Capturing The Planet Reigate Podcast in Portraits - Meet Peter Stewart

Every so often you meet someone that has such a positive energy for life that can’t help but make everyone smile. Add to that the medium of podcast, and a drive to help spread the word of all of the things going on in a vibrant Community like ours; things to do, local news stories, guest interviews from local events, charities and businesses, and facts about local history (did you know about the secret industry that was world famous that happened around Albert Road North?!) This is the magic that is The Planet Reigate Podcast, landing every Friday morning. And the driving force behind it is a charming, unassuming and rather tall gentleman called Peter Stewart.

Peter’s broadcasting background is of BBC pedigree, and indeed locally to us, presented on Radio Mercury.  Peter is a BBC Journalist by day, and a brilliant MC, Presenter, Speaker and Journalist. I’m pretty sure you’d find his voice recognisable, and since 2023 he is indeed the voice behind our beloved local podcast. Championing local events, organisations and people, The Planet Reigate Podcast fills the void left by the local newspapers, specifically coveringReigate, Redhill and Merstham, Buckland, Betchworth and Brockham, down to Horley, and Hookwood, Charlwood and Outwood.

But although we may recognise his voice, how many would recognise Peter if you met him in the street? And how do we tell the story of the man behind the brand? By capturing him in our local habitat of course!

Peter came on one of my Reigate Headshot sessions, and after meeting at Caffè Nero for a quick preshoot chat, I realised that the story could start just here; a lot of the work that goes into the Podcast is admin and liaising with those running events and businesses in the area. A shout out to the lovely Bradley and Alice at Reigate Nero, as wonderful as ever.

From there we wound our way through the hidden paths behind the High Street, meeting mutual friends on the way, and captured a series of portraits that showed Peter away from his technology before heading back to Reigate's iconic tunnel. Always fun to shoot there, with passers by adding to the ambiance!

Then as we were finishing, one last portrait right in the middle of the busyness of our town.

So lets hear from the man himself…

“There’s a reason I’ve been on the radio and podcasts for most of my career: to keep anonymous and away from the camera lens. So, when Rachel suggested a photoshoot, I was, I admit, a little apprehensive. What should I wear, how do I stand or sit… or even smile? In short, how do you ‘act natural’ when you are actually posing?!

“I realised that it’s the equivalent skill on camera, as sounding natural on a mic, and with Rachel’s confidence and enthusiasm, the session flew by! Her professionalism and creativity, such as shooting me through a doorway, down a pathway or up some steps, shone through. As you will see, these aren’t ‘standard white-background headshots’ and I hope they reflect not only my personality but also Reigate town, and as I say on The Planet Reigate Podcast, our “love of living life in the best bit of Britain”.

“When you meet Rachel, you will be immediately taken with her passion for your project, and her direction on the day really got the best out of me.

Although I think I still prefer being heard, rather than seen!”

The Planet Reigate Podcast is out every Friday, and you can also find it at theplanetreigatepodcast.com

If you’d like to hear more about my Reigate Headshot sessions, head over to rachelthornhill.co.uk/headshotdays

With love, Rachel xx