"If a picture answers every question, it isn't worth looking at more than once."— Rodney Smith

Keith Barraclough is a New York-based advertising and editorial photographer known for bold cinematic portraiture, rich layered textures, and a rare ability to reveal the true character of his subjects. Since 2023, he has been named one of the Top 200 Advertising Photographers Worldwide by Lürzer's Archive.
 

The story

Eight-year-old Keith sized up the opponents dribbling on a dirt pitch in Lusaka, Zambia. Victory seemed like a shoe-in. "They were barefoot. But we couldn't catch them. They ran rings around us."

It was part of a childhood that made Keith question everything.

Thanks to his father's foreign service career, by then he had already hiked Mount Kilimanjaro, flown 37,000 feet over the vastness of the Sahara Desert, been on numerous safaris and learned the Mooba dance of the Lenje ethnic group in Zambia.

Ever the enthralled observer and active participant, Keith's curiosity propelled him. He cycled 185 miles over seven days with his fellow twelve-year-old friends along the C&O Canal from Cumberland, Maryland to Washington, D.C; came face to face with a four-foot-diameter clam while scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef; hiked to the plateaus of the Kackar Mountains of Northern Turkey; spent two weeks with local farmers learning how to make bread and churn butter; spent three weeks documenting families receiving homes from Habitat for Humanity in Belo Horizonte, Brazil; and slept on a cattle ranch under the stars in the outback during a three-week trip along the eastern coast of Australia.

Keith's work has been featured in campaigns including Animal Planet's Puppy Bowl, Allstate, and Apple Music. His now twelve-year-old personal series The Redhead Project went viral after being featured on CNN.com Interactive and was discussed on the podcast Look Behind The Look, hosted by director Tiffany Bartok. He's photographed people from all walks of life, from toddlers to Hollywood celebrities.

"Throw puppies, cats, penguins, and sloths into the collaborative mix, and I'm in heaven."

Keith lives in Soho, NYC with his producer and wife, Kate, and their beloved dog, Kuma. He's in his element connecting with and empowering his subjects, uncovering what makes them tick and is always driven by that lifelong need to ask more questions.
 

Specialties

Advertising & Campaigns

Brand-led work where bold color, cinematic composition, and clear intent are non-negotiable. Keith's advertising images don't ask for attention — they command it.

Editorial & Portraiture

Long-form editorial projects and individual portraits where connection matters. His subjects — from toddlers to Hollywood celebrities — consistently describe feeling genuinely seen.

Animals & Lifestyle

From Animal Planet's Puppy Bowl to personal animal portraits, Keith brings the same patient, attentive energy to animal subjects as to his human portraits.
 

Recognition

Since 2023, Keith Barraclough has been selected as one of the Top 200 Advertising Photographers Worldwide by Lürzer's Archive — the definitive international authority on advertising photography — and was featured in a dedicated passion project interview on their platform.

The Redhead Project has drawn international media attention, including a feature in The Guardian, a live appearance on Australia's ABC News Breakfast morning program, a viral CNN.com Interactive photo essay, and an in-depth conversation on the Look Behind The Look podcast hosted by director Tiffany Bartok.

Selected 2023 & 2024 as one of the Top 200 Advertising Photographers Worldwide. One of the most coveted recognitions in commercial photography globally.
Featured interview exploring Keith's passion projects and creative practice, published by Lürzer's Archive.
"It creates a community" — The Guardian's art & design feature on The Redhead Project, February 2024.
Live appearance on Australia's ABC News Breakfast morning program discussing The Redhead Project and his photographic practice.
The Redhead Project featured as a CNN Photo Essay — one of the most-shared editorial photography features of 2019.
The Redhead Project discussed by director Tiffany Bartok, exploring the craft behind long-form personal photographic series.
 

Frequently asked

Who is Keith Barraclough?

Keith Barraclough is a New York-based advertising and editorial photographer known for bold cinematic portraiture and lifestyle imagery. Since 2023 he has been named one of the Top 200 Advertising Photographers Worldwide by Lürzer's Archive. His personal series The Redhead Project went viral after being featured on CNN.com Interactive.

