John Maher is a specialist portrait photographer on the Isle of Lewis. He creates authentic, characterful headshots and commissioned portraits that reveal people at work and at ease.
I specialise in portrait photography rooted in the Outer Hebrides — a practice shaped by years of photographing the people who live and work here. My WORK: Outer Hebrides project grew from a simple desire to record ordinary lives in an extraordinary place; that approach guides every commissioned portrait I make. I aim to create images that feel honest, carefully observed and a little different from the usual mugshot. What sets my portraits apart is a blend of documentary instinct and deliberate lighting. I use additional light to lift faces and emphasise character — whether that means a carefully placed softbox on a windswept pier or subtle controlled light for a close-up. The result is a portrait that flatters without flattening personality, one that captures someone’s story as much as their likeness. Clients choose me because I put character and context at the heart of the session. I don’t just point and click; I listen. We discuss what you want the photograph to say — about you, your work or your business — then I create a relaxed environment to let that authenticity appear. My experience photographing tradespeople, community workers and local businesses across Harris and Lewis means I’m used to working quickly, respectfully and with minimal disruption. While portraiture is my core specialism, I also photograph professional business headshots and corporate portraits when required. For LinkedIn, company websites or press use, I craft clean, professional images that retain the warmth and individuality of each subject. These business portraits are presented with the same attention to light, posture and expression that informs all my work. I am self‑taught and still very much driven by curiosity — whether experimenting with light on a pier or finding the right angle that reveals a face’s story. Commissions are welcome across the Outer Hebrides and I’m happy to discuss brief, location and objectives before a session. If you want a portrait that feels human, considered and distinctively Hebridean, get in touch and we’ll plan something that works for you.