The foundations of America may have been laid in Philadelphia, but the city does far more than live out the rest of its days as a historic landmark. From the towering presence of retail giants on Broad Street to the edgier output of South Street, commerce flows through Philly without reserve. Businesses, both old and new, are looking to sell, capitalizing on every possible advantage from the price to the product image. For help with the latter, we’ve found seven of the best product photographers in Philadelphia to assist you, giving you a carefully curated selection to choose from.
At Wonderful Machine, product photography encompasses any inanimate object not covered by our other specialties, often products. And these seven individuals we’ve found are the best at capturing photos that’ll animate your target market.
While food and drink photography is their bread and butter, Todd Linn & Mike Brennan also operate within the overlap of their primary specialty and product imagery. As a result, they’re more than happy to supply a mouthwatering selection of images concerning food and beverage packaging. Moreover, there are instances in which their portfolio seeps into other territories, covering general household and sundry items from flashlights to guitars.
They also manage over 3,500 square feet of studio space in Pennsauken, NJ, just outside Philadelphia. It contains a prop room, two fully-equipped kitchens, and ample space to construct multiple sets. Combine this with the duo’s experience of over 25 years, and you have a winning formula to produce some breathtaking images.
Another individual with a passion for photographing food and drink, Dominic Episcopo switched his neighborhood in northern New Jersey for Philadelphia when pursuing a photography degree from the University of the Arts. Since then, he has worked on commercial and editorial assignments for over 20 years, building a stellar reputation worldwide. His images have been featured in Vanity Fair, Bon Appetit, National Geographic Traveler, The Food Network Magazine, and numerous other publications.
Dominic deserves to be mentioned in this article for his beverage photography, harnessing conceptual imagery to further a brand’s identity and narrative. Personality is central to his images, whether it’s a Kentucky bourbon with the American Flag draped in the background or a bottle of Sweet Gwendoline gin with a whip snaked around it. If you’re looking to make a definitive statement with your product catalog, Dominic is the man for the job.
You can add Nell Hoving to our list of Philadelphia product photographers with close to 20 years of experience, showcasing a particular liking for fashion, beauty, and cosmetic items. Nell uses color and texture to complement the characteristics of a product, finding a composition that seems ripe for that moment in time. Perhaps a pair of black shoes with red laces might find the right company placed outside in the snow, with pine leaves occupying the edges of the frame. Or the green borders of a leather watch may pop to life while resting on a blanket of darker green leaves. Elements just click into place in Nell’s photography, making her ideal for commercial and editorial campaigns of all kinds.
Her client list includes Agilent Technologies, Benari Jewelers, Comcast NBCUniversal, D’IYANU, Five Below, Hamilton Jewelers, Philadelphia Magazine, and Printfresh.
A touch of nature isn’t too far away from Kira Luxon’s photos, especially within her product portfolio. The images submerge the product in shades and tones closer to Mother Earth, even if it happens to be a mobile card reader resting on a wooden table. Kira holds an innate ability to integrate products into their surroundings, a knack she no doubt cultivated through her work in the interiors specialty. In addition to items that are in the typical arsenal of a product photographer, Kira’s includes tools and equipment of the working person, whether it’s something found in the garage, the garden, or the sewing room.
Bringing more than 10 years of experience as a commercial photographer, Kira will treat your product’s depiction on camera with the utmost care, finding a setting that encourages it to be natural, comfortable, and at ease.
Most people aspire to become photographers after seeing the works of industry stalwarts, but Ivan Guzman had an unlikely source of inspiration through Peter Parker. While the fictional character wields his camera from one rooftop to another for the Daily Bugle, Ivan does the same around Philly for the betterment of his various clients.
He has nurtured a passion for conceptual product photography, framing items in unconventional formats to create a definitive impression. While he’s more than capable of following the textbook approach in his specialty, the times when he strays from the norm produce exciting results.
Some of Ivan’s clients include AnaOno, HerFineBASICS, Petite Petitions, and FRYE.
If Daniel Jackson wasn’t a fan of change, he most likely would have never been on our list of the best Philadelphia product photographers. Initially, Daniel was classically trained as an oil painter, with the likes of Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Caravaggio serving as his teachers and mentors. He was very successful in his former profession, with exhibition features at galleries and museums around the United States.
But we’ve all been at a juncture in life where change seems necessary, no matter how fruitful a previous path might have been. Daniel’s need for change led him in the direction of photography, and he has taken to the product specialty with zeal and devotion. His portfolio showcases a range of subjects, from beauty and cosmetics items to tech and houseware. In addition, Daniel’s background as a painter leads to a unique understanding of light and composition, creating interesting shapes and patterns in his photos without fail.
While his strengths lie in shooting food, travel, and lifestyle imagery, a closer look at Jason Varney’s portfolio reveals a knack for photographing still life. Jason has grown an extensive collection of interiors photos, displaying a masterful talent for capturing items within households and hotels. Whether it’s a lamp, table, sofa, or bookshelf, he can have it sing alone or as part of a chorus of homely goods. Splendor and beauty abound in these images, as he casts the most luxurious, and even humble abodes, with that warm and fuzzy feeling of domesticity.
Jason has over 15 years of experience as a photographer, working with brands and publications such as Anthropologie, Architectural Digest, Martha Stewart Living, Johnson & Johnson, and Four Seasons Hotels.
No single individual can tackle everything under the umbrella of product imagery, so we’ve found seven of the best product photographers in Philadelphia to tick as many checkboxes instead. Each person brings a unique take to the specialty, helping you render your creative vision a few different ways yet deliver imagery that’ll always make the sale.
Further Reading
See more Still Life/Product photographers in Philadelphia on our Find Photographers page.
Learn more about other types of photography on our Specialties page.