These top-grade, Philadelphia-based photographers and videographers bring the A-game. Have you ever come across a photo and immediately noticed the high quality and outstanding visual elements that are presented? Well, it takes a skilled photographer or videographer to make that come to life. We’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite photographers and videographers to work with that serve the Philadelphia area and interviewed them for our blog. Read on to learn more about who they are, see stunning examples of their work, and find contact information to get in touch with them for your projects.
Ryan Rector
Ryan was born in Brooklyn but was raised in Central New Jersey. He attended Temple University and finished a degree in finance around 2007. His career started in filming. Later on, he explored doing music videos. Currently, he is passionate about fashion and mini-documentaries.
Who does Ryan serve? Ryan is currently staying in Philadelphia, but his clients extend out to NYC. He loves to work with nonprofit organizations and agencies. He is very adaptable to any lightning available on location.
What is Ryan’s videography style? Ryan’s videography style is run-and-gun, a.k.a spontaneously capturing moments that are organically presented during a shoot. Nothing is staged and there is only one chance to get each shot, so the videographer must be ready at all times. This style is common these days but not easy to perfect. Traditional shoots have a fixed set but when it comes to run-and-gun, videographers are required to capture a cinematic quality, the same quality as in traditional shoots, while constantly moving from one place to another. Usually, the work of 10 people is done by just three or four who are able to quickly adapt to location and situation changes.
Who is Ryan outside of work? In his free time, Ryan loves to read, learn, exercise, and dance.
How can you get in touch with Ryan? For more of his videography samples, you may visit Ryan’s Vimeo account at Vimeo.com/recthedirector. You may also reach him via his email address: recthedirector@gmail.com.
Mike Mielcarz
Mike started his career in advertising as an art director, moving up to an Associate Creative Director, and finally being promoted as a Creative Director. In his 18 years of experience, Mike worked very hard to learn with other great talents and develop his own photography style. He decided to become a freelance photographer, now known as Mike Mielcarz Photography, building his own clientele and audience to showcase his photography skills and talents.
Who does Mike serve? Currently, Mike is based in Princeton, New Jersey, and serves the cities of Philadelphia, New York City, and New Jersey. He does not have a studio but he is actively working both at home and the site or location agreed upon with his clients. His preference is natural lighting which he can use organically or produce with subtle strobe lighting.
What is Mike’s photography style? Mike considers himself a lifestyle photographer. His theme is mostly focused on the natural, something that should have depth and connection. Mike loves to capture the genuine expressions of his subjects, gleaning much inspiration from his daughter who he often enjoys photographing. Mike is delighted to work with clients who have the same excitement for finding those unexpected moments.
“The excitement my 6-year-old daughter has for everything in her life is an inspiration for my photography. I approach every project and every shoot with that same energy, because it truly is amazing to tell a story with a photo. It’s really helped me make a connection with the other kids I’ve had the chance to photograph, too.”
Who is Mike outside of work? When he is not snapping photos, Mike loves to build. Recently, he made his daughter’s 4-foot tall dollhouse from scratch. At times, he would help his father and work with him closely in building crafts and furniture. He also played D-1 men’s volleyball and after graduation, he continued playing as a semi-pro beach volleyball player. Fortunately, at one of his tournaments, he met his lovely wife. He hopes that his love of beach volleyball would be something his daughter would love to do in the near future.
Where can you get in touch with Mike? To see more of his work and portfolio, you may visit his website mikemielcarzphotography.com. Get in touch with him via his email mikemielcarz@gmail.com
Hannah Yoon
Hannah is a Korean Canadian freelance photographer whose works are mostly focused on photojournalism and documentary photography. Most of Hannah’s career in photography stems from her interest and curiosity in the relationship of people and how history impacts the present. She uses photography as a way to understand why we are the way we are and how everything is connected.
