In 1949 Jane Bown began working for The Observer newspaper. It was a partnership that would last over 60 years and led to Bown photographing many notable figures of art, culture, politics and some members of the royal family. Her portraits include those of Samuel Beckett (1906–89), Princess Margaret (1930–2002), Judi Dench (b. 1934), Princess Anne (b. 1950) and The Beatles. Throughout her long career Bown maintained the same working methods. She shot in natural light on 35mm film. Sittings would often last less than 15 minutes. Bown's photographs are celebrated for revealing a sense of the person in front of the lens.