About​

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Ritchie is an award-winning freelance photographer based in Edinburgh. He holds a First Class BA (Hons) in Professional Photography from Kingston University London, specialising in portraiture and documentary photography. 

 

In 2025, Ritchie had two images shortlisted for Portrait of Britain Vol. 8, was named Best in Show at the Association of Photographers Student Awards, and was selected for the Documentary Photography Awards by the Royal Photographic Society, among other recognitions.

 

Ritchie works from his studio in Edinburgh and undertakes commercial and editorial commissions across the UK. To discuss a project, please get in touch via email.​​

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Awards

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• Portrait of Britain Vol. 8, British Journal of Photography – Winner & Shortlisted x2

• Documentary Photography Awards 2025, Royal Photographic Society – Project Selection

• AOP Student Awards 2025 – Best in Show, Gold Winner (People) & Finalist x5

• International Photography Awards (IPA) 2025 – 1st Place (People/Portrait) & Honourable Mention

• Tokyo International Foto Awards (TIFA) 2025 - Bronze (People/Culture)

• PhotoNorth Festival Student Competition 2025 – Winner

• MPB Student Awards 2025 – Runner-up​​

• British Photography Awards 2024 & 2025 – Shortlisted​

• Scottish Portrait Awards 2024 – Shortlisted

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Publications

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• Portrait of Britain Vol. 8 (January 2026), Bluecoat Press – Book feature

• "Ritchie Elder’s journey into Edinburgh’s faith communities" (December 2025), Hyphen Online – Photo essay

• "Emerging photographer shining a light on the marginalised" (December 2025), Amateur Photographer – Feature

• 40th AOP Photography Awards (October 2025), The Association of Photographers – Book feature

• The Photographer, Issue Two (July 2025), The British Institute of Professional Photography (BIPP) – Magazine cover & 8-page feature

• Focus, Issue Seven (July 2025), The Association of Photographers – Magazine feature​