third shoot with Jessamie this year, and apparently we’ve decided to make a habit of choosing the hottest possible days to do it. 😂

This one landed right at the tail end of the latest heatwave.

We had fans running, a bag of ice in the studio and absolutely no meaningful reduction in temperature whatsoever.

So by the end we stopped fighting it and leaned into the sweaty glow.

We started with some fresh headshots to show off Jess’ darker hair. She’s an actor, so keeping those headshots current matters, especially when something as noticeable as hair colour changes.

Then we moved into the fun stuff.

A few stronger fashion and editorial looks, some oversized orange glasses, backlighting, wind, and eventually a collection of stick-on butterflies that seemed like a perfectly sensible idea at the time.

A few of the plastic butterflies were later replaced in Photoshop to make the whole thing feel a little more convincing.

Three shoots in and we’ve created something different every time.

Already looking forward to number four. A few ideas are starting to take shape...

An ‘interesting’ start to the week.I popped into Knowle Park Community this morning, where I volunteer as a trustee, and...
24/08/2026

An ‘interesting’ start to the week.

I popped into Knowle Park Community this morning, where I volunteer as a trustee, and met the brilliant crew from Mad4Animals, who are in the park for the next couple of days with their animal show.

Naturally, this ended with me holding a snake or two.

Just a completely normal Monday for this photographer in Cranleigh. 🐍📸

This was such a good shoot.Ellie came into the studio wanting a mix of acting headshots and something a little more edit...
23/08/2026

This was such a good shoot.

Ellie came into the studio wanting a mix of acting headshots and something a little more editorial, so we gave ourselves plenty of room to play.

Different outfits. Different lighting. Different moods. Clean headshots, darker portraits, softer frames, a bit of movement, a bit of silliness, and plenty of laughter throughout.

That’s often my favourite kind of session. Start with a rough idea, keep experimenting, and see where it goes.

Ellie is genuinely fab to work with. Relaxed, expressive, up for trying things, and just very easy to photograph.

I’m really pleased with how much variety we managed to get from one shoot.

Looking forward to watching where her career goes next, and I’ve got a feeling this won’t be the last time she’s in front of my camera.

It’s probably time I introduced myself again.I haven’t done one of these since the start of the year, lots of new people...
22/08/2026

It’s probably time I introduced myself again.

I haven’t done one of these since the start of the year, lots of new people have arrived since then, and my hair has become longer and scruffier.

So, hello. I’m Martin.

I’m a portrait photographer based in Cranleigh, in the Surrey Hills, and these are a few self-portraits I shot recently in my studio.

Most of my working life involves photographing people.

Actors who need headshots that look like them. Business owners whose photograph from 2017 probably isn’t doing them any favours. Creatives who want something more interesting than a standard headshot.

And plenty of people who begin by telling me they hate having their photograph taken.

I particularly enjoy that last group.

Photography wasn’t my first career. I spent many years working in financial planning, writing, podcasting and explaining complicated things in simple terms.

Eventually photography went from something I loved doing to something I couldn’t imagine not doing for a living.

These days you’ll usually find me in my Cranleigh studio, photographing someone around Surrey, covering a local event, writing for my website or making Instagram Reels about strange things happening in photography.

Away from work, I’m much happier walking through woods than central London. I’ve got a brilliant wife, three children, a granddaughter, two dogs and a cat, and I’m involved in my local community.

And yes, I still feel slightly uncomfortable taking self-portraits.

The thing I’m most interested in is people.

What they do. Why they do it. What they’re working towards.

And how you can make a photograph that feels recognisably them, rather than simply producing a technically perfect picture of their face.

So if you’re new here, hello. I’m glad you found me.

And if you’ve been here for years, thank you for sticking around through the photographs, local adventures, questionable hair and occasional photography rant.

Now it’s your turn. Tell me who you are, where you’re following from and what you do.

And if your own photos are overdue an update, send me a message. We should probably do something about that.

Address

Sundial House, 20 High Street
Cranleigh
GU68AE

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