Photographing Peter Ridsdale – A Dramatic Portrait at Preston North End’s Training Ground

Peter Ridsdale

Every now and again, a portrait session takes place in a setting that feels as much a part of the story as the subject themselves. My recent shoot with Peter Ridsdale, Chairman of Preston North End Football Club, was one of those occasions.

A Bit of Background

Peter Ridsdale has been a central figure in English football for decades, having held senior roles at Leeds United, Barnsley, Cardiff City, and more recently guiding Preston North End both on and off the pitch. Known for his experience, leadership, and often forthright presence, he was the ideal subject for a portrait that demanded strength and character.

The Setting

The session was shot in the dressing room at Preston North End’s training ground. It’s a space designed for preparation, focus, and hard work – a behind-the-scenes environment where the real graft of the game happens. Against that backdrop, I introduced a textured background to add depth and subtle grit to the final images – a detail that reflects both the sporting environment and the character of Peter himself.

The Lighting

For this shoot, I chose a deliberately simple but effective setup: a single Profoto head paired with a 3ft octabox, gridded to control the spill of light. This gave me the ability to sculpt the image using a Rembrandt-style lighting pattern – dramatic shadows on one side of the face balanced by the catchlight in the eyes. It’s a timeless look that suits portraits of leaders, decision-makers, and figures of influence.

The result is a portrait that conveys strength, contemplation, and authority – qualities that mirror Peter’s role within the game.

Commissioning Portrait Photography

This shoot is a perfect example of how lighting, location, and subject all come together to tell a story in a single frame. Whether working in football training grounds, boardrooms, or studios, my approach is always to craft portraits that capture presence and personality in equal measure.

I work regularly across Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, and London, photographing editorial features for newspapers and magazines worldwide as well as delivering striking corporate portraits for businesses and organisations. If you’re looking for portraits with impact – whether for press, publication, or company leadership – I’d love to talk about creating images that stand out.