The 9 Best Editorial Photographers in Cleveland

Are you searching for the top Cleveland editorial photographers? Then you’ve come to the right place! As the largest online marketplace for hourly creative venue rentals, Peerspace provides photographers with spaces to make their magic happen daily. We want to ensure their voices are heard and their messages get in front of the right eyes.

Storytelling is one of the oldest reasons for using photography. While images can also be merely about beauty, the way a photo helps add context to the written word or an implied story has an engaging power all its own. This potential for visual narration is not lost on any of these top 9 Cleveland editorial photographers. Consider them as potential collaborators for 2022 editorial photoshoots. Take a look at our list below and let us know your thoughts!

1. Amanda Hemstreet

Individual or couples’ portraits don’t need to feel forced and devoid of narrative. In fact, this is something Amanda Hemstreet’s work shows us. Her lifestyle and editorial approach help convey the unique elements of the lives of her couples to viewers like us.

Amanda’s photography services include destination wedding images, where the environment plays a major role in the story. We also love her elopement and micro-wedding images, where the focus is more on the adventurous and intimate character of these smaller ceremonies!

2. Roger Mastroianni

As a top Cleveland editorial photographer, Roger Mastroianni has over 30 years of experience. In fact, his work regularly finds a place in major publications, brand campaigns, and annual reports for national businesses. You also may have come across his work in places like Forbes, Reader’s Digest, and The New York Times.

Musicians are an especial focus of his. In such shoots, Roger brings highlights the artists in their favored settings with instruments. It’s a classic editorial style that helps us better understand who they are! Check out more of his work on his Instagram!

3. Angelo Merendino

If you are a fan of publications like Best of Cleveland or Shaker Life, then you’ve likely already seen editorial images from Angelo Merendino! Local artists, businessmen, athletes, and entrepreneurs regularly find themselves in front of his lens to be featured doing what they love.

We especially enjoy the dedication Angelo shows in avoiding artifice in favor of authentic expressions. As he shares, “My approach to photography is not to tell people what to do or how to do it. Instead, I work to create environments where people feel like their most authentic selves — and then capture what happens”

4. David J. Schwartz

Having been born and raised here in The 216, David J. Schwartz is a top Cleveland editorial photographer whose insider’s perspective on the city is second to none. His editorial portfolio includes location-specific images for publications like Route Magazine and Akron Life.

David is also among the most talented editorial portrait photographers in Cleveland. In fact, he captures people in narrative-enhancing backgrounds that place us into their lives with just a few frames.

5. Dani V.

Dani V. is the creative portrait photographer behind the aptly named feed “The Editorial Style.” With her focus on narrative and stories that go beyond beauty, she brings both fun and meaning to each of her artistic collaborations.

We especially love how diverse Dani gets in the stories she shares with us. From boudoir and graduation portraits to more exploratory and conceptual themes, there is no limit to the possibilities she explores with her camera! We think Dani is the best Cleveland editorial photographer for folks who are a little unsure of how to proceed and want to find inspiration from the portfolio of a talented artist.

6. Sarah Slobod

Telling the stories of companies, individuals, and families is what Sarah Sloboda does best. What’s more, her approaches a reportage style that invokes autneticity. Sarah is also entirely aware of the new “attention economy” that drives the economic possibilities of the world, she still finds space for artistry and beauty.

Put in her own words, “As opposed to “attention-grabbing” marketing that affronts their inclination to protect their headspace, my approach is to invite people into your world with artistic photography that jives with their reason for visiting your page.”

7. David Swidrak

Editorial narratives include not only photojournalism and commercial images, but also the exciting world of wedding photography. In capturing moments of romance from a documentary perspective, David Swidrak has become one of our favorite Cleveland editorial photographers!

Born and raised in the area, he has over 12 years of experience highlighting peak life milestones for Cleveland couples. David’s approach includes subdued colors, adventurous outdoor environments, and celebratory postures. And there is always a playfulness visible that comes from the ease of being given free rein to express who you are.

8. Peter Larson

As a commercial and editorial photographer with experience working with household name brands, Peter Larson is an artist you really need to know better. Some of his previous partners include Nike, Google, and the Ohio Lottery. After all, these are clients looking for only top Cleveland editorial photographers!

Peter also shows remarkable diversity in settings and locations, with experience capturing editorial narratives in both studio and documentary contexts.

9. Jen Hearn

Events, senior portraits, and weddings are just a few of the major stories that Jen Hearn shares with us. The overall narrative she expresses is what makes her photography so powerful. Especially in the worlds of weddings and portraiture, where there is so much focus on guided poses.

That said, when working as a wedding photographer, Jen uses a combination of documentary and posed moments to tell a complete editorial narrative about the day’s unfolding. She conveys what makes your ceremony and also reminds us of the nostalgia and romance inherent to every wedding!

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