Just like last year, we called for nominations across the industry and the globe, and once again, the community answered! We were blown away by the response and the number of nominations we received (over 130 people nominated). And for People’s Choice, we received over 2,557 votes! It's clear there's an abundance of talent out there, and we're thrilled to shine a light on even more deserving individuals. And before we go any further, we have to take a moment to thank Lets Flo, Profoto, and Capture One for spreading the word and helping bring this project to life!
This year, we're recognizing excellence across six distinct categories, designed to celebrate the diverse talents and various stages of a professional's career in the e-commerce studio world:
- Future Leader: The rising stars whose talent, curiosity, and dedication are unmatched.
- Creative Genius: The visionary minds who conjure up eye-catching ideas that make a real difference.
- Master Of Light (Brought to us by Profoto): The lighting masterminds who sculpt shadows, paint with highlights, and bring products and people to life.
- Photography Maven: The masters behind the lens, who can turn any brief into stunning visuals.
- Production Hero: The unsung heroes who make sure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes.
- Studio Leader: The true leaders who balance business needs with talent growth and drive innovation.
Our final list of 50 includes innovators who continuously strive to improve their workplaces and infuse their creativity and knowledge into everything they do. Let's dive in and meet all the finalists who are setting the standard in e-commerce visual content!
Future Leader
“Julia uplifts her colleagues to create a space where ideas and creativity flow freely. By encouraging growth, celebrating strengths, and helping others overcome challenges, Julia aims to build a team that feels valued, motivated, and united in delivering exceptional work together.”
View and support Julia’s work here.
“I'm especially impressed with Alan because when it comes to Future Leaders category in the industry, I think he's going to be one of the strongest ones! He is super motivated, works incredibly hard, and is always ready to motivate and train his colleagues. Doesn't shy away from going above and beyond for his team and clients.”
“What makes Florian such a good leader is his reliability, positive attitude, strong communication skills, and his willingness to support and collaborate with others to achieve shared goals. He empowers individuals, provides resources, and leads by example, ultimately driving collective success through genuine care and effective guidance.”
Creative Genius
“Chaya is a unique individual in the creative landscape. Her work isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s rooted in inclusion, care, and intentionality. She ultimately seems to just want creative people to get to their desired outcomes, and she seeks to provide aid in any fashion necessary.”
View and support Chaya’s work here.
“What makes Ash stand out is that, although he is the creative lead, he takes others' ideas into consideration. He also has trust in his team to try something different, something that wasn’t expected. Whilst pushing us all to try new things and expand our own creative knowledge.”
View and support Ashley’s work here.
“They produce an incredible quality of imagery across editorial and e-commerce with limited resources. They have a small studio and team of 4 but manage to make great setups for editorial and also produce Ecom of a high standard too.”
“Young, creative, ambitious, energetic, visionary - Bruno is all of this and also simply a great human who manages to run his own brand, be successful with it, host a podcast, run a vlog, and bring more spotlight to the creative roles in fashion.”
View and support Bruno’s work here.
“What makes Marcos stand out is how he combines creativity with hands-on technical work. He leads post-production, AI, and 3D at Mango. And he’s not just good at what he does, he’s also generous. Marcos openly shares ideas, talks about what works, and is always up for collaboration. He’s not only building great content, he’s building the future of studio teams.”
“Sean takes great pride in his work, and his passion for the job is truly infectious, bringing a positive energy to every shoot. Sean's attention to detail and commitment to quality are unmatched, and he consistently sets the bar high for the team. Beyond his styling expertise, he’s also a fantastic mentor to our junior stylist, offering guidance, support, and encouragement with patience and care. His contributions are invaluable, and he absolutely deserves recognition and praise.”
“She leads our image reviews each quarter like a pro! Improving the color accuracy of product imagery prior to sending assets to retouch. She was just recently rated extremely high in our last talent review and has made an impact. People are taking notice of her greatness! She's on the move up!”
“He transformed a regular Photo Studio into a creative heaven, where creatives focus on creation. Thinking outside the box, bringing processes to erase boring, daily repetitive tasks. He is a cool guy tbh.”
“Uniqueness in using his style when creating what many others have done before, like the jewelry campaign "Or Du Temps”
View and support Joshua’s work here.
Master of Light / Brought to us by Profoto
“Attention to detail in every aspect of the image creation. What looks deceptively simple on the PDP page takes lots of iteration to master and then constant diligence to keep consistency. Indy is not satisfied with using lighting tools to simply do what is on the box - he is always looking for fresh ways of getting the very best look and feel and constantly experimenting with new ways of working.”