Who does Hannah serve? Currently, Hannah is based in Philadelphia. Her clientele is mostly in the cities of Philadelphia, Toronto, Waterloo, and Ontario. She prefers to work with clients who share similar beliefs, visions, and ideas, and who respect and value Hannah’s time, her work, and her portfolio. Those who trust and believe in her potential and skills are Hannah’s ideal clients. Apart from her personal or freelance work, she is a current mainstay for The New York Times, NPR, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and other publications.
What is Hanna’s photography style? At the moment, Hannah has no studio. She takes her subjects and stories outside streets, locations, or people’s homes. She prefers natural, evening light coming through windows, and blue hour light in the evening. Her curiosity began when she studied sociology and psychology in college. Aside from this, she’s interested in topics of social justice and racial justice issues. Hannah is a proud member of Woman Photograph and Diversify Photo. She is also one of the founding board members of Authority Collective. She works with these associations as a photographer and actively seeks equity in the photo industry.
Who is Hannah outside of work? When she is not busy working in photography, Hannah enjoys reading, family gatherings, friend dates, and watching Korean dramas. She is also fond of being outside and getting in touch with nature. Cheap philosophies remind Hannah of why she became a photographer and keep her motivated.
Where can you get in touch with Hannah? Most of her work is shown on her website www.hannahyoon.com or her Instagram profile @hanloveyoon. Clients may reach her through her email address hannah@hannahyoon.com.
Bethany Rees
Bethany is a full-time music, wedding, and lifestyle photographer. Her subjects range from food and fashion to far-away places and portraits of professionals. As she aims to tell an entire story, convey a message, or manifest a mood, her photography skills and talent are guided by her principle that less is more.
Who does Bethany serve? She is currently based in Philly where her studio named DOLA Photography is also located. Bethany helps clients who need a trusted professional to deliver images that reflect their brand in a refined and enduring manner. Busy professionals want to feel confident in their photographer. They are looking for an expert who can support them through the process while understanding the value of their time and provide an easy, relaxed experience through it all. Bethany is that expert.
What is Bethany’s photography style? Bethany is proof that an artist can be creative, methodical, spontaneous, and deliberate all at the same time. Her photography style is a sophisticated, relaxed editorial style that results in timeless, clean, and modern images. She is ready to work with any available lighting or Profoto.
Who is Bethany outside of work? Bethany enjoys traveling, attending outdoor music festivals, and volunteering at local animal shelters. She loves walking dogs and taking professional photos of them to help them get adopted.
“My company DOLA is a member of 1% for the Planet which is a global organization that connects dollars and doers to accelerate smart environmental giving. I’m very proud to be a member of this organization because it allows me to make an impact each year by giving 1% of our revenue to supporting nonprofits that are working to solve environmental problems.”
How can you get in touch with Bethany? Bethany’s work and portfolio can be found on her website dolaphoto.com. You may also reach out to her via her e-mail address: info@dolaphoto.com
Ricky Codio
Some people refer to him as the G.O.A.T, he prefers just Ricky. Haitian-born, and a self-taught creative, Ricky Codio is a Philadelphia-based visual artist and owner of The Mannequin Factory.
Who does Ricky serve? Ricky is based in and serves the Philadelphia area. His studio, Mannequin Factory, is located in North Philly where he completes dozens of shoots each month. The Godox AD600Pro is a high-end outdoor flash device and Ricky’s favorite lighting tool.
What is Ricky’s photography style? Ricky has captured the attention of many media industry and television influencers alike with his captivating beauty, fashion, wedding, portrait, and maternity shoots. Ricky has had the pleasure of creating magical moments behind the lens, with many of his projects going viral. One of his first viral moments was from VH1’s ‘Love & Hip-Hop’ when he partnered with star Tara Wallace for her body paint and wings shoot. Ricky continues to take things to another level with his alter ego and beauty shoots. A perpetual student of the craft, Ricky is always looking for new ways to improve and enhance his skills. As a staple in the Philadelphia creative scene, Ricky continues to give opportunities to other up-and-coming artists through his classes and philanthropic pursuits.
