Horton-StephensHorton-Stephens
Photographers agencyLondon
Samuel McElwee

Samuel McElwee

Sam McElwee is an award winning photographer who grew up in rural Australia & now living in London. Whether he is on stage taking Lionel Ritchie's portrait or spending the day with the awe-inspiring Erica from Surbiton, he uncovers the characters of all the people who sit for him, whilst making them feel quickly at ease. No matter if he is up to his chest in the freezing Icelandic ocean with a -18 degree wind chill or battling blistering heat, Sam will always find the humour in any situation, a characteristic you can see through much of his work. He always has a personal project on the go, but there’s nothing he loves more than collaborating with creative colleagues. Check out Sam's Instagram here.

Samuel McElwee Young Einstein Smart Energy
A portrait of a woman with long, blonde hair and a white, collared shirt, possibly a business or professional setting.
Two older men, one dressed in a pink jumpsuit, one in a blue sweater, standing in a kitchen, preparing food, with a variety of vegetables and fruits on the counter.
A woman wearing a welding helmet and protective gear stands in a dimly lit workshop surrounded by welding equipment.
A man in his 60s with grey hair, wearing a flat cap, a dark coat, and a scarf, looking to the side with a serious expression.
A man with dreadlocks sits at a table with a chessboard and a chess set, wearing a blue t-shirt with the ASICS logo.
A man with short, dark hair and a serious expression, wearing a Team GB hoodie.
A woman with a shaved head and a short, spiky hairstyle, wearing a black leather jacket and a silver earring.
A man in a green sweater and jeans holding a baby in a black baby carrier, standing in a kitchen with a wooden table and various kitchen utensils and food items.
A woman in a pink jacket and purple pants standing in a kitchen, with a dog eating from a yellow bowl on the floor.
A man with white hair and a mustache, wearing a blue sweater and holding a glass of red liquid, standing in a kitchen with a blender, fruit, and a stove.
A man with a beard made of colorful, sugary, and messy food items, including candy, ice cream, and cake, with a look of surprise and a bit of mess on his face.
A woman in a white chef's coat and apron stands in a kitchen, holding up a large fish.
A woman in a kitchen, wearing a red and white polka dot apron, holding a freshly baked loaf of bread.
A young boy in a pink school uniform, likely a student at a school in Africa or a similar region, wearing a pink sweater with a school logo on the front.
A group of young boys, likely students, are gathered together, smiling and laughing, with some of them making hand gestures or posing for the camera.
A young boy in a red t-shirt and pink pants sitting on a wooden stool in a dimly lit, rustic outdoor setting.
A man with a beard covered in a sweet-tasting food substance.
A person, likely a drag performer, dressed in a blue, feathered, corset-style top and a large, wide-brimmed blue hat, standing in front of a gold, ornate frame.
A woman stands on rocks, arms outstretched, head thrown back.
A ghostly figure in a forest, wearing a long, flowing white gown, with a hood and a cloak, surrounded by trees and a misty atmosphere.
A man holds a baby in a carrier with a humorous expression.
A woman sits at a kitchen counter while a dog eats from a bowl on the floor.
A man with a long white beard and a red puffy coat sits at a counter in a fast food restaurant, holding a jar of Santa's Special Sauce.
A woman with long brown hair and a red sweater, looking directly at the camera with a serious expression.
A woman in a black t-shirt with the ASICS logo, sitting at a table with a gaming console and a controller.
A woman with long dark hair wearing a blue Adidas t-shirt and matching blue Adidas tracksuit pants, posing with her left hand in her left pocket.
A woman with a surprised expression, wearing a blue and white sweater, with her hand on her chest.
A man in a chef's whites and a red apron stands in a commercial kitchen, surrounded by baking equipment and rows of baked goods on shelves.
A woman sits in a room with two robots, one with a duster, and a large control panel in the background.
A young man in a blue jumpsuit and white t-shirt stands in a workshop surrounded by tools and machinery.
An elderly woman sits on a couch with two small white dogs, surrounded by various decorative items and a painting of a dog on the wall.
A man with food-stained beard and hair, including ketchup, mustard, and a fried egg.
A woman in a red jacket and black trousers stands in a garden, holding a large basket of fresh vegetables.
