# Harry Borden

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British photographer (born 1965)

Harry Borden Born 1965 (age 60–61) New York City, U.S Occupation Photographer Children 4 Relatives Nicholas Borden (brother) Frances Borden (brother)

**Harry Borden** (born 1965) is a British portrait photographer based in London. His subjects have included celebrities and politicians. Examples of Borden's work are held in the collections of the [National Portrait Gallery, London](/source/National_Portrait_Gallery%2C_London)[1] and [National Portrait Gallery, Australia](/source/National_Portrait_Gallery%2C_Australia).[2]

## Early life and education

Borden was born in New York and brought up on a farm in Devon.[3] His father, Charles, was a Jewish American who served in the Marines during [World War II](/source/World_War_II),[4] whose parents emigrated to the US from [Ukraine](/source/Ukraine) and [Romania](/source/Romania),[5] and his mother was a British Christian.[3][6] He is the brother of painters [Nicholas Borden](/source/Nicholas_Borden) and [Frances Borden](/source/Frances_Borden).

The first photograph Borden developed was of his father with a drove of pigs on their farm, taken when Harry was thirteen years old.[4] He studied photography at Plymouth College of Art and Design (1985–87).

## Career

Borden moved to London after graduation, where he worked as an assistant for [Lester Bookbinder](/source/Lester_Bookbinder). He received his first commission from *The Observer* in 1994. Borden's portraits appeared regularly in this and other Sunday supplements, *Harpers & Queen*, *Vogue* and *The New Yorker*.

In June 2005, he had his first solo exhibition at the [National Portrait Gallery](/source/National_Portrait_Gallery%2C_London) (NPG) in London.[1] *Harry Borden: On Business* included 30 portraits of leading business leaders. The NPG holds more than 100 examples of Borden’s work in its photographic collection.[7]

In 2017 his book *Survivor, A Portrait of the Survivors of the Holocaust* was published by Octopus.[8] The book had been previously shortlisted for the [European Publishers Award for Photography](/source/European_Publishers_Award_for_Photography) in 2014 and was judged among the 10 best Photography books of 2018 by the [Kraszna-Krausz Foundation](/source/Kraszna-Krausz_Foundation).[9] In 2021 his second book *Single Dad* was published by Hoxton Mini Press.[10]

A photo Borden took of comedian [Bob Mortimer](/source/Bob_Mortimer) was used as the front cover of his 2021 autobiography *And Away...*.[11]

In 2023, Borden and his son Fred set up a YouTube channel in which Harry talks about photographing celebrities and what the process of the photo shoots were like.[12] The channel has over 40,000 subscribers as of December 2025.[12]

