The 9 Best Editorial Photographers in Melbourne, VIC, AUS

Editorial photography refers to any photography meant to accompany a piece of writing in a publication, which is a broad umbrella. That may not be a news story either—that’s one distinction between editorial photography and photojournalism. It may be a human interest story, a bit of sponsored content, or a profile. The best Melbourne editorial photographers are adaptable and technically skilled. More than anything else, they’re expert storytellers, and their work leaps off the page.

In practice, editorial photographers shoot cityscape and landscape photography, product photography, and lifestyle photography, too—versatility is key. Often, editorial photographers shoot a lot of portraits, which run alongside written profiles. Check out some of the best Melbourne editorial photographers below, and you’ll see exactly what we mean.

1. Nicole Cleary

Melbourne editorial photographer Nicole Cleary got her start way back in 1990 after being spotted by a local newspaper photographer, and she went on to work as a staffer at The Herald Sun for 16 years. Her work has been featured in Rolling Stone, Ladies Home Journal, The Age, and elsewhere. She’s a fantastic all-around talent, and she shoots polished, press-ready photography that’s stylish and thoughtful.  

2. Josie Hayden

Josie Hayden is a well-known quantity in Melbourne’s photography community, and most Melbourne residents have seen her work at some point or another. As an editorial photographer, she brings experience and a keen creative eye to the table. Her photos of the interiors of businesses are particularly gorgeous, the perfect fit for any profile of a hip new eatery or scrappy start-up. 

3. Charlie Kinross

It’s impossible to overstate Charlie Kinross’s talent. Peruse his portfolio, and you’ll find frame after frame of stunning, creative imagery, from portraiture that perfectly captures the subject’s personality, to landscape photography that leaps off the page. You can find his work in The Guardian, The Australian, The Age, Smith Journal, Frankie Magazine, Gourmet Traveler, and many more.

We particularly love Kinross’s skill in utilizing dramatic lighting and cinematic color grading. There’s a quiet moodiness to many of his photos, something understated that nonetheless invites the viewer in—and that’s exactly what makes for great editorial photography. 

4. Lois Trerise

Lois Trerise describes himself as both a photographer and adventurer, and he’s got the backstory to prove it. Born in New Zealand, Trerise spent much of his life exploring Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Australia—camera in tow. Eventually, he began skydiving and shooting aerial photography by parachute, snapping shots from 15,000 feet.

After over 6,000 skydives, he suffered an injury that saw him refocusing his career on steady land, and since then he’s continued to create some of the best Melbourne editorial photography you’ll ever set eyes on. His work is brimming with personality and a storytelling quality, perfect for accompanying the written word. His color choices and flair for flawless lighting make his portfolio one you’ll want to study. 

5. Tim Allen

Melbourne editorial photographer Tim Allen’s photos are often warm and soft, with a vintage, film-like quality. We particularly love his beautiful wide-angle photography, which you don’t often see in editorial photography but which gives subjects and locales some room to breathe. As an added bonus, Allen is an expert in shooting from helicopters, drones, and planes, making him a one-stop shop for world-class aerial photography.  

6. Lucy Partalis

Lucy Partalis is one half of the wedding photography duo She Takes Pictures He Makes Films, for which she shoots some of Australia’s most stunning wedding photography. But today we’re highlighting her formidable Melbourne editorial photography. Partalis particularly shines when it comes to shooting musicians, making her a fine choice for imagery accompanying anything related to Victoria’s thriving music scene. She also has a healthy love for shooting on film, so look to her for classic, undoubtedly artistic analog shots with a fine art sensibility. 

7. Tony Evans

Tony Evans is as versatile a photographer as you’ll ever find. He spends most of his professional time shooting weddings and commercial gigs, but take a look at his portfolio, and you’ll see the storytelling quality that also makes him one of the best Melbourne editorial photographers working in the field today. His editorial shots are full of life and motion, drawing the viewer in—they’re sure to stop any reader from scrolling past or flipping the page. It’s no wonder he’s among the most noteworthy editorial photographers in Melbourne!

8. Craig Sillitoe

Working under the brand name of Pitch Visuals, Craig Sillitoe is primarily known for photos with dramatic lighting and a high dynamic range. These images are boldly colorful, and the high saturation lends them a painterly feeling. Through Sillitoe’s lens, everyday scenes become something more iconic, and the stories his photos tell become a little more magical. This kind of splashy style can look silly when attempted by a less experienced photographer, but Sillietoe’s skillful eye ensures that each frame looks gorgeous.

9. Christina Hardcastle

Christina Hardcastle is responsible for some of the most intimate, expressive family photographs you’ll ever see, and as a Melbourne editorial photographer she brings that same human-centric approach to her work. Look to her in particular for editorial work that features—you guessed it—people, whether for profiles or because they’re out experiencing an event. She brings a photojournalist’s storytelling sensibility together with a keen eye for composition and light, and the results are wonderful every single time.

Melbourne editorial photographers have it made!

Photo editors in Melbourne have a good gig. And that’s not just because they live in a lovely city—though they do. It’s because they’ve got a crop of incredibly talented Melbourne editorial photographers ready to provide the perfect imagery for any publication. If you’ve got a publishing project that needs collaboration from a world-class editorial photographer in Melbourne or beyond, start your search with the ones on this list, and you won’t go wrong.

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