A woman holds a massage gun in a dimly lit room.
A man with a white beard and glasses sits at a table in a fast food restaurant, wearing a red jacket and hat, looking at the menu.
A young black boy with a mischievous grin, wearing a red t-shirt, making a 'smack your lips' gesture with his fingers.
A woman in a white and black checkered apron, likely a chef or cook, is smiling and holding a long wooden spoon in a dimly lit, possibly industrial or commercial kitchen setting.
A person wearing a full-face mask, with only their eyes visible, in a dark and ominous setting.
A man in a yellow jacket and boots standing in a dark room with a dog eating from a yellow bowl, with a butternut box in the background.
A woman in a blue and white gingham shirt, holding two glasses of beer at a bar, with a surprised expression.
A group of ghostly figures in a forest, surrounded by trees and snow, with a dark and eerie atmosphere.
A pink, distressed robot-like figure with a square head and glowing eyes, wearing a metallic, industrial-style full-body suit.
A black and white portrait of an elderly man with a receding hairline, wearing a dark zip-up sweater.
A man with a serious expression, wearing a dark green sweater with a subtle texture.
The image shows Gordon Ramsay leaning on a kitchen island for a PolyAI campaign photographed by Samuel McElwee. He is looking directly at the camera with a slight smile while resting his chin on his crossed arms. Beside him sits a bright lime-green rotary phone, contrasting with the warm, dimly lit kitchen background that features shelves of cookbooks and plants. A dramatic yellow light flare glows from the upper right corner of the frame.
A woman in a pink t-shirt and floral overalls is painting a ceiling with a sky and clouds design, while standing on a ladder in a room with a table, a magazine, and a newspaper.
A man in a black apron and chef's hat, holding a cupcake with pink frosting and a cherry on top, in a kitchen with a counter and shelves with baking supplies.
A woman in her 60s stands in a garden with a lawnmower on her shoulder, surrounded by gardening tools and a wheelbarrow.
A man in a white shirt, red scarf, and black trousers stands behind a bar, holding a pint of beer.
Alan Cumming with white hair and a plaid suit is standing in front of a gold frame, with his arms crossed and a serious expression. Traitors Advertisement text.
A man with a serious expression, wearing a black t-shirt, in a dark, moody environment.
A man with dark hair and a white waffle-textured sweater, looking directly at the camera with his hands clasped together in front of his mouth.
A small, adorable, brown and white puppy with a black nose and floppy ears, wearing a colorful collar with a name tag.
A woman in a pink top and yellow earrings holding a glass of beer in a dimly lit bar.
A man in a white t-shirt, blue jeans, and safety goggles, holding an orange power tool in a workshop or garage.
A man in a black t-shirt and jeans stands in a kitchen, with a man in a blue sweater and jeans standing next to a blackboard with the equation '4 out of 5' written on it.
A woman with curly brown hair and a navy blue striped sweater looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression.
A man in a blue and white swimming costume, sitting on a gymnastics horse in a living room, surrounded by various household items.
A man in a hard hat, plaid shirt, and jeans, holding a drill and standing in a workshop with various tools and equipment.
A man in a red and white striped suit, with a white beard and hair, sitting at a table in a fast food restaurant, holding a bottle of special sauce.
A close-up portrait of an elderly woman with a serious expression, wearing a patterned red, green, yellow, and white shirt with a black and white checkered collar.
A woman in a floral blouse and a black and white checkered apron is stirring a large pot with a wooden spoon.
A close-up portrait of a bald, dark-skinned man with a serious expression, wearing a blue hoodie.
A man in a yellow shirt and jeans is holding a tennis racket and a tennis ball, with a dog eating from a bowl in the background.
A man in a beige hoodie is drinking a beer in a dimly lit bar, with a blurred background of people and drinks.
A close-up of a man's face with a thick, messy, and colorful beard, with various food items and other objects stuck in it.
A woman with a shocked expression, wearing a black t-shirt and glasses, with her mouth open in a loud, exaggerated 'O' shape.
A man in a black suit and white scarf, looking directly at the camera with a serious expression.
Two men, one with a beard, sitting at a table with a plate of spaghetti and a bowl of lentil spagbol, with a background of a beige wall.