View and support Indy’s work here.
“Ava beautifully shapes light, plays with silhouettes, and uses color to create standout images. She constantly reinvents herself using tools and modifiers in different ways to produce incredible visuals.”
View and support Ava’s work here.
“Beau is always pushing what can be done in the ecom space and creative commercial photography. He has a great feel of how to use the lighting to enhance the product he is capturing. The way he is adding the context to the product and making the product come alive. He has changed the way we shoot ecom, trying to advance the creative and production process together.”
Photography Maven
“Cole manages to combine both worlds: pure photography creativity and operational excellence. Not a common thing to be honest! Cole is continuously working on optimizing and elevating processes at Huckberry, researching and bringing on board new approaches, tools, and ideas. Yet he is not the one to jump on shiny new things without thorough research and a deep understanding of its impact.”
View and support Cole’s work here.
“Alex is incredible, a master of all things watches and jewelry. He continually pushes to ensure our imagery is of the highest standard, and he is a lovely guy to be around, who is so hardworking. He is one of the most dedicated people I have worked with and has such a passion for this area. Alex truly deserves this, for his extensive knowledge in hard luxury photography and for being an all-around great team leader whom the team respects.”
“Johan is always eager to learn, enjoys his work, and loves to develop talent under him while pushing for new ways to work. He’s great at sharing what he learns and bringing the team along with him. Super driven, creative, and solid at turning ideas into action—definitely someone who makes a difference on any project.”
View and support Johan’s work here.
“Emilia is an exceptional visual storyteller whose work gives life to products through an extraordinary command of light and composition. What sets Emilia apart is not just her technical skill, but her artistic approach to problem-solving. Her ability to adapt across formats—still life, stop motion, CGI, AI—demonstrates both versatility and a deep understanding of how to translate brand and product into compelling, high-quality visuals.”
“Ryan is a standout in the beauty photography space. His work is intentional, strategic, and rooted in a deep understanding of the beauty industry. Ryan’s not just capturing products, he’s building the standard for what modern brand photography should be. He’s also on a mission to make the industry better understood and respected, because the truth is, photography is needed way more than it's talked about.”
View and support Ryan’s work here.
“Charlie has an eye for detail and precision. He’s innovative, passionate, with an amazing personality and sense of humour. And of course, he’s an amazing photographer.”
“Michael consistently delivers exceptional work, day in and day out. His flexibility, reliability, and dedication to getting the job done set him apart, but it’s his unique creative perspective that truly elevates every project. When Michael’s on set, you know the work will be outstanding—and the energy will be even better.”
“Ben is a genius photographer AND videographer. Just check out the work he has done for Represent - all the campaigns, both photography and video shot by Ben are so cool and really translate the brand's vision and values and immerse the viewer in the story”
View and support Ben’s work here.
“Abigail is someone you want to have on your team: excellent at what she does, always ready to help others, and lead new projects (our new prop library is a dream!). But above everything, she has that very special way of capturing a moment with her camera, whether it’s a new sneaker drop or a breathtaking landscape, that makes you pause and really experience the shot.”
View and support Abigail’s work here.
Production Hero
“Sarah is the heartbeat behind every successful project - always anticipating, never reacting. Whether managing complex campaigns for Christopher Kane or overseeing full-scale ecommerce and creative productions at Little Red Panda Studio, Sarah brings meticulous attention to detail, exceptional organisational skills, and an incredible ability to keep teams energised and clients delighted. Her calm presence, proactive problem-solving, and genuine passion empower everyone around her to produce their best creative work.”
“Annie exemplifies what it means to be a true Production Hero. With a natural talent for data-driven decision making and a clear leadership style, she consistently balances creativity with strategic business goals. Annie is always one step ahead, with a solid plan in place, yet she creates space for imaginative thinking and innovative problem solving. Annie is more than a production lead; she’s a driving force behind our studio's success.”
“Whether managing a team of 50 or 5, the eye is in the details. Spencer comes from a background of photography and video, so he is able to talk the talk and walk the walk. It makes it so effortless to work with his team at SK Studio on every project, from Marriott Bonvoy to Puma. He is a pleasure to work with and always doing best for his clients.”
“What sets him apart is scale and control: Thomas combines the precision of e-commerce production with the creative intuition of campaign storytelling. He does the work of multiple departments- concept development, set design, image selection, post-production traffic, shoot scheduling, and videography direction, while managing budgets, teams, and performance. He doesn’t just deliver e-commerce content, he builds the infrastructure for it to run faster, smarter, and better. Always resourceful. Always ahead. That’s what makes him a production hero.”
