Richard Baker

Richard Baker, Katz Pictures for Sunday Express Magazine

Shaded from the midday sun, a holidaymaker holds onto her pet poodle on Paignton seafront, England, 1993. During the economic recession, as many Britons tightened their belts, thousands chose to holiday on local beaches rather than travel to Mediterranean resorts.

Richard Baker is a British photographer known for nearly four decades of commissioned editorial work, personal reportage, and collaborations with authors. His publications include several books, among them Red Arrows.

Before turning to photography, Baker worked in aviation. He later studied documentary photography at Newport under Magnum’s David Hurn, an experience that shaped his storytelling approach and documentary sensibility. He began his career freelancing for The Observer before being represented by the Katz/IPG agency, with his photo-essays appearing in many of the world’s leading image-led news magazines and corporate publications.

Today, Baker works independently and more selectively, focusing on personal projects that explore topical and conceptual themes such as dystopia, disorder, and disruption.