Simon Ridgway’s Cardiff portrait studio creates authentic headshots and professional portraits. I help actors, creatives and business people show the real person behind the image—confident, trusted and engaging.
Nobody is perfect. Everybody is interesting. That is at the heart of how I approach portrait photography in my Cardiff studio. As a portrait specialist I focus on creating honest, industry-standard headshots and studio portraits that represent the real you — images people can trust. I bring thirty years of professional experience, including production and publicity photography for major film and TV clients, to every session so that lighting, composition and expression work together to tell a convincing story. Why choose me? Because I prioritise authenticity and connection. My work is about coaxing genuine expression, not manufacturing it. Whether you’re an actor updating your Spotlight profile, a creative building a portfolio, or a professional needing a confident business portrait, I aim for portraits that are expressive, clean and useful in the real world. I know the practical requirements for casting headshots and the subtleties that make a portrait stand out — the eye contact, the relaxed gesture, the lighting that sculpts a face without artifice. How I work: sessions are collaborative and relaxed. I shoot tethered to a computer so you can view images on a large screen as we go, allowing instant feedback and quick direction. The studio has a selection of backdrops, both window and artificial light options, a clothes rail, full-length mirror and a steamer so we can concentrate on results rather than logistics. If location or corporate needs suit you better, I also work on location for business portraits and team sessions with portable kit, keeping disruption to a minimum. My philosophy is simple: create portraits that feel truthful and useful. I value clear communication, a friendly atmosphere and a practiced technical approach that gets you the pictures you need — Spotlight-ready headshots, editorial-style publicity portraits and professional business images that build trust. If you care about honesty in your imagery and want a portrait that genuinely represents how you want to be seen, my Cardiff portrait studio is designed to make that happen. Bookings are straightforward and each session is tailored to your goals and personality.