I am nothing without my team! People don’t understand how much work goes into running a business so I ensure I am surrounded by great people. Keep watching. I’m about to take it to another level.
Who is Ricky outside of work? When he is not busy snapping photos of celebrities (or making his everyday clients feel like celebrities), Ricky is enjoying life, humming his favorite tunes from the Hamilton musical.
Where can you get in touch with Ricky? To see more of Ricky’s work and portfolio, and to get in touch with him, you may visit his website rickycodio.com. You can also email him at rickycodiophoto@gmail.com.
Justin James Muir
Justin was born and raised in Rhode Island. He received a BFA in Visual Communication Design at Hartford Art School, going on to complete some concert tours with his band and release two albums with Island Def Jam records. After disbanding, Justin decided to work as a designer and was promoted as an art director. His photography skills, style, and process were developed during this ten-year work experience in addition to his degree.
Who does Justin serve? Justin currently resides in Downingtown, PA where he mostly serves clients from the cities of Philadelphia, NYC, and DC. He has a studio in West Chester, PA but prefers to work on locations agreed with clients. Some of his clients and projects are editorials for Vanity Fair, Wired, and NYT.
What is Justin’s photography style? Justin’s photography style is environmental portraiture. He enjoys working while traveling to other countries for editorial and commercial clients, especially when he gets to travel with his wife. Justin’s photos are soft but powerful in nature. He achieves great work by connecting his subjects and their environment to observers. He is talented at merging natural and artificial lighting, especially with Profoto. Get a behind-the-scenes look at Justin’s work on Instagram @justinjamesmuir or explore his “Anatomy of an Image” tutorial series in which he details his favorite techniques from lighting to editing. Just go to www.anatomyofanimage.com.
Who is Justin outside of work? Justin enjoys hiking, traveling, and gardening with his favorite person: his wife. This year, they’ve spent a lot of time gardening, making upgrades to their home environment, and tending to their chickens. They’re hopeful about adding alpacas to their family soon!
How can you get in touch with Justin? Learn more about Justin on his website www.justinjamesmuir.com. You can get in touch with him via his email address justinjamesmuir@gmail.com.
Elijah Sanchez
Elijah is the founder and operator of Raw, But Meaningful Photography. Referring to himself as a “hand on heart” passionate photographer based out of South Jersey, Elijah is most sought after for creating highly impactful and visually compelling portraiture. Photography is his favorite way to show his artistic side while seeing the world from different angles and perspectives. Elijah is best known for creating raw but meaningful photos, hence the name of his business. He aims to create works of art that can be cherished forever.
Who does Elijah serve? Elijah is currently based in New Jersey and most of his clients are in Philadelphia. His ideal clients are individuals and couples who enjoy having their pictures taken in scenic settings. Elijah does not have a studio at the moment, so he works with clients on location.
What is Elijah’s photography style? Elijah thrives in a raw setting where natural lighting can be used. His favorite time of day to take photos is an hour and a half before sundown.
Who is Elijah outside of work? Outside of photography, Elijah loves to go on outdoor adventures, explore hidden gems, play video games, watch anime, and even play piano (which he discovered his talent for during the COVID-19 pandemic). Elijah is also a cryptocurrency enthusiast and Forex day trader, boasting a variety of interests and a wealth of knowledge.
How can you get in touch with Elijah? Elijah’s work and portfolio are compiled on his website rawbutmeaningful.co. Clients may reach him via his email address elijah@rawbutmeaningful.co.
Jared Gruenwald
Jared is a commercial photographer and the owner of Left Eyed Studios, formerly known as Jared Gruenwald Photography. Jared is one of our favorite photographers to work with for headshots. He specializes in images that capture people, places, sports, and weird, wonderful moments. He has a lot of experience with different projects and shoots, and he has served some of the nation’s largest publications and companies. One of Jared’s favorite projects is being a photographer on the pro tennis tour. He deeply appreciates the opportunity and privilege that comes with his profession to travel around the world and work with different people.
