Earlier this year, PPA put out the call to feature the next generation of photographers and visual media creators. We received almost 100 submissions, which a small team of PPA staff (including professional photographers) judged on their stories and image quality. Those chosen represent rising stars under the age of 30 in photography, film, media, photography entrepreneurship, and photography-adjacent professions. They are an inspiring and diverse lot, tackling personal and professional challenges, running successful businesses, solving problems, doing good in their communities and in the world, and mentoring others, all while creating beautiful and inspiring work in the many niches of image making. Professional Photographer is proud to share these 30 Under 30 honorees’ stories and photos.

Alanna Bellisario

Vaughan, Ontario, Canada

Portrait photographer Alanna Bellisario specializes in wedding, family, maternity, and newborn photography. She is passionate about creating a welcoming experience where everyone feels as beautiful as they are. Whether she’s documenting a wedding day, welcoming a new baby, or celebrating everyday family moments, she considers it a privilege to preserve memories that will be cherished for generations. Her greatest joys are serving others with kindness, building meaningful relationships, and creating timeless photographs that remind people of their worth, their love, and the beauty of every season of life.

instagram@alannabphotography
tiktok@alannaphotography

Alex Yuan

Champagne, Illinois

Alex Yuan is a photographer, creator, and entrepreneur dedicated to inspiring the next generation of creatives. Through his full-time photography business, Yuan has photographed thousands of students, graduates, couples, families, and organizations while also building a community of creatives through his educational and behind-the-scenes content. Via photography, storytelling, and video, Yuan hopes to make creativity feel accessible, exciting, and achievable for anyone willing to take the step, no matter their age or background.

instagram@uiucalex

Alexis Graham

Atlanta

Alexis Graham has an associate’s degree in design and media production technology, and is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in film and media at Georgia State University in Atlanta. She’s gained experience in photography, videography, writing, and directing through internships at companies including creative agency INMO Creative, production company EYEAM Cinema, nonprofit performing arts company Atlanta Workshop Players, Georgia Public Broadcasting, and the Professional Photographers of America headquarters in Atlanta.

instagram@butterfly_dynamic

Alexis Smith

Atlanta

For Lexi Photography owner Alexis Smith, photography has never been just about taking pictures. It’s about preserving legacy, telling honest stories, and helping people see their value. Through her business, Smith captures people, brands, and productions via intentional, cinematic storytelling. Her sessions are designed to ensure clients feel seen, encouraged, and confident. Whether it’s a portrait, brand campaign, or documentary-style production, her work carries purpose, emotion, and impact, as she believes every person has a story worth remembering.

[email protected]
tiktok@lexiphotography

Allison Kalt

Nevada City, California

Finding light in the dark. That is astrophotographer Allison Kalt’s quest. Dealing with the progressive complications of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a rare genetic connective tissue disorder, Kalt found catharsis in photographing the cosmos. Today she spreads her love of space by capturing the Milky Way in the field, teaching astrophotography in the classroom, and engaging in efforts to have her city certified as an International Dark Sky Place. She hopes to inspire others through her dark sky activism, disability advocacy, and the resilience she demonstrates by adapting her artistic approach to her dynamic physical condition.

facebook@allisonkaltphoto
[email protected]

Andrew Selby

Colorado Springs, Colorado

Wedding and portrait photographer Andrew Selby began his career in 2015 directly out of high school and now serves as vice president of the Professional Photographers Guild of Colorado Springs. From the beginning of his career, nothing spoke to Selby like capturing relational connections. His motto is “your story matters,” and he excels at putting his clients at ease, getting to know them and their values so he can make that the focal point of his photography. He believes human stories are everything, and having the chance to immortalize those stories with a camera is what makes his job worthwhile.

