The 9 Best Editorial Photographers in Grand Rapids

Editorial photography is a tough genre to pin down. Typically, the term “editorial photography” encompasses any photograph that is meant to be paired with a printed piece of writing. This can include categories like lifestyle photography, photojournalism, portrait photography, sports photography, and beyond. The best Grand Rapids editorial photographers possess both impressive technical abilities and a refined artistic sense, elevating the visual content of Grand Rapids’ publications with stunning imagery. 

1. Ashley Wierenga

You can’t talk about Grand Rapids editorial photographers without mentioning the wildly talented Ashley Wierenga. Wierenga wears a lot of creative hats — both figuratively and literally, she says. She’s a lifestyle blogger, marketing consultant, and, of course, a Grand Rapids editorial photographer of no small talent. She’s a born storyteller with a deep sense of how art functions in the professional world.

As for her photography, if you live in Grand Rapids you’ve probably seen it. Wierenga’s photographs are featured everywhere from Grand Rapids Magazine to Michigan.org and on the websites of a ton of Grand Rapids businesses.

2. Teri Genovese

According to Teri Genovese, photography is her “pause button” — her way of slowing down life and examining the beauty in its subtleties. That’s a lovely sentiment, and her keen eye for detail is evident in her photos.

You’ll find her work in publications ranging from Grand Rapids Magazine to The Lake Michigan Cottage Cookbook. Genovese’s work is soulful, bright, and light, and she excels when she’s depicting a typical slice of life, hitting that pause button and inviting us to see the beauty she sees. 

3. Brian Kelly

The first thing that grabbed our attention about Brian Kelly’s work is his breathtaking portraiture. In his portfolio you’ll find shots of celebrities like Betty White, Tony Bennet, Whoopi Goldberg, Eminem, and dozens more — it’s a dizzying variety. He’s also an adept filmmaker and editorial photographer. In fact, if grand aerial views are your thing, make sure to check out his coffee table book, Aerial: Grand Rapids from Above, a beautiful collection of Grand Rapids drone photography.

Kelly’s photographs are beautifully lit and stylishly edited, with expressive color correction that’s always appropriate, never gaudy. If you like bold, lively photography, check out Brian Kelly.

4. Alfield Reeves

Alfield Reeves makes photos that always fit the publication beautifully. Whether they’re stylish and hip, austere and purely documentary, or something closer to fine art, his work bursts with character and authenticity.

You’ll find Reeves’s work in a wild variety of publications, including The New York Times, The Guardian, Mob Journal, Grand Rapids Magazine, Grand Rapids Business Journal, The Trace, and others.

5. Mitch Ranger

When you read Mitch Ranger’s writing about photography, his enthusiasm and energy are unmissable. “I’m not a shy photographer,” he writes. “My finger’s on the shutter, and I’m ready.” He claims to create with his heart on his sleeve, and you’ll see that in his work.

Ranger has built a 2,200-square-foot studio that he calls “a portrait shooter’s paradise,” making him a wonderful option for publications looking for in-studio work. And while his studio work is great, his shots out in the world, using natural light and the tools at hand, are just as breathtaking. Ranger’s editorial photography pushes limits, sometimes gets a little mind-bending or psychedelic, and is always a ton of fun. 

6. Michelle Cuppy

Michelle Cuppy splits her time between Los Angeles and Grand Rapids, and that makes perfect sense given her specialty. Cuppy is a fashion photographer with an impeccable aesthetic sense. Her imagery feels simultaneously vintage and cutting-edge.

We love that Cuppy’s photos are ferociously chic but also have a fine art quality to them, an extra layer beyond the poses and makeup that pushes them to a higher level. She’s easily one of the best Grand Rapids editorial photographers in the field today, and when it comes to fashion photography there’s nobody doing better work.

7. Mike Buck

Publications that need food photography, take note — Mike Buck’s one of the best Grand Rapids editorial photographers on the scene when it comes to culinary photography. You’ll find Buck’s editorial food photography gracing everything from magazines to food blogs to materials produced by restaurants and chefs themselves, and all of it will make you hungry.

Anyone who thinks a messy plate of slow-smoked ribs can’t be a work of art hasn’t seen Mike Buck’s Instagram feed.

8. David Sparks

David Sparks has been working in Grand Rapids for over a decade, and he’s devoted most of that time to commercial photography, specializing in architectural photography. But you’ll find his work in many publications in Michigan (and beyond!) 

Sparks’s work has graced the cover of Grand Rapids Magazine — multiple times — Revue, and American Farmhouse, to name a few. He has a wonderful sense of what magazine photo editors are hoping to see from their photographers, as well as how to craft an image compositionally that will flow well beside a block of text. Sparks is the type of tried-and-true editorial photographer who is going to get the job done right every time.

9. Axie Blake

Axie Blake markets herself as specializing in “luxe BoHo style,” and we’d say that’s an excellent descriptor. Much of the time, Blake is shooting weddings, senior portraits, family sessions, etc.—which is wonderful news for Grand Rapids residents.

But for our money, it’s her editorial and fashion photography that shines the brightest. It’s sophisticated, dripping with style, and expertly rendered. It’s a wonder Axie Blake isn’t shooting magazine covers every day.

Don’t sleep on Furniture City

With its bustling downtown, picturesque riverfront, and lively arts and culture scene, Grand Rapids has something to offer everyone. The town’s gorgeous scenery, excellent culinary scene, and world-class galleries and theaters aren’t its only cultural gems. The photographers of Grand Rapids are also putting out top-tier creative work every day of the week, and publications around the country are better for it.

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