Who does Jared serve? He is currently based in Philadelphia, PA. He also opened a full-service commercial studio located in the Fishtown section of Philadelphia. Most of his clients are within the cities of Philadelphia Metro Area and New York City Metro Area but he is willing to take an adventure, hop on a plane, and do shoots around the world. Jared loves the opportunity to form creative partnerships with long-term clients.
What is Jared’s photography style? Most of Jared’s work entails environmental portraiture. He uses his subjects and various settings to create dynamic narratives that showcase the beauty, grace, strength, and enthusiasm of people. His lightning preferences depend on what the clients want and need or whatever the project requires. When he started his photography career, his style was more inclined on photojournalism and sports photography thus requiring him to work on natural or available light. As he expands his skills, he is very passionate and focused on doing commercial photography where strobing and experimenting with new modifiers were introduced to him. Regardless, he is able to work confidently with whatever lighting comes his way because he loves both bright, vibrant scenes and darker, more dramatic imagery.
“People have been asking why I rebranded and went with Left Eyed Studios as my new business name. Well, there are a few pictures of me from years ago on a bench with a bunch of other photographers shooting the 2011 US Open. This was the first time I noticed that as a left-eyed dominant shooter the camera covered my whole face, while this was not the case with righties. The name popped into my head then and stuck.”
Who is Jared outside of work? Jared has always loved the outdoors, and even with limitations brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, he still managed to find ways to enjoy this precious space. He went from owning no camping or outdoor gear in May 2020 to having an REI in his basement by the end of June (and he saw his first wild bear that summer)!
How can you get in touch with Jared? Jared’s website lefteyedstudios.com is full of portfolios from past projects. Clients may reach out to him via his email address: jared@lefteyedstudios.com
Matthew Stanley
Matthew began his photography career as a photojournalist, being very interested in people and telling their stories. He is fascinated by issues that relate to social justice and has found himself very engrossed in advocacy-driven work.
What is Matthew’s photography style? Matthew’s photography style is portraiture and/or documentary work. Either way, his main goal is to always find a connection with his subjects to create images that portray them with dignity and convey emotional resonance.
Who does Matthew serve? Matthew is currently in Philadelphia where most of his clients are located. His studio is in Bok Building, South Philadelphia. His work extends to the cities of New York, Baltimore, and Washington, DC. You may see Matthew working with different nonprofit organizations, advocacy-driven organizations, and educational institutions. He has a minimalist lighting style. To control natural lightning, he uses reflectors and one to two strobes to come up with vibrant images.
Who is Matthew outside of work? On a slow day, Matthew loves reading. He also finds joy in traveling, drinking coffee, and playing guitar. During the COVID-19 Pandemic, he worked as a hunger relief coordinator for a Philadelphia-based nonprofit organization. Through this experience, he now has a better understanding of the challenges and rewards of being a member of a nonprofit organization and he has become more interested in telling those stories through photography.
How can you get in touch with Matthew? To see Matthew’s samples, portfolios, and projects, visit his website at mattstanleyphoto.com. You may reach him too on his email address matt@mattstanleyphoto.com.
To stand out from the competition, you always want to have top-grade images produced by the best photographers and videographers. We highly recommend these professionals to anyone working in the Philadelphia area.
About Creative Repute
Creative Repute®, LLC is an award-winning graphic design and website development agency. Our mission is to deliver impactful design solutions through a multidisciplinary approach to web development, graphic design, and marketing. We intentionally hire, support, and empower diverse experts who share a collective drive for positive impact and global transformation.
We are a team of world-class researchers, artists, website developers, graphic designers, specialists, and independent contractors with a culturally diverse and intimate connection to the arts. We bring a deep bench of experience. We do not have a rigid adherence to a specific type of aesthetic, so every design reflects the client’s brand without a hint of Creative Repute. Our team’s collection of knowledge and talent allows us to explore an array of aesthetics and ideas to create designs that best suit our client’s goals.
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