The 12 Best Philadelphia Portrait Photographers

What distinguishes the best Philadelphia portrait photographers from their competition is a tendency to put entirely unique spins on the traditional. You may think Philadelphia is best known for its cheesesteak sandwiches, rich history, and crazy sports fans. However, it also happens to be a hub for some of the Northeast’s most creative portrait photographers.

Whether it’s wedding photography, maternity shoots, or candid street scenes, the 12 photographers we at Peerspace have featured here have all established their own singular approach to their craft. If you’re looking for a creative portraitist in the City of Brotherly Love, you can’t go wrong with any of the names on this list.

1. Erika Carlier

Erika Carlier is a portrait photographer who seems to have a knack for effortlessly catching expressions of true joy on her subjects’ faces. Nothing about her work seems forced, in other words. Though skilled at wedding photography, she is especially good at shooting families and couples as they bond in real time in their most intimate spaces.

Visually, her work harbors a lot of neutral colors and soft tones, as well as playful explorations with depth of field. We see Erika’s emotional attachment to the city she calls home in her work. Here, she infuses on-site portraits with subtle, but clearly recognizable elements of Philadelphia’s historic streetscape and architecture.

2. Carina Danielle Lieberman

Carina Danielle Lieberman is an especially skilled outdoor portrait photographer. Her keen attention to rich colors and sharp contrasts define her lifestyle and environmental shots. Whether it’s her focus on a particular piece of clothing or a bright backdrop of flowers, Carina’s shots manage to always be in search of a fresh angle or perspective.

Weddings are another defining realm of her portfolio, as is her tendency to explore fine art portraiture. She’s not just one of the best Philadelphia’s portrait photographers — she’s one of the best anywhere.

Discover more Philadelphia fine art photographers here.

3. Maria Teicher

Maria Teicher specializes in fine art, photojournalistic, wedding, and portrait photography. Having honed her talent at the New York Academy of Art, she currently teaches at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art. Given this background, it’s not surprising that Maria’s portrait work has a distinctly professional feel.

She is especially adept at studio work that possesses a distinctive atmosphere and tone, often shooting in black and white. Maria also employs aesthetic elements that are at once gritty, somber, and downright beautiful.

4. Jennifer Janikic

Jennifer Janikic is a favorite in the Philadelphia region for maternity and newborn portraiture that is at once traditional and boldly innovative. She is especially skilled working with natural lighting in rural outdoor settings, frequently shooting her subjects at sunset or already darkened skies. Her own experience with motherhood has translated into an ability to be highly sensitive to the needs of mothers and children during her photoshoots.

Ready to book your own maternity shoot with Jennifer? Don’t forget to check out our best maternity photoshoot ideas near Philadelphia first!

5. Katie Engelhardt

Katie Engelhardt is adept at giving her traditional studio portraiture a fine art touch. Studying her work, you quickly get the sense she has a high degree of trust from her subjects. In fact, they have allowed her to capture their most authentic expressions — and vulnerabilities.

She is also a master at tightly framing her shots beneath soft lighting that brings out skin tones and colors crisply. We also love how her black and white portrait work has a timeless quality that displays a keen sense of style.

6. Mike Styer

With a specialty in headshot portraits, Mike Styer has earned a strong reputation in Philadelphia for shooting creative professionals — especially actors. As an actor himself, he understands the elements of a headshot that are necessary to help obtain jobs within the industry. Many of Mike’s clients have been on Broadway, in touring theatre shows, and on television. His work is the result of laser-focused attention to value, spacing, and framing decisions.

Looking for dope spaces to shoot in Philadelphia? Check out this article!

7. Veronika Paluch

Veronika Paluch’s portraiture is both sexy and classically cool. We’re also not surprised that her wedding photography has earned her a highly regarded reputation in the Philadelphia region. Veronika also creates maternity and newborn portraits that are bright and incorporate unexpected visual elements that sometimes lean toward the surreal.

Veronika is as skilled shooting in the studio as she is working with natural light in outdoor settings. In fact, her versatility, creativity, and raw talent make her one of the best Philadelphia portrait photographers.