What type of photography does Keith Barraclough specialize in?

Keith Barraclough specializes in advertising photography, editorial photography, corporate portrait photography, lifestyle photography, and animal photography. He is based in New York City and available for assignments worldwide on location.

Which brands and publications has Keith Barraclough worked with?

Keith's advertising clients include Apple, Allstate, Animal Planet (Puppy Bowl), Amazon Studios, PricewaterhouseCoopers, BlueCross BlueShield, Columbia University, Fordham University, The Carlyle Group, World Economic Forum, and the U.S. Army Reserves. His editorial work has appeared in National Geographic, National Geographic Traveler, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Men's Journal, Scientific American, and the Washington Post Magazine.

What is The Redhead Project?

The Redhead Project is a long-running personal photography series by Keith Barraclough, now over twelve years old, dedicated to photographing redheads. The series went viral after being featured on CNN.com Interactive and was discussed on the podcast Look Behind The Look, hosted by director Tiffany Bartok.

Has Keith Barraclough received any photography awards or recognition?

Since 2023, Keith Barraclough has been selected as one of the Top 200 Advertising Photographers Worldwide by Lürzer's Archive — one of the most prestigious recognitions in commercial photography internationally.

What makes Keith Barraclough's photography style distinctive?

Keith's work is defined by cinematic composition, bold and punchy color palettes, layered textures, and an exceptional ability to connect with subjects. He approaches every shoot with a journalist's curiosity — asking questions, listening, and building trust until the person in front of his lens reveals something true.

Does Keith Barraclough shoot on location?

Yes. While based in SoHo, New York City, Keith shoots extensively on location across the United States and internationally. His upbringing across Africa, Asia, and the Americas gave him a natural ease working in any environment worldwide.

Does Keith Barraclough have stock photography available?

Yes. Keith maintains image libraries available for licensing, including workforce and lifestyle imagery. He also accepts commissions for custom stock-style imagery tailored to specific campaign needs.

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About


"If a picture answers every question, it isn't worth looking at more than once."— Rodney Smith

Keith Barraclough is a New York-based advertising and editorial photographer known for bold cinematic portraiture, rich layered textures, and a rare ability to reveal the true character of his subjects. Since 2023, he has been named one of the Top 200 Advertising Photographers Worldwide by Lürzer's Archive.
 

The story

Eight-year-old Keith sized up the opponents dribbling on a dirt pitch in Lusaka, Zambia. Victory seemed like a shoe-in. "They were barefoot. But we couldn't catch them. They ran rings around us."

It was part of a childhood that made Keith question everything.

Thanks to his father's foreign service career, by then he had already hiked Mount Kilimanjaro, flown 37,000 feet over the vastness of the Sahara Desert, been on numerous safaris and learned the Mooba dance of the Lenje ethnic group in Zambia.

Ever the enthralled observer and active participant, Keith's curiosity propelled him. He cycled 185 miles over seven days with his fellow twelve-year-old friends along the C&O Canal from Cumberland, Maryland to Washington, D.C; came face to face with a four-foot-diameter clam while scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef; hiked to the plateaus of the Kackar Mountains of Northern Turkey; spent two weeks with local farmers learning how to make bread and churn butter; spent three weeks documenting families receiving homes from Habitat for Humanity in Belo Horizonte, Brazil; and slept on a cattle ranch under the stars in the outback during a three-week trip along the eastern coast of Australia.

Keith's work has been featured in campaigns including Animal Planet's Puppy Bowl, Allstate, and Apple Music. His now twelve-year-old personal series The Redhead Project went viral after being featured on CNN.com Interactive and was discussed on the podcast Look Behind The Look, hosted by director Tiffany Bartok. He's photographed people from all walks of life, from toddlers to Hollywood celebrities.

"Throw puppies, cats, penguins, and sloths into the collaborative mix, and I'm in heaven."

