JJ Keith is a London-based director, photographer and visual storyteller whose work spans film, advertising and documentary photography
Born in London, he earned an MA (Hons) in History of Art and Film Studies from the University of Edinburgh.
JJ began his career directing short films, and his second film received an Academy Award nomination in the Live Action Short Film category. He then moved into television drama and, subsequently, advertising, where his work won Gold, Silver and Bronze awards at prestigious festivals including the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, British Arrows, the Creative Circle Awards and The One Show.
More recently, JJ has returned to photography, focusing particularly on documentary and portrait work grounded in social themes—most notably his ongoing series, 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 resulted in an exhibition that toured hospitals across London, and his portrait of pathologist Zubeid was exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery as part of the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait 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.
Today, JJ draws on his multidisciplinary background to bridge moving image and still photography, bringing aesthetic refinement, documentary integrity and strong storytelling to his work. His prison-visits project, Building Bonds, Breaking Cycles, has led to a documentary currently in development with the BBC.
As a partner in production companies in both the UK and Germany, JJ is able to produce his own work. He is equally comfortable leading large crews and managing substantial commercial budgets as he is working with small teams to create compelling content.