facebook@andrewselbyphoto
instagram@andrewselbyphotography

Benjamin Mack-Jackson

Clermont, Florida

Benjamin Mack-Jackson is a journalist, author, and founder of the nonprofit WWII Veterans History Project. His work focuses on preserving firsthand accounts of war and conflict, past and present. Through his nonprofit, he’s interviewed and photographed more than 400 World War II veterans and produced documentary films, a book, and educational programs on their stories. Since 2022, he’s completed multiple reporting trips to Ukraine to document the war as an accredited journalist with the Ukrainian Armed Forces. His work has been published in Politico Europe, and he is currently a graduate student at New York University.

facebook@benjaminmackjackson
instagram@benmackjackson

Brendan Ross

Nashville, Tennessee

Sports photographer Brendan Ross is the director of social media and creative content for Vanderbilt University’s athletics department, where he leads the overall social media and creative strategy with a focus on the university’s football program. Before joining Vanderbilt in 2022, Ross worked with Team USA during the Tokyo Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in 2021, and returned in 2024 to document coverage of the USA Gymnastics Olympic Trials. A 2022 graduate of Xavier University, Ross earned his degree in digital media and public relations while serving as digital media team lead for the Musketeers men’s basketball team.

facebook@brosspix
instagram@brosspix

Chris Carter

Louisville, Kentucky

Louisville, Kentucky, native Chris Carter has spent his five-year career photographing various sports, including soccer, football, baseball, and softball. In 2025, he graduated from the University of Louisville with a bachelor’s degree in communications and became team photographer for professional soccer teams Louisville City FC and Racing Louisville FC while also freelancing for Getty Images. At the root of his work is a desire to tell stories; he’s learned that the smaller details are just as important as the game action. Carter is always willing to learn new things and support other up-and-coming photographers in his community.

[email protected]
linkedin@chriscarter22

Coco Tolentino

New York

New York-based Filipino filmmaker and photographer Coco Tolentino works through observation and connection, capturing intimate portraits, street photography, and personal films that center community. He co-founded Cine Balikbayan, hosting screenings in both New York City and the Philippines. Tolentino has taken on roles in festival programming, producing, writing, and directing, with photography as part of his skill set. He seeks to inspire by doing, and to keep storytelling spaces open to all. His latest short, “Dyahe Piece,” tells a story with themes of family, identity, expectation, and belonging. His goals include establishing a film festival in the Philippines to amplify diverse voices and create access for emerging storytellers. He understands that building a stronger industry means lifting others alongside yourself.

[email protected]
[email protected]

Daniel Livingstone

Chicago

Through his commercial photography, Daniel Livingstone strives to make active lifestyles feel more inclusive and less intimidating. His images celebrate real people and authentic movement. His curiosity drives his creative practice; he has nearly a decade of experience including photography, videography, retouching, and content creation. Livingstone believes authentic stories come from firsthand connections. Beyond his commercial work, Livingstone is passionate about helping other creatives grow. As an Adobe Community Expert, a mentor for Adobe Creative Club Chicago, and host of local workshops and photo walks, he creates spaces where photographers can learn, connect, and develop their craft.

facebook@daniellivingstonephoto
instagram@daniellivingstone

Dimitri Rodriguez

Jersey City, New Jersey

Dimitri Rodriguez is a photographer, educator, and program leader dedicated to inspiring the next generation of visual storytellers. As an alumnus of the same Jersey City high school commercial photography program he now teaches, Rodriguez has revitalized the classroom experience through industry-standard technology, real-world opportunities, and a culture that encourages creativity, confidence, and artistic growth. According to the high school’s assistant principal who nominated him, Rodriguez’s students have earned local, national, and industry recognition while developing the technical and creative skills to succeed. Blending his background as a former photojournalist with his passion for education, Rodriguez bridges the gap between the classroom and the professional world and empowers his students to find their voices behind the camera.