“Abbie’s impact may be behind the scenes, but it’s absolutely front and center in every success we deliver. Her meticulous eye for detail across all print materials means nothing slips through the cracks. Whether she's finessing the final artwork or mentoring new team members, she brings a level of care and commitment that elevates the whole team. She’s the steady hand behind the chaos, and the unsung hero who turns vision into reality. It’s time she got the spotlight she deserves.”
“Crystal is as reliable as they get. If you have an issue, a question, or a need, she is on top of it every single time. You never have to follow up; she’ll be the one keeping you posted on the latest updates. She knows samples and the sample process inside and out. Crystal is also a good human. She’s funny, kind, and warm, and someone you want on your side.”
“His dedication to fostering a culture of efficiency, creativity, and customer focus sets a high standard for the team and all productions he touches. He brings the CALM in the midst of chaos.”
“In the short time Hannah has been a part of this team, she has been vital to making all shoots run smoothly. She is always asking people's opinions, getting the photographers & stylists involved with the pre-production side of the shoots. She has the passion to push the team to achieve more and push the boundaries. She is just an absolute delight to work with and just brings the best out of all of us in our team.”
“David is the behind-the-scenes powerhouse who keeps creative ops running smoothly and smartly. Since stepping into his Director role, he’s been leading with clarity, patience, and serious tech know-how. Bridging creative and IT teams to ensure tools, workflows, and systems support the work we do every day.”
“Jayd is the calm in the chaos of post-production. She leads with a steady hand, keeping quality high, turnarounds tight, and her team running like clockwork. Whether it’s color matching or final QC, Jayd has the eye and the know-how to make sure every image hits the mark. She’s a go-to for troubleshooting, mentoring, and keeping standards high.”
“Perrie has a way of making conversations about photography workflow fun and fresh without any sense of ego or superiority. With all that she's seen throughout her career, she still has the magical wonder of the craft and truly wants to see everyone succeed. She clearly loves what she does. Attention to detail. Willingness and passion for problem solving. Her ability to connect with clients and lead empathetically.”
Studio Leader
“Julie is a rare blend of creative visionary and operational powerhouse. I’m constantly inspired by her realness, her sharp instincts, and the confidence she brings to everything she does. She leads with both heart and smarts. She’s also just genuinely fun to work with—her sense of humor and easygoing vibe make even the busiest days more enjoyable. It’s a joy to collaborate with someone so grounded, capable, and down-to-earth, and it makes me even more grateful to be part of a company like Stitch Fix, where so many incredible women are in leadership roles.”
“Nate is a true leader in every sense, continually motivating large teams across multiple locations to identify and implement process and workflow improvements, all while keeping the team acting as one unit. Nate's an industry veteran who stays behind the curtain far too much! He is open, leads with passion and compassion & demands high engagement and accountability from his teams. Nate's the ultimate work hard / play hard leader, and he brightens our studio up daily!”
“Culture champion, always pushing for best-in-class studio results. She is intelligent, personable, and extremely knowledgeable about the fashion and photo industry. To have a leader that effortlessly shows support to every employee, no matter their role, creates a collaborative, strong, and comfortable environment.”
“Melissa has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership, operational agility, and a deep commitment to creative excellence across a complex and fast-paced environment. Melissa is not just a manager—they are a mentor and a force in the business. They foster a culture of continuous improvement, give permission for their team to excel by pushing boundaries and expanding their skillset while supporting them every step of the way, resulting in consistently high performance across the board.”
“No matter what’s thrown her way, busy season, unexpected challenges, or tough times, she’s a natural leader who keeps everything running smoothly, and she's an essential part of the ecom team. With almost 18 years at REI, Heather has been a steady rock behind the studio’s success!”
“With Mark, you can be sure he will always prioritize people above everything else. He played a part in launching Hello Studio as a part of The Very Group - a creative service by tapping into the latest technology and leveraging Very’s rich customer data.”
“Tara is the glue that holds it all together - she leads with clarity, calm, and a no-nonsense approach that gets results. Her ability to turn chaos into cohesion across a department this big is seriously impressive, and she's the person everyone turns to when we need things to run smarter and smoother. Her impact goes way beyond operations - she’s helped redefine how the business thinks about creative at scale. She partners directly with leadership, drives cross-functional changes, manages global teams, and always finds a way to deliver more with less.”
