Raw Podcast - EP58 - A conversation with John Boaz

In this conversation, we sit down with portrait photographer John Boaz to talk about where his work really comes from. From an early moment of seeing deer move through golden light at Bradgate Park to having his portraits on the cover of Portrait of Britain, John shares a thoughtful and honest look at his creative journey.

We talk about the influence of university on his understanding of visual storytelling, the importance of personal projects alongside paid work, and why connection always matters more than technical perfection. John reflects on slowing down in a fast-paced, social-media-driven industry, how nature, music and everyday life feed into his work, and why imperfections often carry the most truth.

This episode is about portraiture as a human exchange rather than a technical exercise, and about protecting artistic integrity while navigating commercial realities.

Guest Bio

John Boaz is a multi-award-winning portrait photographer based in Northamptonshire, UK. He graduated from Birmingham City University in 2019 with a degree in Visual Communication (Photography).

John is a multiple winner of the British Journal of Photography’s Portrait of Britain awards, including having a portrait selected as the front cover of Volume 7. His work has been exhibited at the Saatchi Gallery as part of the Royal Photographic Society’s IPE 166 exhibition and features in major publications such as The Guardian, Financial Times Magazine, Le Monde and Der Spiegel. His ongoing series Rivers Of Living Water explores Christianity in Britain through portraiture and observational images.

Key Topics

John’s early inspiration at Bradgate Park

University and learning visual storytelling

Balancing paid work and personal projects

Human connection in portraiture

Feeling over technical perfection

Inspiration from nature, music and everyday life

Maintaining artistic integrity across mediums

Slowing down in a fast social media world

The impact of awards on creative confidence

Notable Quotes

“Imperfect images tell a story.”

“Connection and context come first.”

“Imperfections add authenticity.”

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and background

02:50 Early photography experiences

06:00 University and visual storytelling

08:56 Transitioning into professional work

11:45 Personal projects and why they matter

14:37 Balancing paid work and passion

17:30 Current projects and future direction

20:32 Family and photography

23:51 Artistic reflection and intention

25:21 Digital versus film

27:29 Human connection in portrait photography

31:15 Planning versus spontaneity

34:17 Managing pressure and anxiety

38:34 Comfort and trust in portraits

41:35 Environment, light and atmosphere

45:15 Subconscious decision-making

47:42 Connection and context revisited

50:39 Emotion versus technical control

54:16 Storytelling through portraiture

57:57 Navigating wedding photography

01:01:16 Humility and growth

01:04:12 Finding inspiration beyond photography

01:07:07 Creative pressure

01:09:52 Social media and evolving perspectives

01:11:16 Fulfilment beyond Instagram

01:12:54 Balancing work and personal life

01:15:34 The impact of awards

01:17:43 Inspiration from fellow photographers

Mentions

Alex Soth

Alys Tomlinson

Portrait of Britain

Where to find John

johnboaz_

Johns Website

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⁠@therawpodcast⁠

⁠@davidmcclellandphotography⁠

⁠@moathillphotography