instagram@dimitrimrodriguez

Dominique Murray

Pittsburgh

Dominique Murray is the creative force behind Dominique Murray Photography, a luxury full-service portrait studio with a brand that posits, “imagine loving every photo of yourself.” With a fine arts degree in photography from Robert Morris University and a background as a former Disney cast member, Murray brings a bit of magic to every session. She specializes in personal branding photography, along with headshots, weddings, family sessions, and seniors. Her work has been featured on national and international publication covers and in collaborations with Project Runway and international designers. Beyond the studio, Murray hosts a philanthropic event called Splatter Me Crazy, serves on the board of the Southwest Chamber of Commerce, and teaches at La Roche University.

facebook@murrnugg
instagram@murr_nugg

Donnie Stevens

Bellaire, Ohio

Entrepreneur Donnie Stevens is the owner of Blackwater Fine Art Portraits, a fine art studio for heirloom family, senior, and animal portraits, and DLS Innovations Photography, dedicated to school, sports, and organization photography. Together, his companies photograph more than 15,000 subjects each year, serving clients across Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Stevens has raised the standard in school and sports photography by introducing efficient systems, professional lighting, and a media-day experience. He believes that every photograph should tell a story worth preserving. He combines creativity with innovative business systems to elevate both the client experience and the photography industry.

instagram@dls_innovations
instagram@blackwaterportraits_

Gabriel Perez Silva

Los Angeles

Gabriel Perez Silva is a Colombian-American photographer who built his career from scratch, starting as an unpaid intern in New York City earning $20 a day. His breakthrough came at age 22 when he photographed MAC Cosmetics’ 25th Anniversary Viva Glam campaign starring Winnie Harlow recreating RuPaul’s iconic original shoot created to raise awareness for HIV. The campaign launched his career and established him as a photographer with a distinctive visual voice and a sensitivity to meaningful storytelling. Today his work appears in Vogue, GQ, and V Magazine, and he works regularly with Prada and Paul Smith. He was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Class of 2025, and he has made portraits of celebrities including Winnie Harlow, Bella Hadid, Issa Rae, Jenna Ortega (above), and Nicholas Hoult. He has lived with scoliosis for his entire career and uses his platform to advocate for awareness.

instagram@_youngshot
tiktok@_youngshot
youtube@_youngshot

Grace Puffer

New York

Grace Puffer is a commercial and editorial photographer who grew up in the mountains of North Carolina and is now based in Brooklyn. Her work is full of intention and spontaneous, ephemeral moments. Puffer believes there is no equal to a hands-on education, and her artistic process is simple: Make it happen. Working in the fast-paced commercial photography hub of New York, Puffer says, “I always feel like I am learning. … I have been lucky enough (and motivated enough) to assist some of the most talented and most well-respected commercial photographers in the industry.” She makes a point to reach out to other young people in the field to collaborate.

instagram@gracepuffer

Houston Vandergriff

Knoxville, Tennessee

A travel photographer from Tennessee, and a Nikon Creator 2024-2026, Houston Vandergriff invites people to see the world through a different lens. Born with Down syndrome, Vandergriff has made the camera his voice. He has spent the past decade documenting landscapes, cultures, and moments of human connection across more than 30 countries, all 50 U.S. states, and all 95 counties in Tennessee. Vandergriff is one of the 47 artists whose works now sit on the surface of the moon, as part of the MoonMars Museum aboard the Blue Ghost lunar lander. His work has been exhibited internationally and has been featured through partnerships with destinations, national parks, and accessibility organizations. He is also the first artist with a disability selected for Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park’s Artist-in-Residence program. Through his travel photography website, downsandtowns.com, he reminds us that “the view is better when everyone is part of the picture.”

