John Murray, Photographer
I am a headshot photographer working from my studio next to Grafton Street in Dublin City. That in itself is great fun and very interesting. I work with a variety of people, from people coming in from college for headshots for applications to internships to CEO-level clients. Some people book primarily because I am close, and some because they know who I am and know my work. A lot because of referrals.
I am obsessed with studying the human condition and have moulded that into every session. I mix psychology, anatomy & physiology, and in the last few years, elements of physiognomy (a tool intelligence agencies use to profile people) after training with profiler Joseph Maguire of Clearsight Communications.
I mix all this to teach people about themselves, the gap between how they think they look and what the rest of the world sees, and how and why they move the way they do to close the gap and increase their self-awareness and esteem.
What do you like about your current role?
To be honest, I love all of it. The learning, the fun I have tormenting people, and especially their reactions to this photography session going so off-centre.
What are your favourite books?
Of course, I learned a lot from face Facts by Joseph Maguire and from the man himself. The headshot by Peter Hurley. Peter has been my friend and mentor since 2014 and literally wrote the book on headshots. He is also the world's top headshot photographer, and I think Forbes called him the 16th most influential photographer ever to have lived. There is a lot of profiling and body language I have read or listened to kayaking in the mornings. Those stand out, though.
Who do you most admire and why?
I admire a lot of people. I have clients that I am in awe of. Never because of talent or skill. Just people who are more human than others. Kingsley Aikins because he is so giving of himself and kind and has a thirst for people and learning. I've also had some of my most insightful and hilarious conversations with him. Clive Booth. Photographer and Filmmaker. Absolute genius but incredibly humble. Damien Browne is also humble and kind despite climbing six of the seven highest peaks in the world, getting COVID on Everest and rowing across the Atlantic twice! Pat Heslin from Retail Integrations. A client of mine and a friend. Just the nicest man. Will O'Connor is 19, his family are friends and I have watched him grow from a child to a man. Photographed him a pile of times, and he is so giving of his time volunteering at Barretstown. the whole family are incredible humans. I shot Rick Higgins and Gaz Smith for a book in 2021 called And For Mains. They both personify my life motto of Do for the good of the village so everybody benefits. I realise as I write I surround myself with good people and ditch the rest. My family, wife, and friends also feature heavily on this list. I must do a blog post on the website. That has just made me very grateful for a lot of people in my life and a little guilty that I didn’t name more!
What is the best advice you have ever received?
Do for the good of the village, and everybody benefits.
What motivates or inspires you?
People. Understanding people and getting under their skin to learn about them and help them learn about themselves and Kayaking (I love the sea). And steak from Higgins Butchers on a Saturday!
What would you like to highlight and share with our audience?
1. You don't know what you look like. The mirror is wrong and it is back to front. So when you see a photo, to your brain, it is wrong and you need a reason why. So you pick that thing on your face you hate and blame it. It isn’t that. It’s that the person in the photo is uncomfortable.
2. The camera is wrong. When you consider zoom levels and many other factors, like how close the camera is, it is always going to be wrong because it can’t see what we see. Every photograph you see is also wrong. How you walk in the skin you wear is your decision. Why not embrace it? What other choice do you have?