The 10 Best Editorial Photographers in Raleigh

Some of the following Raleigh editorial photographers specialize in fashion and portraits, others specialize in finding the truth of the moment for publication in newspapers and magazines throughout the country. Whatever their specialities, all have their own unique eyes and styles they bring to a project. Whether you need branding materials or need a local photographer to tell the story you want to tell, one of the following artists is sure to fit the bill.

1. Jillian Clark

A lover of human faces, Jillian Clark is a widely published photographer—including assignments for Bon Appetit, Rolling Stone, and the Guardian, among others. She has two distinct styles—documentary fashion and polished headshots.

Her headshots are expertly crafted studio portraits—precise lighting, complementary backgrounds, and the subject being shown exactly how they want to be perceived. When it comes to fashion shots, her work is somewhat looser—with a more documentary and carefree feeling to them—unstructured backgrounds, posing which highlight the clothing instead of the subject. Both styles showcase her dynamic talent to a T.

2. Jebb Graff

With a career spanning almost two decades, Jebb Graff has perfected various styles before creating his current slick advertising look. It’s no wonder he’s considered among the greatest Raleigh editorial photographers!

Specializing in getting to know brands and then helping them transmit their value through photography, his photos are a mix of expertly directed lifestyle portraits and cleanly executed headshots. Working with a variety of clients in the area, his commercial style is perfect for marketing materials and websites.

3. Cornell Watson

Inspired by the coming birth of his child, Cornell Watson bought a camera to tell the story of his life at that moment and that seed sprouted into his notable career as a documentary and editorial photographer. Driven to document not only his family but his community, he has won the recognition of numerous editors, including those of The New York Times and the Washington Post.

He is also a regular contributor to Durham Magazine and has worked on national ad campaigns for brands like T-Mobile. Even his commercial work is an inquisitive look into real slices of life—no high-advertising gloss—and it’s this honest look at the space where life becomes art that is so compelling. Browse his Instagram for examples of his insightful work.

4. Jessica of Three Region Photography

Widely published and award winning Raleigh editorial photographer Jessica is the lead photographer behind this studio. Her work has been featured in Cosmopolitan and People, and has been a winner of both the WeddingWire’s couple’s choice awards and best of The Knot.

Also an accomplished wedding photographer, she brings her talent for storytelling into her branding and fashion work. Combined with her slightly moody editing and lifestyle flair, her work is all about the authenticity of her subjects.

5. Samantha Everette

Samantha Everette loves helping her subjects look and feel gorgeous and her specialty of portrait photography allows her to do just that. Published in Walter Magazine, Conde Nast Traveler, and Black Enterprise, her breathtaking work celebrates the people who give Raleigh its spirit.

Within her studio, people are transformed into the very best versions of themselves—draped in natural light or subtly lit with a softbox, her subjects become art and this talent is well displayed in her editorial and fashion work.

6. Justin Kase Conder

Justin Kase Conder has spent the last 20 years traveling around the world and allowing the viewers of his photos to experience slices of life through his lens. Specializing in tourism and agricultural photography, he inspires wanderlust and tells the stories of the people who work so hard to put food on all our tables. With a long client list including Sports Illustrated, USA Today, and the NFL, he currently works closely with Walter Magazine for their editorial shoots and covers.

7. Joshua Stedman of Steady Film

Raleigh editorial photographer Joshua Stedman learned at an early age the magic of a photograph—the power one image has to educate, to inspire, and to simply tell a story—and he has woven this magic for countless clients including BMW, Walter Magazine, Krispy Kreme, and Vans. Morphing between purely documentary and carefully curated, his style is difficult to put into any one box—all you can say with certainty is there is a story within every image. Check out his incredible work on his Instagram!

8. Chris Charles

Photographer and multidisciplinary creative Chris Charles has passions including graphic design and video content creation. All of his arts come together in surprising and artful ways to bring attention to the people and brands he works with. He has brought his talents to a variety of campaigns for national companies, including Moleskine and Red Bull, as well as household name Spike Lee.

He does more than take photos, he crafts them—not only clicking the shutter but beginning before the picture is even taken—carefully planning each aspect of the shoot and then continuing through his creative post processing. When you want to stand out and be noticed, take a look at Chris’ work, he has spent his career doing exactly that.

9. Ben McKeown

Regularly working for the Associated Press and published in The New York Times, the Washington Post, and The Atlantic, amongst others, Ben McKeown is one of the finest editorial artists in the triangle region encompassing Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill.

His style runs the gamut from finely composed portraits meant for advertising and commercial purposes to photojournalism in the midst of a sporting event. Whatever his subject he strives to let the story shine though—the mark not only of his trade but of his phenomenal talent.

10. Mallory Cash

Mallory Cash has had her work exhibited in galleries across the South and published in The New York Times, Garden and Gun, and Our State. Her photos are an editorial dream—each stands out on its own, telling its own story, but taken together they weave an entire tale.

Preferring natural light, she accentuates the magic of people, spaces, and food and allows light to sculpt them and let their inner light shine through. Based a bit outside of Raleigh in Wilmington, she is nevertheless available for travel throughout the state to tell the stories of the people and the businesses who bring it to life.

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