About

JJ Keith is a London-based director, photographer and visual storyteller whose work spans film, advertising and documentary photography. Born in London, he studied at University of Edinburgh where he took an MA (Hons) in History of Art with a major in Film Studies.

His early career was in directing short films, where his second film earned an Oscar nomination in the Live Action category, marking an early international recognition. He then moved into television drama and eventually advertising, where his creative work won Gold, Silver and Bronze awards at prestigious festivals such as the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, BTAA, the Creative Circle Awards and the One Show.

Recently, JJ shifted toward photography, especially documentary and portrait work grounded in social themes—most notably his ongoing series titled Open Britain: Portrait of a Diverse Nation. This project celebrates first-generation immigrants in Britain, capturing their stories through intimate, dignified portraits that highlight how migration and multiculturalism shape the social, cultural and economic fabric of the UK. His collaboration with the NHS created an exhibition that toured hospitals: his portrait of pathologist Zubeid is hanging in The National Portrait Gallery as part of the Taylor Wessing Prize.

JJ’s personal background adds depth to his photographic mission: his father was a refugee who fled Austria during the Second World War and settled in the UK, giving JJ a generational connection to migration themes.

While his achievements in film and advertising are substantial—an Oscar nomination, multiple creative awards— JJ now uses his multi-disciplinary background to bridge moving image and still photography, bringing both aesthetic polish and documentary integrity to his work. His photography is not only about visual form but about narrative.

As a partner in production companies in both the UK and Germany he is also able to produce his own work. JJ’s equally comfortable with a large crew and commercial budget as with a small team creating moving and still content.