### Photographs

Borden has taken photographs of many celebrities including: [Jimmy Savile](/source/Jimmy_Savile), [Spice Girls](/source/Spice_Girls), [Robin Williams](/source/Robin_Williams), [Barney the dinosaur](/source/Barney_the_dinosaur), [Run-DMC](/source/Run-DMC), [Björk](/source/Bj%C3%B6rk), [Margaret Thatcher](/source/Margaret_Thatcher), [Martin Scorsese](/source/Martin_Scorsese), [Oscar Pistorius](/source/Oscar_Pistorius), [Morgan Freeman](/source/Morgan_Freeman), [Robbie Williams](/source/Robbie_Williams), [Michael Hutchence](/source/Michael_Hutchence), [Richard Branson](/source/Richard_Branson), [Radiohead](/source/Radiohead), [Paul McCartney](/source/Paul_McCartney), [Martin Parr](/source/Martin_Parr), [Daniel Radcliffe](/source/Daniel_Radcliffe), [Quentin Tarantino](/source/Quentin_Tarantino), [Shane MacGowan](/source/Shane_MacGowan), [Ant McPartlin](/source/Ant_McPartlin) and [Declan Donnelly](/source/Declan_Donnelly) ([Ant & Dec](/source/Ant_%26_Dec)), [Zadie Smith](/source/Zadie_Smith), [David Soul](/source/David_Soul), [Deborah Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire](/source/Deborah_Cavendish%2C_Duchess_of_Devonshire), [Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon](/source/Antony_Armstrong-Jones%2C_1st_Earl_of_Snowdon), [Gordon Ramsay](/source/Gordon_Ramsay), [Alan Sugar](/source/Alan_Sugar), [David Icke](/source/David_Icke), [Rupert Grint](/source/Rupert_Grint), [Wu-Tang Clan](/source/Wu-Tang_Clan), [K.d. lang](/source/K.d._lang), [Jacob Rees-Mogg](/source/Jacob_Rees-Mogg), [Andrew Cotter](/source/Andrew_Cotter), [Seal](/source/Seal_(musician)), [Hillary Clinton](/source/Hillary_Clinton), [Tom Daley](/source/Tom_Daley), [Kylie Minogue](/source/Kylie_Minogue), [Lenny Kravitz](/source/Lenny_Kravitz), [Tony Blair](/source/Tony_Blair), [Bob Geldof](/source/Bob_Geldof), [Jürgen Klopp](/source/J%C3%BCrgen_Klopp), [Keir Starmer](/source/Keir_Starmer), [Sophie Okonedo](/source/Sophie_Okonedo), [Cocteau Twins](/source/Cocteau_Twins), [PJ Harvey](/source/PJ_Harvey), [Louis Theroux](/source/Louis_Theroux), [Paul Daniels](/source/Paul_Daniels), [Debbie McGee](/source/Debbie_McGee), [Sarah Ferguson](/source/Sarah_Ferguson), [Kate Beckinsale](/source/Kate_Beckinsale), [Isabella Blow](/source/Isabella_Blow), [David Bailey](/source/David_Bailey), [Viggo Mortensen](/source/Viggo_Mortensen), [Manic Street Preachers](/source/Manic_Street_Preachers), [Jilly Cooper](/source/Jilly_Cooper), [Lionel Messi](/source/Lionel_Messi), [Giorgio Armani](/source/Giorgio_Armani), [Nigella Lawson](/source/Nigella_Lawson), [Diddy](/source/Diddy), [Dermot Morgan](/source/Dermot_Morgan), [Fara Williams](/source/Fara_Williams), [Mike Skinner](/source/Mike_Skinner_(musician)), [Noel Gallagher](/source/Noel_Gallagher), [Primal Scream](/source/Primal_Scream), [Brian Wilson](/source/Brian_Wilson), [Happy Mondays](/source/Happy_Mondays), [Michael O'Leary](/source/Michael_O'Leary_(politician)), [Krzysztof Penderecki](/source/Krzysztof_Penderecki), [Stephen Merchant](/source/Stephen_Merchant), [R.E.M.](/source/R.E.M.), [Charlton Heston](/source/Charlton_Heston), [Fontaines D.C.](/source/Fontaines_D.C.), [Kevin Garnett](/source/Kevin_Garnett), [Marianne Faithfull](/source/Marianne_Faithfull), [Martin Freeman](/source/Martin_Freeman), [Daniel Craig](/source/Daniel_Craig), [Boris Johnson](/source/Boris_Johnson), [Yotam Ottolenghi](/source/Yotam_Ottolenghi), [Demi Moore](/source/Demi_Moore), [Damon Albarn](/source/Damon_Albarn), [Jarvis Cocker](/source/Jarvis_Cocker), [Ice-T](/source/Ice-T), [Bob Mortimer](/source/Bob_Mortimer), and [Dominic West](/source/Dominic_West).[13][14]

## Personal life

Borden has four children.[15][16] Borden married his first wife, Jane, with whom he had three of his children, in 1995,[17] but their relationship ended with divorce in 2009; Borden stated that initially, after the divorce he was "absolutely horrendous, completely full of shame, really knocked off my path" but they have since reconciled and have formed a friendship.[18]

## Awards

- 1997: [World Press Photo](/source/World_Press_Photo) awards[19]

- 1999: World Press Photo awards[20]

- 1998: John Kobal Photographic Portrait Award, [National Portrait Gallery, London](/source/National_Portrait_Gallery%2C_London)[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

- 2000: John Kobal Photographic Portrait Award, National Portrait Gallery, London[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

- 2014: Honorary Fellowship of the [Royal Photographic Society](/source/Royal_Photographic_Society)[21]

- 2018: Environmental Bursary, 2018 Over 30 Recipient, Royal Photographic Society, Bath[22]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-npg-on-business_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-npg-on-business_1-1) ["Harry Borden on Business"](http://www.npg.org.uk/whatson/display/2005/harry-borden-on-business.php) [National Portrait Gallery, London](/source/National_Portrait_Gallery%2C_London). Accessed 15 October 2016