“Joann has demonstrated exceptional leadership in managing an expanding complex production workload amid limited resources, playing a key role in advancing studio initiatives and technology. Her capacity to guide a high-performing studio team while demonstrating empathetic and supportive leadership has fostered a positive team culture and driven sustained success. Joann is a true leader with a growth mindset for herself and her entire team. She has been recognized before, but what is overlooked is her vast experience and track record for improving everything she oversees.”
“Lucy’s just one of those people who completely lifts a team. She worked her way up from the ground, knows every step of the process, and still gets stuck in alongside everyone. Now as Creative Manager of Photography and Retouching, she leads with real energy - super creative, always calm under pressure, and just a genuinely inspiring person to work with.”
“Carla brings a vibrant energy and constant positivity to the Studio, creating an uplifting and fun environment for everyone around her. Always approachable and generous with her time, she makes sure every employee feels heard and supported. Whether you need guidance, encouragement, or simply someone to listen, she’s always there, ready to help however she can. Her genuine care and support bring out the best in people, inspiring those around her to grow and thrive.”
“With over 10 years of experience at Bershka, growing from a senior photographer to a studio leader, he has consistently shown strong team management skills while staying open to new challenges that come his way. He's highly dedicated to his work, a great professional, and solution-oriented.”
“She cares! She is well-balanced and wants to see others do well. She helps wherever she can and encourages others to learn. She helps those inside and outside of work and has a lot of connections she continues to support and advise.”
“Devin is always seeking new ways to solve client problems, abundant curiosity and imagination. He juggles multiple studios around the US as they each serve multiple clients. Also just a really great person that cares about his team.”
“Cat is a true innovator. She leads with passion and fearlessness to make things that no one has done before happen. Apart from being focused on Innovation, Cat is also a great people-leader.”
“Michael's spirit is completely infectious. He is an eager, empathetic, unifying, problem-solving leader. Michael has a hand in every studio project. From producing the set builds to procuring and cataloging studio equipment.
His willingness to learn about ANYTHING, even if he is already an expert, he keeps an open mind. Additionally, his willingness to help with ANYTHING. If he doesn't have time, he somehow makes time. ”
People’s Choice
“Paul is a fantastic partner in our in-house creative studio-- he constantly strives to refine and improve automations and build long-lasting workflows that help our studio succeed in creating first-in-class imagery. His positive, humorous, and friendly demeanor is the glue that keeps our studio team running smoothly each day-- we couldn't do our work without him! ”
The Jury Panel
Our Jury Panel, a powerhouse collective of past winners, diverse industry experts, and passionate advocates for pushing our field forward, truly had their work cut out for them. Get ready to meet the brilliant minds who tackled the fun but challenging task of narrowing down this year's incredible nominees:
Colleen is a creative operations leader, specializing in brand content production. She’s led teams in agency, studio, and brand settings, and currently heads up e-commerce photography production at Stitch Fix. Colleen is known for building inclusive, high-performing teams and crafting systems that bring creative work to life on time and with heart.
Don leads the Photo Studio at Saks Global, where he manages a high-performing photography team, oversees studio operations and budgets across multiple retail brands, and drives innovation through generative AI. Honored as a Top 30 Studio Professional in 2024, he actively shares industry insights through podcasts and webinars. Outside the studio, you’ll find him snowboarding, skateboarding, or shooting photos around town.
After spending nearly a decade as a stylist in the fast-paced world of e-commerce, Camille made the natural transition into production, where her knack for organization, eye for detail, and ability to manage creative chaos come together. She’s currently a Producer at Stitch Fix Photo Studio, where she gets to collaborate with an incredible team to bring style and vision to life through thoughtful, high-impact, visually driven content.
When not in the studio, you’ll find Camille exploring new corners of the world, recharging on a hiking trail, or chasing sunsets on spontaneous road trips. She believes in finding beauty in the in-between moments, creating meaningful work, and building genuine connections wherever she goes
With 25+ years of commercial photography experience, Matt is now focused on product and SaaS product management within Profoto. He’s always looking at new ideas and new ways to innovate in the area of automation, lighting, styling, workflow optimization, and studio management.
Tina is an editorial and commercial beauty and fashion photographer based in London. With over 10 years of experience in the industry, Tina runs workshops and events in Europe and North America and is a regular speaker and educator for brands such as Canon, Profoto, and Capture One.
David spent over a decade working on the studio side, managing post-production before moving on to manage studio operations at the legacy brand Burberry. David continues to work in studio operations, now as part of Lets Flo - a content production workflow and tracking platform solution.
Anthony is an experienced and innovative Director of Photography with a demonstrated history of working in the e-commerce fashion industry. He brings his unique personality and style to every shoot he’s on. Anthony was also a Top 30 Studio Professional in 2024!