Ed Silvester

Editorial & Portrait Photography, London

Hi!

I photograph people with an emphasis on stillness, context, and presence; placing individuals within the spaces and structures that shape them.
My work focuses on editorial portraiture for print and digital publications, working with writers and editors to produce considered, people-led imagery.

Based near London and available for commissions.

A woman sitting on a bench in a cozy living room, smiling at the camera. She has shoulder-length brown hair, wears glasses, a green satin jacket, a red shirt, black pants, and brown ankle boots. Behind her is a red sofa with pillows and a bookshelf f

An elderly man with a long white beard and wearing a black beanie hat, black jacket, and gloves, sitting outdoors on a wooden bench in front of a dark, tree-filled background, holding a decorated walking stick.

A woman in a white dress and red shoes standing on the steps outside a brick building with a black front door.

A man standing next to a black Toyota SUV in a desert landscape with mountainous terrain and cloudy sky in the background. The SUV has a sticker that says "Welcome to the White Desert" with the number 58 and an illustration of camels.

A woman with dark hair smiling outdoors on a cobblestone street, wearing a white top with lace details on the sleeves, with blurred buildings and pedestrians in the background.

A barista behind the counter of a coffee shop, smiling and holding a glass, with pastries on display including croissants and cookies, and plants and coffee-making equipment in the background.

An elderly man with glasses and gray hair, wearing a dark blazer over a checkered shirt and a maroon sweater, standing next to a white wall with a circular plaque. The man is touching the plaque, which reads: 'The Mitford Sisters lived nearby at the

A young man with brown hair smiling, holding a camera gimbal in his right hand, with a professional camera attached, outdoors in an urban setting.

A man wearing a black vest and gray hoodie with arms outstretched, standing in front of a large stack of white chairs in an industrial storage area with numerous other chairs stored in the background.

A woman with a purple shirt and climbing harness is rock climbing on an indoor climbing wall with colorful holds and padded mats.

A man standing in front of O'Neill's pub, smiling, wearing a black and white checkered shirt, black shorts, and blue slide sandals.

Two women in green shirts standing outdoors beside a map sign for Cressex Business Park, with trees casting shadows overhead.

A woman arranging various baked cookies and desserts on a table for a gathering.

A man with glasses, wearing a black T-shirt and beige shorts, stands outdoors with arms crossed, in front of a colorful graffiti wall featuring a jet plane and stylized graffiti lettering.

A man standing outdoors on a cobblestone street at night, wearing a long dark coat, glasses, and a blue scarf, with brick buildings in the background.

An elderly man sitting in a yellow armchair in a cozy, vintage-style living room with a window showing trees outside.

An elderly man with glasses and gray hair walking on the sidewalk, leaning on a wooden cane, wearing a blue jacket and black pants, with a Subway restaurant and storefronts in the background.

A man wearing a striped polo shirt and a cap, standing in a doorway with his arms crossed and smiling, with signs that say 'Media' and information about cinema screening in the background.

A woman in a white dress and red shoes standing on cobblestone pavement in front of a brick building with arches.

Editorial

Sharp, dramatic editorial work — no fuss, minimal footprint.
A selection of editorial portrait work, photographed on location and in controlled environments.

An elderly man in a black coat and glasses standing on a brick and stone sidewalk in an outdoor setting at night.

Client
HW Life Magazine
Year
2024/2025

A man wearing a dark blazer, white shirt, and khaki pants stands on a riverside bridge at night, looking to the side with a city and river in the background.

A priest wearing white robes and a colorful rainbow stole stands with arms open in front of a stone church entrance, nighttime.

Relaxed Portraiture

Most people don’t enjoy having their photograph taken — and that’s completely normal. A good portrait doesn’t come from stiff posing or forced expressions, but from time, conversation, and letting people settle into themselves.

My approach is calm, unforced, and deliberately low-pressure. I work quietly and intuitively, creating portraits that feel natural, thoughtful, and genuinely like you — especially for people who arrive convinced they’ll hate the experience.

About Me…

I’m Ed Silvester, a portrait and editorial photographer based in the UK. I’ve been in photography my entire life, starting with an ancient camera handed down to me from my Dad.

Before photography became my full-time focus, I spent many years working at senior level in broadcast and media technology. That background quietly shapes how I work now: preparation matters, calm matters, and getting the result without unnecessary drama matters most of all.

I specialise in working with people who don’t naturally enjoy being photographed. People who describe themselves as awkward, private, sceptical — or simply unconvinced they ever look good in pictures. My approach is deliberately low-pressure. There’s no performance to adopt and no version of you I’m trying to impose. The sessions are conversational, unhurried, and grounded in observation rather than instruction.

I’m interested in portraits that ask questions rather than shout answers. Images that feel rooted in a place, a role, or a moment in time — where background, light, and gesture all contribute to the story being told. Much of my work is editorial in nature, but the same principles apply whether I’m photographing a writer, a vicar, a CEO, or someone who has never commissioned a portrait before.

Clients often tell me they were surprised — not just by the photographs, but by how relaxed the process felt. That, for me, is the real measure of success: when someone leaves the session feeling more at ease than when they arrived, and with images that feel recognisably, honestly theirs.

If you’re looking for portraiture that’s thoughtful, calm, and unforced, you’re in the right place.