Keith lives in Soho, NYC with his producer and wife, Kate, and their beloved dog, Kuma. He's in his element connecting with and empowering his subjects, uncovering what makes them tick and is always driven by that lifelong need to ask more questions.
 

Specialties

Advertising & Campaigns

Brand-led work where bold color, cinematic composition, and clear intent are non-negotiable. Keith's advertising images don't ask for attention — they command it.

Editorial & Portraiture

Long-form editorial projects and individual portraits where connection matters. His subjects — from toddlers to Hollywood celebrities — consistently describe feeling genuinely seen.

Animals & Lifestyle

From Animal Planet's Puppy Bowl to personal animal portraits, Keith brings the same patient, attentive energy to animal subjects as to his human portraits.
 

Recognition

Since 2023, Keith Barraclough has been selected as one of the Top 200 Advertising Photographers Worldwide by Lürzer's Archive — the definitive international authority on advertising photography — and was featured in a dedicated passion project interview on their platform.

The Redhead Project has drawn international media attention, including a feature in The Guardian, a live appearance on Australia's ABC News Breakfast morning program, a viral CNN.com Interactive photo essay, and an in-depth conversation on the Look Behind The Look podcast hosted by director Tiffany Bartok.

Selected 2023 & 2024 as one of the Top 200 Advertising Photographers Worldwide. One of the most coveted recognitions in commercial photography globally.
Featured interview exploring Keith's passion projects and creative practice, published by Lürzer's Archive.
"It creates a community" — The Guardian's art & design feature on The Redhead Project, February 2024.
Live appearance on Australia's ABC News Breakfast morning program discussing The Redhead Project and his photographic practice.
The Redhead Project featured as a CNN Photo Essay — one of the most-shared editorial photography features of 2019.
The Redhead Project discussed by director Tiffany Bartok, exploring the craft behind long-form personal photographic series.
 

Frequently asked

Who is Keith Barraclough?

Keith Barraclough is a New York-based advertising and editorial photographer known for bold cinematic portraiture and lifestyle imagery. Since 2023 he has been named one of the Top 200 Advertising Photographers Worldwide by Lürzer's Archive. His personal series The Redhead Project went viral after being featured on CNN.com Interactive.

What type of photography does Keith Barraclough specialize in?

Keith Barraclough specializes in advertising photography, editorial photography, corporate portrait photography, lifestyle photography, and animal photography. He is based in New York City and available for assignments worldwide on location.

Which brands and publications has Keith Barraclough worked with?

Keith's advertising clients include Apple, Allstate, Animal Planet (Puppy Bowl), Amazon Studios, PricewaterhouseCoopers, BlueCross BlueShield, Columbia University, Fordham University, The Carlyle Group, World Economic Forum, and the U.S. Army Reserves. His editorial work has appeared in National Geographic, National Geographic Traveler, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Men's Journal, Scientific American, and the Washington Post Magazine.

What is The Redhead Project?

The Redhead Project is a long-running personal photography series by Keith Barraclough, now over twelve years old, dedicated to photographing redheads. The series went viral after being featured on CNN.com Interactive and was discussed on the podcast Look Behind The Look, hosted by director Tiffany Bartok.

Has Keith Barraclough received any photography awards or recognition?

Since 2023, Keith Barraclough has been selected as one of the Top 200 Advertising Photographers Worldwide by Lürzer's Archive — one of the most prestigious recognitions in commercial photography internationally.

What makes Keith Barraclough's photography style distinctive?

Keith's work is defined by cinematic composition, bold and punchy color palettes, layered textures, and an exceptional ability to connect with subjects. He approaches every shoot with a journalist's curiosity — asking questions, listening, and building trust until the person in front of his lens reveals something true.

Does Keith Barraclough shoot on location?

Yes. While based in SoHo, New York City, Keith shoots extensively on location across the United States and internationally. His upbringing across Africa, Asia, and the Americas gave him a natural ease working in any environment worldwide.

Does Keith Barraclough have stock photography available?

Yes. Keith maintains image libraries available for licensing, including workforce and lifestyle imagery. He also accepts commissions for custom stock-style imagery tailored to specific campaign needs.

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