The Best Guide

The Royal British Legion: Portraits Behind The Poppy



The portrait series that spans a century. Exactly a century after famous portraits of WWI soldiers were taken, we perfectly recreated every detail using modern soldiers of today. We went back to the same studio, using the exact camera, same glass-plate processing technique, darkroom, hand-painted backdrop (circa 1850) and furniture. Even our photographer was the grandson of the man who took the originals in 1915. Our location was the Lewes Photographic Studio, the world’s oldest studio. After 100 years, the only change was the upholstery of the chairs.

“This project is important for its history and phenomenal attention to detail... I’ve never seen anything like it.” Colin Harding, Photography Curator, National Media Museum

We released the photographic series along with an emotional film that told the story of the project. It was picked up by every major news outlet in the UK, appearing as a feature in the Telegraph, Independent, Daily Star, BBC, Buzzfeed and photographic magazines such as The British Journal of Photography. The exhibition was displayed at the official Two Minutes of Silence in Trafalgar Square and at the Festival of Remembrance to the Royal Family. The photos were featured on the One Show, with our photographer appearing as a guest.

The photographs even became a major exhibition at the National Media Museum.

The photographs didn’t just captivate the nation, they created headlines around the world, and have made 2015 one of the Royal British Legion’s most successful Poppy Appeal in history.

Creative Credits:
Advertised brand: The Royal British Legion
Advert title: Portraits of the Poppy
Advertising Agency: RKCR Y&R London, United Kingdom
Creative Director: Psembi Kinstan
Art Director: Alex Bamford
Photographer: Tom Reeves, Edward Reeves