Inspiration That Lives in Personal Perspective
For Matt Jones, style isn’t something built from scratch — it’s something gradually uncovered. He believes every photographer’s visual voice already exists within them — the process is simply learning to listen.
He studies images that stop him in his tracks, then trusts his instincts on set. If an idea flashes across his mind, he shoots it. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn’t. But when it does, it becomes part of his style.
In this intense poster shot for a production of Romeo and Juliet, two lovers are captured in a dramatic, upside-down embrace, a silver crucifix hanging between them. The theatrical lighting and razor-sharp framing turn a single fleeting moment into pure narrative electricity — the perfect example of Matt trusting his instincts to create portraits that make an unforgettable statement.
Approaching Every Shoot Like a Story
Every shoot begins with a single idea — understanding the person in front of the camera, as Matt Jones approaches each portrait with a clear intent: what statement are we making about this person?
“With portraiture, whether it’s commercial, editorial or personal, the goal is always to make a statement about the person or people in the frame.”
He talks to the subject, agrees on the tone, then sketches the key shots by hand. These rough drawings become lighting diagrams, lens choices, and directing notes — flexible enough to evolve when the day throws surprises.That flexibility is deliberate.
Unexpected changes of plan on the day provide an opportunity to adapt the ideas into something much more unique.
This commercial portrait of an older gentleman in a hoodie and “165th Floor” cap shows the result: a calm, lived-in gaze that feels both relaxed and powerfully intentional — exactly the kind of targeted statement Matt builds through careful pre-production.
Equipment Is a Tool, Never the Boss
Matt is refreshingly honest about gear. Sometimes it’s essential. He once needed a super-wide lens to include a 60-metre rollercoaster behind a portrait — no other focal length would have worked. But most of the time he treats equipment as a creative constraint, not a crutch.
“Equipment can very easily become a crutch. Every brand out there is making lenses, lights, sensors and modifiers which can do just about everything, and when there are unlimited options available it can be hard to decide where to start. It’s great for creativity to have constraints.”
Some of his favourite recent studio portraits were lit with a flash, an adapted fresnel, and a shower curtain hung on a clothes rail. The setup looks ridiculous. The light looks like window light from heaven.
In this quietly commanding studio portrait, a young man with a buzz cut looks straight into the lens, arms folded. The soft yet sculptural light wraps around his face and jacket with beautiful precision — the exact result of that improvised shower-curtain diffuser and Matt’s refusal to let equipment dictate the vision.
Energy, Drama, and Real Moments
Whether he’s shooting on a moving bus or in the middle of a screaming crowd, Matt’s camera finds the heartbeat of the scene.
Stefflon Don stands triumphant on top of a moving bus at night, pink hair flying, bottle raised, flags whipping behind her. The energy is electric, the composition chaotic yet perfectly controlled — pure instinct meeting pure celebration.
Adapting in the Moment
While preparation defines the foundation, the final image is often shaped by what happens in real time. Unexpected changes — whether in light, environment, or subject — aren’t interruptions, but opportunities.
They provide a chance to adapt ideas into something more unique.
In this concert frame, Will Smith performs surrounded by a blur of fans, his red jacket popping against the motion. The shallow depth of field and crowd energy turn a single second into an unforgettable portrait of stardom.
About Matt Jones
Matt Jones (Trading under ‘Photography by Matt Jones’) is a self-taught London-based portrait photographer with 7 years of professional experience. He creates images with a clear message or feeling, while celebrating the subject of the photo.
Website: www.photographybymattjones.co.uk
All featured images © Matt Jones
