The 10 Best Fashion Photographers in Richmond (2024)

Curious to see who made our list of the best Richmond fashion photographers? What we know for sure is that fashion photography is much more than pretty faces and clothes. It’s also a deep exploration of conceptual art, modeling, and other creative niches. And, whether it surprises you or not, Richmond, VA has its own distinct fashion culture. Richmond is even home to RVA Fashion Week, a prominent local event where brands, models, photographers, and other genre lovers come together and share their visions. Many of the photographers we’ve chosen here are regular partners for RVA Fashion Week, with their beautiful work capturing the hottest trends and designers of the moment.

And whether you’re a photographer looking for new spaces to shoot or a fashion designer looking for a unique space to host your next fashion show, know that you can count on Peerspace. As the largest online marketplace for hourly venue rentals, Peerspace makes it easy to find and book sensational spaces that bring your creativity to life. But for now, let’s get back to the topic at hand and explore the work of the top 10 Richmond fashion photographers.

1. Get everything you want and more when you work with Monica Suzanne Escamilla

Fashion, beauty, commercial images, and portraiture are the specialties of Monica Suzanne Escamilla! She has one of the most diverse approaches to the genre we’ve seen from any of the Richmond fashion photographers. Vintage-inspired sessions, studio high fashion photography, street fashion, and even lifestyle take on the glamour and fashion world here.

We especially love how Monica vibrantly shares her love of color. Solid, punchy hues add to the eye-catching poses and apparel. And if you’re into beauty editorials and other artwork where the hair, skin, and makeup take center stage, Monica has samples of this to share as well.

2. Get to the heart of the image when you team with a pro like Mark Knopp

Mark Knopp takes an interesting approach to his fashion and portrait images. Rather than working exclusively with models, he seeks to help his clients feel like one when working with him. Using finely tuned classic poses and off-camera flash, Mark portrays the grace and confidence of his subjects. Considering his more than 30 years of experience as a portrait photographer, Mark is the best creative to work with if it’s your first time in front of the camera. Besides fashion, he also enjoys photographing fitness, environmental, and baby bonding photography.

3. Get masterful editorial-worthy fashion photos from Roger Lilly

Roger Lilly is one of the few Richmond fashion photographers who first picked up a camera at age 18. He draws inspiration from master portrait photographers like Annie Leibovitz, David LaChapelle, and Richard Avedon, all of whom create work that artfully portrays the souls of their subjects. Roger sees his work more as fashion-inspired portraiture, combining the best of both worlds. After all, there’s no reason why one can’t simultaneously appreciate the natural beauty of a subject while highlighting their choices in apparel!

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4. Opt for conceptual images that tell your story with Nadia De Sensi

If you have a distinctive vision in mind that you want to bring to life, Nadia De Sensei is up to the challenge! We especially love her focus on conceptual themes centered around fashion motifs. A browse through her portfolio reveals some remarkable art that breathes life into themes like drive-thru pin-up girl, burlesque, and club kid! These images convey the best aspects of fashion, glamour, fine art, and portraiture. Nadia is also a wedding and portrait photographer who places a strong emphasis on a documentary-oriented approach.

5. Go minimal while still making a huge impact with the work of Kenzi Flinchum

Kenzi Flinchum describes her work as “for the minimalist and modern,” two adjectives we entirely agree with! Minimalism is evident when we study her preference for monochrome and earth tones over any vibrant color. These hues are also dominant in contemporary editorial and interior decor options. Kenzi’s compositions also have an intentional tidiness about them, often featuring plain backgrounds and artistic poses. This allows her to direct our attention in any way she sees fit skillfully!

6. Tell the full story with the multi-dimensional work of Robert Luk

Robert Luk’s fitness, fashion, editorial, lifestyle, and portraiture are all worthy of admiration. Whether you prefer a punchy, classic monochrome, or vibrantly modern color grading with cinematic tones, Robert’s one of the few Richmond fashion photographers who’s an expert in it all. Lookbook images, fashion editorials, and even catalog fashion make appearances in his portfolio. You’ll also enjoy his studio approach, where he finds poses that best convey the fitness and lifestyle narratives he loves telling.

7. Work with the best of the best when you partner with Michael Hostetler

As the Director of Media and partner for RVA Fashion Week, Michael Hostetler is at the center of one of Richmond’s most influential fashion events annually! Photography, graphic design, and live streaming services are all part of his brand. Michael’s work has also been in publications like STYLE Weekly, RVA Magazine, and Richmond Time Dispatch. Best of all, if you’re looking to become the future of Richmond fashion photographers, Michael is the founder of the RVA Photographer’s Facebook Networking Group.

8. Get impactful lifestyle-centric fashion images care of Jermaine Dabney of 20VSN Photography

The photography of Jermaine Dabney is strongly people-centric, focusing on fashion, lifestyle, weddings, portraits, and models. His approach uses high fashion motifs, where stories range from conceptual styles to more minimalist and elegant compositions. He also takes his art out onto the street for chic urban approaches. Jermaine’s diversity in style and inspired love for fashion and portraiture are why he’s one of our top Richmond fashion photographers this year!

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9. Go bold and dynamic when you partner with Mx. Bex

Dynamic compositions are what Mx. Bex favors, using angles close to the ground and intimately personal to convey their subject’s emotion, energy, and confidence. We also enjoy the cinema-worthy colors on display, where hues are subdued through gentle grading in ways unique to each photoshoot. Yet, their portfolio still retains strong consistency as the vision of a single artist!

10. Get effortlessly cool street-style images when you work with Tyler Wigglesworth

Tyler Wigglesworth is one of the few Richmond fashion photographers who has an evident love of street-style fashion. It’s where his subjects are immersed in urban settings while posing for paparazzi and portrait-style photography. Tyler’s approach uses intense direct flash and in-focus backgrounds that result in impactful environmental portraits. Rather than tight compositions and background blur, he prefers using the environment to add context and narrative to the story on display!

Despite his love for the outdoors, Tyler is no stranger to working in studios as well. In this environment, ideal lighting and tasteful apparel tell more focused narratives about a particular brand.

Richmond fashion photographers: conclusion

How amazing is the work of these Richmond fashion photographers? They have the technical prowess necessary to execute large-scale shoots and events as well as the creative passion that drives their pursuit of excellence. Reach out to your favorite(s) and start a collaboration today!

And remember, no matter where your personal and business endeavors take you, you can rely on Peerspace to connect your stylish, well-equipped spaces that make bringing people together a breeze. And since all Peerspaces are hosted by locals, you can rely on your host to answer any question and fulfill any request you have. It’s the easiest way to reach new heights of creative excellence!

Find unique photoshoot locations in Richmond on Peerspace