The 10 Best Editorial Photographers in Portland

From narrative-driven environmental portraits to products and services displayed in a studio setting, there are a lot of ways to tell an editorial narrative. It’s all about the story and how it is received by you, the audience. And as it turns out, there is no shortage of skilled visual storytellers here in the Pacific Northwest. Let’s take a look at the portfolios of the top Portland editorial photographers and find out who your next collaborative partner could be!

1. Sage Brown

As an artist and one of the most distinguished Portland editorial photographers, Sage Brown boasts thoughtful work that explores creative themes in storytelling. His portfolio includes partnerships with organizations like Oregon Natural Desert Association and Western Rivers Conservancy, where man’s relationship to the wider world is explored.

As well as editorial images for publications like Bloomberg Businessweek and High Country News. His “Reflections on Coal” project is especially compelling, giving us an insider’s view into one of the world’s most controversial big industries.

2. Craig Mitchelldyer

Craig Mitchelldyer’s focus is on sports and corporate portraiture. However, in his oeuvre, you will find editorial and commercial images that tell the stories of all sorts of events and people! With over 20 years of experience as a working professional photographer, Craig is a partner of choice for major editorial outlets, including USA Today and Getty Images.

His images have a constant dynamism that comes from his sense of timing and composition. We see even still subjects enhanced through unexpected angles of capture and the energy of moving subjects conveyed in a captivating manner. It’s no wonder he’s considered among the most noteworthy editorial photographers in Portland.

3. Leah Nash

As a commercial and editorial photographer, Leah Nash has a long list of creative partners, awards, and accolades to her name, including staples like The Guardian and The Boston Globe. What makes her work so special is that she manages to always find angles that simultaneously express both the art and narrative of a particular person or moment.

That said, the focus for Leah has always been on the story! As she shares, “For me photography has always been about the stories; the lives I get to inhabit, document, and share. I focus on finding real moments and getting to the crux of my subjects.”

4. Alixann Loosle

Editorial photography is much more than just images for publications and commercial portraits. It also includes the engaging world of editorial wedding photography, something Alixann Loosle specializes in! Her approach is centered around telling the story of your unique marriage without resorting to popular cliches.

And while Alixann’s work is fresh and authentic as a result, she also stays true to the romance, elegance, and nostalgic themes of marriage. We especially love the solo adventure theme that we see so often in her images—it reminds us of sudden elopements in escaping from outdated ideas about marriage.

5. Michael Schmitt

Michael Schmitt counts both travel and arts like music as major influences on his editorial photography. Because, much like the best storytelling images, both can transport you to new realms of thought and reflection. Small wonder that his partners include sports and travel brands like Adidas, ESPN, and Nike!

What’s more, Michael is just as talented at crafting editorial narratives that fit artistic, conceptual themes. We see images that are often playful and expressive in ways that invite us to carefully consider the story he and his models are sharing with us. Take a look at more of his work on his Instagram!

6. Jason Quigley

As a portrait specialist, Jason Quigley’s portfolio takes us on an exciting exploration of this broad genre. From editorial environmental portraiture to more closely composed traditional images, we are continually struck by how well he conveys the subject of human beauty and individuality.

And we also admire Jason’s dedication to working with everyday people rather than models that can effortlessly make any image look good! According to Jason, “I find the most satisfaction in working with people who aren’t professionally ‘attractive’ and making them realize they absolutely are.”

7. Michael Verity

Few portrait, fashion, and editorial photographers can express the lifelong love for the art form as enthusiastically as Michael Verity does! Even as a child, he seemed to know exactly what he wanted to be. Pouring through copies of The New York Times Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, and Vogue, learning what memorable editorial photography looked like. And having been raised in a family of artists and entrepreneurs, it’s not at all surprising that he’s one of the top editorial photographers in Portland.

8. Tom McKenzie

Tom McKenzie’s work as an editorial photographer often grants him the opportunity to meet some fascinating people from all walks of life! From U.S. Olympic gold medalists like Claressa Shields to the VP at Charles Schwab, Bernie Clark, people are continually in need of high-quality portraits from a master storyteller.

His job is not to simply showcase people but do so in a way that transmits the essence of who they are and what they are passionate about. In doing so, he uses lighting, color, composition, and backgrounds in ways that all contribute to how you receive this message!

9. Adam Bacher

Adam Bacher has over 23 years of experience working as a professional photographer in the Portland area. His particular specialty is on-location photography, where the editorial story uses the setting to give deeper context to the people and narratives being shared. Feel free to browse his Instagram for examples of his stunning snapshots.

His clients often include healthcare, education, advertising, and architecture organizations—partners who place great importance on storytelling through setting. That said, his personal work is also quite captivating, including landscape and NGO partnerships that share his perspective on the wider world.

10. Dan Cronin

Giving context to people, situations, and products is what Dan Cronin does best. As a commercial, fine art, and editorial photographer, he has years of experience crafting images for partners like MTV, Nike, and Hybrid Design.

And if you happen to read publications like the Huffington Post or The Portland Mercury, then you may have come across his work already. Dan’s images also explore personal editorial projects like showcasing the people behind the wheels of the fleet of trucks that are the backbone of American commerce.

Find unique photoshoot locations in Portland on Peerspace