instagram@downsandtowns
x@downsandtowns

Kalyn Barbary

Atlanta

Kalyn Barbary is the founder of Always Elizabeth Lanaé Photography, which strives for emotion-driven storytelling, elevated client experiences, and intentional creative direction. Barbary has built a presence within the wedding, portrait, and creative photography industry by combining artistic vision with authentic human connection. She creates spaces for her clients that encourage emotional safety, confidence, and self-expression. Beyond photography, Barbary has produced large-scale editorial concepts and partnered with fellow creatives and vendors within her community. She contributes to the photography industry through education, mentorship, speaking opportunities, and collaborative creative work that encourages growth and artistic exploration among other photographers and creatives.

instagram@always_elizabeth_lanae

Kiah Lunde

Sandport, Idaho

Kiah Lunde, Cr.Photog., has been surrounded by the western and outdoor lifestyle since her childhood in Northern Idaho. A prolific nature, wildlife, and commercial photographer, Lunde earned her craftsman degree from PPA and is working toward her master of photography degree. She also teaches western lifestyle workshops in the region, sharing both her technical knowledge and her love for the outdoors with others.

instagram@k_ography_

Kobie Abram

Houston

Wedding and portrait photographer Kobie Abram is the founder of Kobie Ryan Photography, which also specializes in capturing images of vacation/hospitality properties. He markets himself as having the eye of a designer, the heart of a counselor, and the warmth of an innkeeper. Abram has a degree in counseling and a deep love of photography and event design, which includes producing weddings with six-figure budgets and a stint running a bed-and-breakfast at a historic inn in Virginia.

instagram@kobieryanphotography

Lauren Sopourn

Coral Springs, Florida

Lauren Sopourn is the founder of Sports & Media Nation, a women-led sports media company specializing in visual storytelling and brand identity for professional sports organizations. She is in her fifth season documenting the Florida Panthers, and has also worked with the Miami Dolphins and Inter Miami. Her imagery appears in publications and large-scale campaigns. Sopourn also mentors female photographers pursuing sports media. She is a 2025 Broward Cultural Division grant recipient for The Home Team, a photography exhibition documenting the Florida Panthers’ Stanley Cups, and was named a 2026 South Florida Business and Wealth 40 under 40 honoree and 2025 WISE Rising Star. Her work received national and international recognition with Pro Football Hall of Fame Photography Awards and World Sports Photography Awards.

instagram@l_sopourn

Leydi Gonzalez

Houston

Leydi Gonzalez is a first-generation Salvadoran American photographer of music concerts and a music journalist. Her passion for the arts began at the age of 15 and has continued to grow. She is now the host of the web series “Leydi Listens,” available on YouTube and TikTok, where she interviews emerging Houston music artists. She is the co-founder of “The Music Journal,” a platform dedicated to using music and culture to unite communities, support meaningful causes, and uplift local artists.

tiktok@leydilistens
youtube@leydigonzalez15

Lucy Kuo

San Francisco

Lucy Kuo is a San Francisco-based photographer whose work spans fine art and photojournalism, guided by a singular philosophy: revealing the profound, overlooked beauty in ordinary moments. Her love of photography began with a simple point-and-shoot camera in high school. Her images have been recognized in the Minnesota State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition, SF StoryFest, various publications, and as a global finalist for the Google Messages Wallpaper Contest. While a student at University of Wisconsin-Madison, she was the official historian and photographer for multiple university organizations. Today, Kuo is a co-organizer of a community photography club in San Francisco, and regularly photographs workplace cultural events. She also offers portrait sessions that help peers and friends see themselves in a beautiful, confident light.

[email protected]

Noof Al Siyabi

Muscat, Oman

Noof Al Siyabi is an award-winning photographer from Oman whose work explores emotion, culture, identity, and the relationship between people and nature through compelling visual storytelling. Her photography blends artistic vision with technical excellence, and has been recognized through numerous exhibitions, publications, and photography competitions across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The most notable of these are the gold medal at the 41st FIAP Youth Biennial, Norway 2023, the Best Young Participant Award at the German International Photocup 2025, and having her work featured on the cover of the Germany Association of Photography’s DVF-Journal. 

