The 8 Best Still Life Photographers in San Diego

Still life photography is one of the few genres we think almost everyone can love since it includes so much under its umbrella. From food to products, still life is photography that explores how seemingly ordinary objects become extraordinary when a talented artist reveals key elements.

And as the best San Diego still life photographers demonstrate, these techniques are critical for businesses looking to get the word out about what they’ve been creating. Let’s check them out!

1. Alexander Devora

https://www.instagram.com/alexanderdevoraphotography/

Alexander Devora is a San Diego still life photographer whose work is different from just about any other artist we’ve encountered. He describes his images as “fabulously romantic with a creative edge.” Words that we entirely agree with! His compositions ideally portray themes ranging from dance to marriage.

There is a deep appreciation for both the individual character of his subjects and how they mesh with the overarching subject matter. Alexander prefers subtle Rembrandt lighting, with distinct shadows and warm white balance. His work has a distinctive, classic atmosphere, as a result.

2. Yve Fontilea

Yve Fontilea is a San Diego still life photographer whose food-focused work is second to none. Intimate captures of coffee, tofu, pies, and other treats are done in a distinctly minimalist way. Instead of viewing a crowded table of delights, Yve prefers featuring each item alone.

She points out all of the details that make it delightful, bringing your attention to the ingredients, textures, and shapes that define it. And all without using exposure or compositions that forcefully grab your attention.

3. Patrick Vaughan

Commercial still life photographers like Patrick Vaughan love nothing more than to help their collaborators bring their vision to life. As he shares in his own words: “What I’ve discovered, and what I’m told by clients, is that I “see” how a shot needs to be done even before the set-up. This gives me the ability to work quickly with the highest level of creativity. It’s just my way.”

This mastery of bringing form to dreams makes him the favored partner for national and international brands for years. Patrick learned many of these techniques while studying for his bachelor of fine arts in photography at Brooks Institute.

4. Pete Sutton

Still life, real estate, corporate, portraiture….The portfolio of Pete Sutton covers quite a few categories! Thanks to his 30 years of experience in the commercial world, he has built up a following of brands who partner with him on a regular basis. These include Fortune 500 companies, leading medical technology brands, and many others.

Pete’s still life is classic in character, with musical instruments, fresh produce, farming tools, and other classic subjects. His lighting style is chiaroscuro in character, with deep shadow adding tension against revealing illumination. There is often a story being told about a person that’s no longer present. A smoking cigarette butt or bottle of Jack Daniels hints at the artist who momentarily left the scene yet is still very much a part of the still life arrangement!

5. James Bueti

https://www.instagram.com/jbueti/

As a San Diego commercial photographer, James Bueti focuses on people, places, and things and how they engage with the creations of various SoCal brands. James’s still life images often show strong lifestyle elements, helping you to imagine the kind of person that would engage with such an item.

It becomes easy, for example, to imagine yourself sitting at the table, about to enjoy one of his culinary still life subjects with friends. James also brings products into the frame with models when capturing still life through an editorial context.

6. Mike Moore

Mike Moore is a San Diego still life photographer whose favorite subject is food. His work explores culinary creations and how to capture them in ways that inspire and engage. Food conveys cultural connections, as when Mike partners with local Asian restaurants. It also can invite a sense of comfort, tantalize our sensory memories, or even be a simple study in the beauty of a particular dish.

Mike’s work is all the more impressive given his preference for natural color and lighting. Many food photographers these days prefer exposures and saturation levels that feel loud when compared to his work. Mike relies instead on strong compositions and close-up photos to catch your interest!

7. Jodie Hulden

Jodie Hulden is a still-life and intimate landscape photographer whose work explores the silent places and quiet moments that deep contemplation offers. She is a master of black and white photography, where colors are removed to give form, texture, and lines greater weight. She started out with film in the 1970s, eventually transitioning to the digital medium yet sticking to her original love for monochrome art.

Jodie’s work is strongly influenced by Taoism, Chinese landscape paintings, and Zen Buddhism. The influences show in her appreciation for spaces and places that most of us would not even notice. Yet when captured by Jodie’s vision, they appear remarkable and full of story. Trees loom, speaking to that place in us that yearns for the silent woods. Temples on mountainsides welcome visitors with gates that seem to lead to nowhere. It’s the still-est sort of still-life photography, free of noisy colors and forceful commercial techniques for grabbing one’s attention.

8. Pacific Plus

As one of the top San Diego still-life photographers in the commercial arena, Pacific Plus is where many national brands turn to first. They count PetCo, Nike, and Jack in the Box as customers of theirs, just to name a few. They’ve been in operation for over 20 years now and operate from a 10,000-square-foot studio flexible and spacious enough for any sort of product photography. Ecommerce, flat lay products, lifestyle still life images…You will find examples of all these and more in their portfolio.

Pacific Plus specializes in taking items and adding emotion and narrative to the frame. Ideal lighting, artistic compositions, and engaging models further the still life story being shared with your target audience.

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