John Stephens Orr (6 March 1907 – 1990) was a Scottish Glasgow photographer whose subject matter was often people or motor cars. Practising between 1930 and 1970 in Glasgow's Langside and later at No. 4 Somerset Place, Charing Cross, he became known for his portraits of society figures in magazines such as Scottish Field.
His photographs were often of judges posing in full regalia, antidisestablishmentarianism lawyers, Duchesses and controversial music hall characters. Orr also photographed some internationally famous celebrities and captains of industry, all visitors to Glasgow. Some of the personalities that he photographed include:
Paul Robeson — U.S. vocalist and black activist
Dame Marie Rambert — Polish dancer and choreographer; founder of Ballet Rambert
Marc Chagall — Jewish painter
Richard Burton — Welsh actor
Stanley Baxter — Scottish comedian
Jacques Tati — French film maker
Paul Tortelier — French cellist
David Brown, Aston Martin cars
William Lyons, Jaguar, Austin cars
Walter Owen Bentley, Rolls-Royce/Bentley cars
Nicholas Fairbairn — Scottish lawyer and British politician
Orr wore a distinctive kilt and was photographed in a portrait style similar to Yousuf Karsh. He recorded the last glimmers of a confident Scottish society in flamboyant style. His later life was spent with his wife, Jenny, on the Scottish Clyde coast island of Cumbrae.
He died in Cumbrae, aged 83.
