Brian Harris (1 Jul 1937 - 19 Sep 2026)

In loving memory of Brian Harris who sadly passed away on 19th September 2026, rather than write my own words I am using what my Dad, Brian, wrote about himself.

"I took up a camera, aged 11 to record school mates. On leaving school, I worked at Studio Briggs, Tottenham Court Road London with five camera rooms and three darkrooms, photographing and printing, Fashion, Kitchens, Architecture, Mail Order Catalogues, Recipes for for Framers Weekly, Scaffolding inside the roof of the Albert Hall, Radar and other 'Secret Electronic Items!'
Portraits of the Stars for Record Sleeves etc. using 10x8 inch Kodachrome and negatives, Copying using a 15x12 inch camera and glass plates.

"After National Service in the RAF, I joined Harris Pencils, Elstree the family business and worked through most jobs - Invoicing, Picking Orders, Packing - but Photography called - Kodak Applications Laboratory, Commercial Motion Pictures, Vision Photographic and Fred Parkin's Studio and Camera Shop in Egham, again variety - Waterworks sump and then new sewage plant, two weddings and four family portraits in the studio - all in one week.

"!965 I openes Studio B in Radlett, I soon realised it is better to specialise so I concentrated on Portraiture - black and white at first then colour and Framed Wall Portraits on Canvas which sold very well and made my name concentrating on 'Difficult' subjects; big groups - 24 or more people in one studio group, children, pets, and newborn babies.

"1974 Jenny and I married and fifteen months later - Emma was born

"1976 I was awarded Associate of the Royal Photographic Society and British Institute of Professional Photographers and elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and daughter Sylvie was born.

"1978 I gave seminars in Dublin, Belfast, Hjo and Sollefa (Sweden)

"1980 I had the honour to be the keynote speaker at the New Zealand Professional Photographers' Convention in Napier. Then a seminar for 750 professional photographers in Lisbon, Portugal. I was a founder member of The London Portrait Group and The Guild of British Portrait Photographers.

"I retired gradually - dividing my days between Teignmouth and Radlett. Then left Radlett behind, enjoying Teignmouth full time specially walking the moors, beaches and the coastal path with my collies, Chloe and Blue, sailing my solo dinghy from Coombe Cellars, I soon joined the Rotary Club of Teignmouth and have been twice president.

"Photography is now just for the joy of it!"