The 9 Best Still Life Photographers in New York City

Curious to see the work of the top New York City still-life photographers? If you are looking for a still-life visual artist then there are few places in the world to begin your search. New York City is a creative hub for not just the United States, but the entire world.

This much raw talent made our search for the finest of the lot very difficult. But we succeeded! And now we’re ready to share with you the best New York City still-life photographers.

1. Evi Abeler

As a New York City still life photographer, Evi Abeler’s mission is to create images that bring items to life through purely visual means. She aims to capture food, cosmetics, and other subjects in ways that allow you to experience the textural, flavor, and other sensory elements from your screen!

We see this most powerfully in her culinary images. Evi transmits not just the sensory cues but the cultural connotations that come with them. The sense of family, the experience of a fine dining establishment…Even the simple beauty of a carefully prepared fish. Evi’s still-life images highlight the artistry of her subjects as much as the narrative surrounding them.

2. Yechiel Orgel

Rich contrast and contemporary character are a few of the qualities that define the work of Yechiel Orgel! This New York City still-life photographer counts brands like Voss, Astor Chocolate, and Golden Blossom as partners of his. All of these brands aim to transmit an experience as much as a visual to their potential customers. This is most important when viewing food still life images, where the smell, feel, and other non-visual elements are a vital part of the story.

We also found that the thoughtfulness that Yechiel displays when capturing a subject is part of what makes his work so powerful. He reveals details that escape a casual inspection, inviting us to pause and see the item for its innate splendor.

As he explains: “inanimate objects come to life in the presence of lighting, technique and angles. Where others may view a pair of shades as just a product, Yechiel chooses to find its subliminal value through his work.”

3. Gregory Reid

If you’re familiar with major brands like The New York Times, Scientific American, and California Avocado, then you may have come across Gregory Reid’s work before. He is an award-winning still life and commercial photographer, operating out of his Clinton Hill studio.

Gregory’s still-life portfolio is one of the most diverse we’ve covered. He works with businesses to help them reach wider audiences and he also creates work that satisfies his own desire for self-expression. Gregory’s style invokes bright colors and distinct geometric shapes along with whimsical elements that suggest possible stories or are simply there to be enjoyed.

4. Sharon Radisch

Sharon Radisch is the still-life photographer of choice for creative brands in both New York City and Paris, France. We enjoy her approach to the genre, using subdued colors, gentle shadows, and other stand-out elements. A refreshing departure from the bright exposure and saturated pop that characterizes commercial still-life photography.

Sharon is also active in the fine art space, creating images that explore organic forms and textures through compositions that are subtle at first glance. They then captivate and encourage further study when seen for their true depth!

5. Jenna Gang

No list of the top New York City still-life photographers would be complete without Jenna Gang! As a director and photographer, she is fully cognizant of what images best engage audiences from both commercial and fine art perspectives. Her work makes great use of human models, which heightens visual interest and better immerses us in the scene.

It’s one thing to feature the textures of a cosmetic brand or the slick appearance of ice cream. But having a person interacting with it ramps engagement up significantly! Jenna also favors bold exposure and vibrant saturation, further highlighting the possibilities whispered by her still-life subjects.

6. Gicquel Boris Aphanou

The still-life photography of Gicquel Boris Aphanou caters to beauty and cosmetic brands looking to ideally portray their products. Water splashes, eye-catching illumination, and floral settings help present perfumes, powders, and other items in the best contemporary still-life traditions.

But unlike many of the other photographers on our list, Gicquel prefers colors and exposure with a more natural character. He’s also unafraid to explore shadows and their use in composition.

7. Russell Underwood

Russell Underwood offers 15 years of experience working as a commercial still life, fashion, and beauty photographer! His fine art perspective is a subdued one, where shadows, vignettes, and even exposure provide a very different visual experience from other NYC still-life photographers.

Russell also makes use of strong backgrounds, where repeating patterns and contrasting colors add depth without detracting from his main product subjects. Jewelry, cosmetics, apparel, and other items all shine when viewed through Russell’s still-life lens!

8. Stevenson Michel

Stevenson Michel describes his work as subtly minimalist; an accurate description. It’s also a style that we love to see! His frames are sparse and free of distracting elements competing for our attention. Instead, we experience single subjects, large blocks of complementary colors, and soft curves.

Organic shapes against plain backgrounds, true-to-life color representation…Stevenson is less interested in overwhelming viewers with a visual cacophony. His work explores the qualities of an item that make it naturally fascinating with careful study.

9. Nicholas Duers

Nicholas Duers has been an active New York City still-life photographer since 2007. His work is chiefly in the luxury product, fashion, beauty, and editorial spaces of the genre. This is why brands like Adidas, Calvin Klein, and Bloomingdale’s regularly seek him out to tell their product stories!

Nicholas’s still-life images regularly win awards in international competitions, including the International Photography Awards and Prix De La Photographie Paris.

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