Kris Kesiak’s art celebrates humanity, drawing inspiration from iconic portrait photographers like Herb Ritts and Peter Lindbergh to capture enduring moments of inner beauty. An established portrait and commercial photographer, designer and videographer with a niche in music and the Arts, Kris was born in Poland and has lived in Glasgow in the UK for 20 years.
As a kid, he fell in love with photography, picking up a camera and snapping pictures for fun. Studying English at University, he moved to Glasgow and began a career in graphic design. Always pulling him back, however, was his love of photography, and a chance meeting with a musician to shoot images for a gig poster became a turning point.
His reputation grew along with the client base, as more musicians, performers, bands, managers and artists began to seek out his talents. Kris’ work has now graced multiple album covers, posters, websites and magazines and has been featured in numerous publications, such as The Observer, The Guardian, The Herald, DIVA Magazine and The Times.
In addition to being the go-to portrait photographer, his talent has also caught the eye of many high-profile corporate clients. His commercial portfolio now spans the BBC, Channel 4, Nike, Toni & Guy alongside the Scottish gin brand Glaswegin, as well as images of HRH Princess Anne for the Carers Trust.
With a growing demand for videography in recent years, Kris has now directed several short documentaries and numerous music videos, including ‘Joan of Arc’ inspired promo spot for singer-songwriter Horse and her comeback single “Leaving”.
His work photographing women during COP26 in Glasgow has recently been the subject of an exhibition at Trongate 103 Gallery in cooperation with Glasgow City Council and Street Level Photoworks.
Kris Kesiak’s work has a luminous, immediately identifiable quality. It carries a distinctive style while still capturing the unique essence of each artist, client and company. This skill and his warm and engaging personality have made Kris one of the country’s most sought-after photographers.
Testimonials:
"Kris Kesiak is my absolute favourite photographer. He has a beautiful, distinctive style and a knack for making people feel comfortable in front of the camera. We’ve worked together on three album photo shoots and he was the only person I wanted to photograph me for my first magazine cover. I can spot a KK photo a mile off because his style is so unique. I love his personality, warmth and phenomenal talent."
"I’ve worked with Kris for some years now. When you’ve made an album or played a gig, you just hope that somehow there could be an image that represents the ideas and emotions that you feel in your music. Kris Kesiak has a magical way of finding that connection between the ears and the eyes and has always been able to capture those elusive moments on camera. He has a special gift to see into the music and the musician and deliver that as a visual extension of your artistic ideas."
"We had a fantastic time working with Kris. We run a very busy and active show and it was important it was captured in the photographs. Kris delivered on this and more, was professional and really got what we were about as well as the joy we get from working on the show. Dolls Abroad has been a huge part of our story and Kris has given us the best gift by marking this moment in our lives so perfectly and we will treasure his work forever. We cannot recommend him enough. We didn’t even notice him there half the time!"
"I have worked with Kris on a series of projects as my business has developed and have never been anything less than blown away by his ability to interpret my needs into stunning images. The perfect mix of creative and professional was the reason I asked him to do my wedding and again, he delivered 100%. Not only does he bring his talent, he also has a network of amazing creatives who together make a fantastic team. I will continue to use and recommend Kris for as long as he will have me!"
"Kris was recommended to us for a ‘team photo shoot with a difference’. The brief was: modern, offbeat, urban, diverse. Prior to the shoot, Kris put a lot of thought into the location and then, on the day, he took the time to get to know each team member and put everyone at ease in front of the camera. The shoot was fun, relaxed and informal: the pictures perfectly represent what we do as a department."
"I was introduced to Kris by my dear pal, and collaborator, Jill Jackson. We did a session together to get some up-to-date shots for a tour we were embarking on. I think the pictures are terrific and I’ve worked with Kris on a couple of subsequent projects with, in turn, Brooks Williams and Barbara Dickson. I love his work, his eye, and his methods. We will certainly work together again, soon.”
"I recently contacted Kris Kesiak as I urgently required some publicity/promo shots ahead of my album release. We discussed ideas at length and I found Kris to be insightful and generous with both, time and creative input. On the day, the whole procedure, from makeup, setting the scene, to the shoot itself were all done in an extremely professional and relaxing environment. I felt inspired to explore all suggestions made by Kris. The proof is in the pudding and I have to say the photos taken were absolutely fabulous. Feedback from the industry has been nothing but positive and praising. I could not recommend Kris Kesiak more highly as a photographer, in both his professional dealings and his artistic talents."
“Kris Kesiak is a talented and hardworking man. His photos for NOISE were a great boost for our publicity and marketing. He gave the company a unique and distinctive visual style and is a joy to work with. He brings great intelligence and a stunning visual imagination to his work which has a definite wow factor and an immediate visual impact.”
"I have worked with various photographers over the years, Kris Kesiak is one of the best – if not the best! I now have several iconic images courtesy of Kris. He gets me and is able to capture the essence of me, whether at a live gig or studio. I think it’s rare to feel so at ease in these situations. He works in a really organic way, the entire process always seems completely effortless and stress-free. I always feel that I will end up with something very special from a shoot."
“I have had a lot of photo shoots in my time, but this one was different. No make up artist, no stylist. Just me, and the incredible skills of a gifted professional who knows how to capture authentic moments without a lot of fuss or direction. I love the images so much, they are tender and powerful at the same time. It was so life-affirming to allow myself to just be.”
"Working with Kris was an absolute dream; from our initial meeting to the day of the shoot we found him relaxed, professional and eager to work as part of a team. He responded perfectly to our brief and gave his own input that lifted the editorial to another level. We are thrilled with his images and are proud to have them in our portfolio. We can’t wait to work with him again!"
“Kris is a true artist. Kind, considerate and exceptional at his craft. As someone who doesn’t enjoy getting their picture taken, he made me feel at ease at all times. You feel safe and he also brings fun and laughter to allow your personality to come through naturally. He listens to what you want and is able to very delicately encourage you as an artist. The visuals he delivers are incredible. He gives you his time and energy, much like a friend would, and then creates around you. It always feels like a bespoke experience. He is now the only photographer I use for all of my projects. I could not recommend him more highly. Unassuming and yet beguiling. He captures people’s souls and shines a light on them for all to see.“