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Michael Hutchence, 1997"](http://www.portrait.gov.au/portraits/1999.8/michael-hutchence). *National Portrait Gallery collection*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_3-1) ["Harry Borden: Surviving history"](https://amateurphotographer.com/technique/interviews/harry-borden-surviving-history/). *Amateur Photographer*. 7 February 2017. Retrieved 22 December 2025.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_4-1) Seymour, Tom; Borden, Harry (7 March 2021). ["'You worry you'll be seen as weak': single dads in their own words – a photo essay"](https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2021/mar/07/harry-borden-single-dads-in-their-own-words-a-photo-essay). *The Guardian*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0261-3077](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0261-3077). Retrieved 22 December 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** JeremyJeffs (11 August 2025). ["Harry Borden on Portraits, Personal Work & Integrity"](https://personalwork.online/harry-borden-portrait-photography-interview/). *Personal Work*. Retrieved 22 December 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [*I Photographed Louis Theroux - Then He Turned Up At My Office* / 3:28: "My father was an American, and my mother was English".](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ej_znLUVtg0)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["National Portrait Gallery"](http://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp10699/harry-borden?role=art). *npg.org.uk*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Borden, Harry (29 March 2019). [*Survivor*](https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk/books/detail.page?isbn=9781844039562). Octopus. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781844039562](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781844039562).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["2018 Awards – the Kraszna-Krausz Foundation"](https://web.archive.org/web/20200223011209/http://www.kraszna-krausz.org.uk/2017-book-awards/2018-winners/). Archived from [the original](http://www.kraszna-krausz.org.uk/2017-book-awards/2018-winners/) on 23 February 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** [*Single Dad*](https://www.hoxtonminipress.com/products/single-dad).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Fred and Harry Borden (30 September 2024). [*I Photographed Bob Mortimer and He Roasted Me In Return*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hXwwggvTrg). Retrieved 22 December 2025 – via YouTube.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:2_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:2_12-1) ["Fred and Harry Borden"](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3uUuK_UQvteUCXnEHNNG6Q). *YouTube*. Retrieved 22 December 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Harry Borden | Portrait Photographer"](https://www.harryborden.com/famous-people). *Harry Borden*. Retrieved 22 December 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Photo Insight with Harry Borden: Martin Parr"](https://amateurphotographer.com/technique/photo_insight/harry-borden-martin-parr/). *Amateur Photographer*. 19 September 2017. Retrieved 22 December 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["How lensman's 'selfie' alarmed PM's protecters"](http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/lensman-s-selfie-alarmed-pm-s-protecters/story-20439313-detail/story.html). *Plymouth Herald*. 14 January 2014.[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Journal, KATHLEEN MORGAN for the RPS (5 May 2021). ["Harry Borden celebrates lone fathers in a moving tribute"](https://rps.org/news/journal/2020-older/harry-borden-celebrates-lone-fathers-in-a-moving-tribute/). *rps.org*. Retrieved 22 December 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** Journal, HARRY BORDEN for the RPS (16 August 2023). ["Harry Borden: 'It's always better to live with the truth'"](https://rps.org/news/journal/2023/8-august/harry-borden-it-s-always-better-to-live-with-the-truth/). *rps.org*. Retrieved 22 December 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** Borden, Harry (13 August 2023). ["How we break up: an anatomy of divorce"](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/aug/13/divorce-people-reflect-on-what-they-lived-through-harry-borden-photographic-essay). *The Guardian*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0261-3077](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0261-3077). Retrieved 22 December 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["1997 Photo Contest"](https://www.worldpressphoto.org/collection/photo/1997). *worldpressphoto.org*. Retrieved 12 May 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["1999 Photo Contest"](https://www.worldpressphoto.org/collection/photo/1999). *worldpressphoto.org*. Retrieved 12 May 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["RPS Awards 2014"](http://www.rps.org/news/2014/september/rps-awards-2014) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140911213011/http://www.rps.org/news/2014/september/rps-awards-2014) 11 September 2014 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine). [Royal Photographic Society](/source/Royal_Photographic_Society). Accessed 15 October 2016

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** ["The Royal Photographic Society Awards 2018"](https://web.archive.org/web/20181204113432/http://www.rps.org/news/2018/november/the-royal-photographic-society-awards-2018). *www.rps.org*. Archived from [the original](http://www.rps.org/news/2018/november/the-royal-photographic-society-awards-2018) on 4 December 2018. Retrieved 10 December 2018.

## External links

- [Official website](http://www.harryborden.com)

- [Profile](http://www.npg.org.uk/live/search/person.asp?LinkID=mp10699&role=art) at the National Portrait Gallery, London

- ["Extraordinary people", Jerusalem Post, 2009.](https://www.jpost.com/Home/Article.aspx?id=137973)

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND WorldCat National Israel Artists MusicBrainz RKD Artists Photographers' Identities

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