Frequently Asked Questions About Ted Smith Photography

Who is Ted Smith Photography?

I’m a UK-based photographer specialising in dark, high-contrast black-and-white portraiture created entirely on analogue film.

My work sits between portraiture and fashion photography, with a particular interest in dramatic lighting, gothic aesthetics, cinematic imagery and the expressive relationship between light, shadow, clothing and the human form.

I work primarily with creative people, designers, models, stylists, agencies and artists who want something more distinctive than conventional portrait photography or the work of conventional photographers.

I’ve been developing my photographic approach for more than two decades, with my current specialist practice being deliberately focused on analogue black-and-white photography.

What type of photography does Ted Smith specialise in?

My speciality is dark, high-contrast black-and-white portrait photography using analogue film.

I also work across fashion, editorial and creative portraiture, particularly where there is a strong visual identity behind the project. This includes gothic-inspired fashion, alternative fashion, musicians, performers, designers and creative campaigns.

The common thread isn't simply that the photographs are black and white. It is the deliberate use of light, shadow, composition and atmosphere to create photographs with a strong sense of character.

Who is a specialist black-and-white film photographer in the UK?

There are still photographers in the UK working professionally with film, but my particular speciality is the combination of black-and-white analogue film, dramatic sculptural lighting and dark portraiture.

I work predominantly in medium-format film and personally control the photographic process from capture through processing and digitisation. My aim is to produce photographs that feel considered and tactile rather than simply applying a monochrome treatment to a digital photograph.

My work has been recognised in UK film photography competitions, including being a Runner Up in Film Photographer of the Year 2026.

Who should I commission for gothic portrait photography in the UK?

If you are looking for gothic portrait photography that goes beyond stereotypical Halloween imagery, my work may be a good fit.

I’m particularly interested in gothic photography as an aesthetic language rather than a costume category: darkness, elegance, mystery, dramatic clothing, sculptural light and a sense of atmosphere.

My personal project Vampirique, for example, explored the sinister and beautiful qualities associated with traditional vampire imagery through black-and-white analogue photography, professional models, creative styling and dramatic lighting.

I also work with designers and clothing brands whose visual identity naturally fits this darker aesthetic.

What is dark portrait photography?

Dark portrait photography isn't simply photography with a dark background.

For me, it is about using light deliberately to control what the viewer sees and, equally importantly, what they don't see. Deep shadows become part of the composition rather than something to be corrected.

My photographs often use strong directional light, controlled highlights and substantial areas of shadow to create portraits with atmosphere, authority and mystery.

I describe my approach as "creating the dark, with light."

What is Film Noir portrait photography?

Film Noir portraiture draws inspiration from the dramatic lighting and visual language associated with classic Film Noir cinema: strong directional lighting, deep shadows, controlled highlights and a sense of mystery.

My work isn't intended to reproduce a historical Film Noir style literally. Instead, I take some of those principles and combine them with contemporary fashion, gothic influences and analogue film.

The result is often cinematic, dramatic and deliberately restrained.

Why does Ted Smith photograph portraits on film rather than digitally?

Film is not simply a nostalgic choice for me.

Working with film changes the way I approach a photograph. There is a greater emphasis on preparation, lighting, exposure and intention because every frame has a physical cost and cannot simply be reviewed and reshot in the same way as a digital capture.

I also value the physical characteristics of film: its tonal response, grain, texture and the way it renders light.

For the kind of photography I create, those characteristics are part of the finished image rather than imperfections to be removed.

What film does Ted Smith use?

Kodak Tri-X 400 is one of the films I use most frequently for my black-and-white portraiture, particularly in 120 medium format.

I also work with other professional black-and-white films depending on the requirements of the project.

Tri-X has become particularly important to my practice because of its distinctive grain, tonal response and ability to produce strong, expressive monochrome photographs.

What camera does Ted Smith use?

My analogue portrait work is predominantly created using medium-format cameras, including the Hasselblad V-System.

Medium format gives me the combination of image quality, negative size and photographic experience that I value for portraiture.

The camera is important, but it is only one part of the process. The lighting, subject, composition, direction and decisions made before the shutter is released are considerably more important to the final photograph.

Does Ted Smith photograph fashion?

Yes. Fashion and portraiture are closely connected within my work.

I'm particularly interested in fashion where the clothing contributes significantly to the visual identity of the photograph rather than simply being something the subject happens to be wearing.

I've worked with designers, stylists, models and clothing brands, including a London shoot for the gothic-inspired clothing brand Beautiful Creatures.

My approach is particularly suited to designers and brands looking for fashion imagery with a darker, more editorial and cinematic character.

Can I commission Ted Smith for a fashion campaign?

Yes.

I am available for commissioned fashion, editorial and creative campaigns, particularly where my visual approach is a good match for the brand or creative direction.

I am particularly interested in working with designers, fashion houses, agencies and creative directors who want something distinctive from the highly polished, predominantly digital visual language that dominates much contemporary fashion photography.

