A gentle, practical reflection on portrait photography – rooted in simplicity, patience, and working with what’s close at hand.
In this understated daytime segment from Me And My Camera, renowned British portrait photographer Patrick Lichfield offers calm, experience-led advice on photographing people without fuss or pretence. Rather than presenting photography as something technical or inaccessible, Lichfield reduces it to its essentials: light, space, and human presence.
Filmed by Thames Television and broadcast on ITV on 14th September 1981, the programme shows Lichfield transforming an ordinary living room into a workable portrait studio. Chairs, windows, curtains, and walls become tools – not obstacles. The emphasis is on observation and comfort, not control.
He’s seen shooting with an Olympus OM camera fitted with the Zuiko 85mm f/2, a classic portrait lens that perfectly mirrors his approach: restrained, flattering, and purposeful. There’s no sales pitch here, just quiet demonstration by someone who understands why certain tools endure.
This isn’t a tutorial in the modern sense. It’s a composed lesson in seeing people clearly – and a reminder that strong portraits are built on trust, patience, and attention rather than equipment.
Originally Aired: 14 September 1981
Series: Me And My Camera (ITV)
Featuring: Patrick Lichfield
Camera: Olympus OM with Zuiko 85mm f/2