8. Noelle Andrews

Noelle Andrews heads up Femina Photo + Design, a boutique photography and design studio that employs a highly creative and sophisticated approach to wedding photography. If you hire Noelle for your wedding, you can count on shots that truly one-of-a-kind. In fact, Noelle prides herself on paying attention to the small but crucial details that arise throughout a couples’ wedding day. Perhaps this is one reason she is so often hired for destination weddings.

And while she secures her position among the Philadelphia portrait photographers primarily through the portraits she does for wedding packages (a la bridal sessions), those same techniques can transfer to any other context. Noelle and her team also offer their bespoke wedding services in New York City. Check her out and book your session today!

 9. Meg Brock

Meg Brock’s photography skills are geared toward capturing raw and unplanned moments. Her work has a distinctly documentarian feel that is as much about storytelling as it is framing the perfect visual shot. Although much of her work is focused on weddings and maternity sessions, she captures portraits in a variety of settings.

In fact, she is particularly celebrated for her ability to beautifully document families in their homes. Those looking for documentary style portraits, who want that rawness and realness that comes from it, will love Meg Brock’s work.

10. Nicole Roche

Nicole Roche’s work is about as far from repetitious as you can get. Though she specializes in weddings, maternity, and birth portraiture, she is another example of a Philadelphia photographer putting her own singular spin on long-established genres.

Utilizing innovative approaches to framing, balancing, and spacing, her photos are fun and full of visual surprises. What’s more, we love that Nicole’s images never seem accidental or overly indulgent from a creative perspective.

11. Taffy Johnson

Taffy Johnson’s portraiture has an elegant and refined touch that captures his subjects in both natural and posed settings. Utilizing lush outdoor landscapes that are full of rich greens and browns, his work pops with color and contrast that is highly pleasing on viewers’ eyes. Overall, there is a warmness to Taffy’s visual aesthetic that seems to be closely related to his ability to zero in on authentic emotions in the eyes, expressions, and gestures of his subjects. 

Much of his portrait work takes place in the context of weddings, but he’s adept in the studio as well. both. In fact, we love his skill with using artificial light to bring out authentic expressions in his subjects.

12. Matthew Hamilton

Matthew Hamilton is a talented Philadelphia portrait photographer who specializes in corporate and entertainment headshots. After working with businesses and actors for many years, he’s now an expert when it comes to crafting personal branding via images.

According to Matthew, he prides himself on his ability to make people feel comfortable in front of the camera, therefore capturing their true unique, quirky essences within their portraits. The best part of Matthew’s work in portrait photography? “Showing clients a new side of themselves that they didn’t necessarily recognize”. We couldn’t have put it better ourselves!

Bonus: James Kearn Photography

We had a blast looking through the portfolio of James Kearn and think you will, too. He is a portrait photographer through and through, though he dabbles with boudoir in addition to classic portraits and headshots. And we must say, all of his work is stunning. We’re not entirely sure what his secret is, but every person in front of his lens, no matter how much clothing they are or are not wearing, looks wholly comfortable and like they’re having a blast! If you thought a portrait session couldn’t possibly be fun, we’re pretty sure working with James will change your mind.

Now that you’ve found your Philadelphia boudoir photographer, check out these classy boudoir ideas to kick your shoot into high gear!

Peerspace + Philadelphia portrait photographers = magic

Among the best Philadelphia portrait photographers, you’ll find professionals who shoot subjects in a wide range of contexts and styles. You may be looking for an in-studio formal portrait, natural portraits of your kids running around the house, or bridal portraits before the big day. No matter what you need, however, these 11 photographers have you covered.

Now all you have to do is contact your favorite and book your portrait session! But where will your portrait shoot take place? We’re glad you asked: how about a Peerspace? As the largest online marketplace for hourly venue rentals, Peerspace has hundreds of photogenic spaces in Philly alone. In fact, you’ll easily find a space that suits your portrait and your personal style. We’ll see you soon!

Find a unique venue in Philadelphia on Peerspace