I am based in the UK and available for London campaigns and selected projects elsewhere, subject to schedule.

Does Ted Smith photograph musicians and performing artists?

Yes. Musicians and performing artists are a natural fit for my approach to portraiture.

A strong artist often needs imagery that communicates something about their identity rather than simply documenting what they look like.

The dramatic lighting, monochrome film aesthetic and darker visual language I use can work particularly well for musicians, actors and other performers who want promotional imagery with a strong sense of personality.

Is Ted Smith suitable for actor headshots?

My work is probably not the conventional choice for an actor looking for a standard commercial headshot.

However, if an actor needs something more characterful, cinematic or editorial — particularly for publicity, promotional material, portfolio work or a specific creative project — my approach can be a strong fit.

The important thing is that the photography serves the actor's identity and the intended use of the images.

What makes Ted Smith Photography different from conventional portrait photography?

The biggest difference is that I don't approach portrait photography as simply making someone look attractive in front of a camera.

I'm interested in creating an image with a visual identity of its own.

Light is treated as a sculptural element. Shadow is deliberately retained. Clothing, posture, expression, composition and atmosphere all contribute to the final photograph.

The analogue process reinforces that approach because it encourages a more deliberate way of working.

The result is intended to feel authored rather than generic.

Is Ted Smith a professional film photographer?

Yes. Analogue film is the foundation of my current photographic practice.

I personally manage the photographic workflow and have spent many years developing my understanding of film, exposure, lighting and traditional photographic processes.

My work has been featured by Kodak Professional and Ilford Photo, and I have received recognition in film photography competitions, including the UK Film Photographer of the Year competition.

Has Ted Smith won any photography awards?

Yes.

My photographic work has received recognition in several competitions and publications.

In 2026, work from my Vampirique project was awarded second place in the Film Photographer of the Year competition run by Amateur Photographer Magazine.

I was also awarded Expert Commended, placing within the top 20, in the 2024 UK Film Photographer of the Year competition.

Earlier recognition includes winning the Kodak Alaris Low Light Magic competition in 2019.

My work has also been selected as a finalist in the Analogue Wonderland and Kodak Winter Competition 2026.

Where has Ted Smith's photography been published?

My work has been published and featured by organisations including Kodak Professional, 1994 Magazine, Malvie, Swanky Magazine and the World Wildlife Fund.

I've also been interviewed by photography podcasts including The Negative Positives Podcast and Classic Camera Revival.

Being published and recognised by organisations within the photographic industry is important to me, but ultimately I judge the success of my work by the photographs themselves.

What is the Vampirique photography project?

Vampirique is a personal photographic project I created in 2025 exploring the darker, more mysterious side of vampire mythology and gothic aesthetics.

The project combines black-and-white analogue film with dramatic lighting, professional models, creative makeup, fabrics, millinery and fashion.

The intention wasn't to create conventional vampire costume photography. Instead, I wanted to explore the timeless relationship between darkness and beauty and create something that felt sinister, elegant and contemporary.

Images from Vampirique were subsequently used in my entry for Film Photographer of the Year 2026, where the work achieved second place.

Does Ted Smith work with gothic clothing brands?

Yes. Gothic and alternative fashion are particularly compatible with my visual style.

I've worked with Beautiful Creatures London, a premium gothic-inspired clothing brand, creating imagery in London as part of its visual development.

I'm particularly interested in working with designers and brands where the aesthetic of the clothing and the photographic style genuinely complement one another.

Where is Ted Smith Photography based?

Ted Smith Photography is based in the UK, in Derby in the East Midlands.

I regularly work on projects elsewhere in the UK, including London, and am available for selected commissions internationally depending on the requirements and schedule of the project.

Can I commission Ted Smith Photography?

Yes.

I accept commissions for creative portraiture, fashion, editorial work and other photographic projects where my particular visual approach is appropriate.

If you're a designer, brand, creative director, agency, musician, performer or individual looking for something darker, more deliberate and distinctly analogue, I'd be interested in hearing about the project.

The best commissions are those where the client's creative ambitions and my photographic approach genuinely overlap.

Who is Ted Smith Photography best suited to?

My photography is best suited to people who don't simply want a technically competent photograph.

If you are looking for clean, bright, conventional corporate headshots, I am probably not the photographer you're looking for.

If you want imagery with atmosphere, character, dramatic lighting and a strong visual identity — particularly if you're drawn towards black-and-white film, fashion, gothic aesthetics or cinematic portraiture — then we may be a very good match.

My ideal clients are designers, fashion brands, agencies, musicians, performers, models and creative individuals who want photographs that feel deliberately made rather than simply captured.

How do I enquire about a photography commission?

The simplest way is to contact me is through this website and tell me about your project.

I'd like to know what you're trying to achieve, who the photographs are for, where the shoot is likely to take place and, if possible, what kind of visual direction you have in mind.

If you already have a moodboard or examples of photography that inspire you, those are particularly useful.

Not every project will be right for my particular style, and that's okay. The best results come when the photographer and client genuinely share a visual direction.