[email protected]
linkedin@noofalsiyabi

Patrick Gibson

Danville, Virginia

After getting sober in 2023, Patrick Gibson picked up a camera for the first time “and found a passion that completely changed my life,” he says. Six months later, he became a full-time photographer and today runs Patrick Gibson Photography. A board member and district leader of the Virginia Professional Photographers Association (VPPA), Gibson photographs weddings, portraits, commercial campaigns, editorial work, and live events. His work has been recognized in state and national image competitions and featured in publications, and his clients include local businesses, national artists, and brands. Whether creating for a client or teaching fellow photographers, his goal is simple: to create images that people remember.

instagram@iampgphotography

Patrick Rogers

Marietta, Georgia

Patrick Rogers is a photographer, cinematographer, and content creator based in metro Atlanta who specializes in portraits, storytelling, and teaching both photography and videography. Rogers, a creator for Fujifilm, says, “What I love about this craft is that every project tells a new story.” Music was his first love, and he discovered photography at age 17. A natural community organizer and educator, Rogers has a distinct visual identity that illustrates his overall creative aesthetic. “Because I love creating in so many different avenues,” he explains, “you won’t see me only in one particular niche. I believe you can be a jack of all trades and a master of all too.”

instagram@patrickhrogers
youtube@patrickhrogers

Shea Wolcott

Chattanooga, Tennessee

As a former foster child, Shea Wolcott spent much of her childhood facing abuse and instability while helping care for her three younger biological siblings. Eventually, the foursome was adopted by Matt Wolcott, a professional photographer, and his wife Kristin. Wolcott began accompanying her new father to his studio, where photography became a place of healing, confidence, and creativity. At age 13, Wolcott started homeschooling to devote more time to her craft. Today, she works alongside her father through Matt & Shea Photography, serving clients in family, children, wedding/engagement, sports and dance, seniors, pets, and professional branding/headshot photography. She also volunteers her time and talents with Tennessee Kids Belong, creating portraits of older children in foster care, and regularly provides complimentary portrait sessions for foster families and foster children, including high school seniors.

instagram@mattandsheaphotography
tiktok@mattandshea_photography

Soren Goldsmith

Boston

Soren Goldsmith is a wildlife photographer, engineer, and National Geographic Explorer. He specializes in designing custom imaging tools like camera traps to document ecosystems that are difficult to reach with standard gear. A student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Goldsmith is a founder of Goldburn Engineering, where he develops amphibious motion-activated cameras. His work focuses on using engineering to capture wildlife without human disturbance, particularly in overlooked environments like salt marshes. In 2023, he was named a winner of the National Geographic Slingshot Challenge for his documentation of at-risk urban Massachusetts forests. His goal is to use engineering and imagery to deepen our understanding of wildlife and illuminate the wonder of the natural world.

linkedin@soren-goldsmith

Timofey Abel

New York

Timofey Abel, born in Moscow, is a New York-based street and portrait photographer and entrepreneur who works in studio and also teaches classes on photography and business. He has had works exhibited in galleries and publications, and in 2025, he released his debut monograph. When Abel was based in Atlanta, the media outlet Rough Draft Atlanta profiled him as “lighting the way for Atlanta’s next creative wave.”

Vincent Livecchi

Toledo, Ohio

Vince Livecchi is a museum photographer dedicated to preserving cultural heritage. As a collections photographer at the Toledo Museum of Art, he specializes in photographing thousands of pieces of ancient glass. His images reveal the craftsmanship and beauty of objects that have survived for thousands of years. His work supports conservation, scholarly research, and digital access, and helps make the museum’s collection available to audiences around the world. Livecchi uses careful lighting and color management to produce photographs that faithfully represent each work while honoring its original maker. Through his photography, he contributes to the long-term preservation and accessibility of art, demonstrating how museum photography serves as both a documentary practice and a bridge between art and the public.

instagram@vincelivecchi
linkedin@vince-livecchi