Leading Executives in Photography Studios
Mazdack Rassi
Milk Co‑Founder / Creative Executive, Milk Studios
Co-founded Milk Studios in 1996 and turned it into a fashion and culture hub that spawned Milk Agency and Milk Makeup; catalyst behind MADE Fashion Week supporting emerging designers.
Federico Pignatelli
Founder, Owner & CEO, Pier59 Studios
Founder and owner who built Pier59 at Chelsea Piers into one of the world’s largest fashion photography and multimedia studio complexes (110,000 sq ft).
Steve Kalalian
Founder & CEO, CoCreativ; Founder & CEO, Globaledit, CoCreativ (Industrial Color, Smashbox Studios, Globaledit)
Veteran imaging exec who scaled an end‑to‑end creative production platform across studios, post, and workflow software; led acquisitions and integration (e.g., Click3X) and returned to lead Globaledit’s product push in 2024.
Giuseppe Stigliano
Global CEO, Spring Studios (NYC, London, Milan)
Global CEO since 2023 steering the agency + studios toward expansion in e‑commerce, experiences and tech for luxury/beauty, with growth targets and new geographies.
Dean Factor
Co‑founder, Smashbox Studios (LA & Brooklyn)
Fourth‑generation Max Factor family entrepreneur who co‑founded Smashbox Studios—an iconic LA photo campus that helped launch/designer shows and later inspired Smashbox Cosmetics.
Davis Factor
Co‑founder & Photographer, Smashbox Studios (LA & Brooklyn)
Photographer and studio co‑founder who grew Smashbox into a premier production destination, bridging editorial, advertising, fashion shows and celebrity work.
James A. Ingram
Chief Executive Officer, Splashlight (NYC)
Leads one of the best‑known e‑commerce and fashion content studios, pioneering scalable studio operations, tech partnerships (e.g., Looklet) and multi‑channel content for major retailers.
Myles Peacock
Former CEO, CreativeDrive (now with Accenture Song), CreativeDrive (now part of Accenture Song)
Former CEO who built a global network of on‑premise content studios (photo, video, CGI) acquired by Accenture; integrated tech‑driven workflows to accelerate omnichannel content at scale.
Sébastien Rouchon
CEO / President, Rouchon Paris (Studios+Services)
Third‑generation leader of Paris’s all‑inclusive photo/video studios and services group, expanding family legacy into integrated production, equipment, capture and post.
Mikel Elliott
Co‑founder & CEO, Quixote Studios
Co‑founded one of Hollywood’s largest studio, stages and production‑services platforms, expanding to 1M+ sq ft across stages, transportation and rentals.
Ken Murphy
Group Chief Executive, Lifetouch, Lifetouch (a Shutterfly company)
Heads the Lifetouch group (school portraits, JCPenney Portraits, BorrowLenses) inside Shutterfly, overseeing one of North America’s largest portrait operations.
Steve Craig
Chief Executive Officer, Cherry Hill Programs
CEO of the largest seasonal/experiential photography operator in North America (Santa/Easter), delivering tens of millions of guest photo experiences across 900+ venues.
Lindsay More Nisbett
Co‑founder & Managing Partner, The Line Studios (NYC)
Co‑founded a high‑velocity e‑commerce creative production studio after building Gilt’s large‑scale photo ops; known for data‑driven PDP, video and content that lift conversion.
Rob Harkey
Co‑founder & Managing Partner, The Line Studios (NYC)
Co‑founded The Line Studios and previously ran Gilt’s day‑to‑day photo production; specializes in scalable on‑model/product systems for fashion and beauty brands.
Peter Hurley
Founder & Principal Photographer; Founder, Headshot Crew, Peter Hurley Photography / Headshot Crew
Founder of Headshot Crew and renowned headshot studio in NYC/LA; built the world’s largest network dedicated to headshot craft and consistent enterprise headshot programs.
Mike Strawbridge
President, Strawbridge Studios (Durham, NC)
Fourth‑generation school‑photo company president guiding multi‑state operations in portraits and yearbooks while modernizing production and service.
Aric Snyder
Chief Executive Officer, Inter‑State Studio & Publishing Co. (Sedalia, MO)
CEO of North America’s largest family‑owned school photography and yearbook company, continuing a 90‑year legacy with nationwide footprint.
Josh Cady
President & CEO, CADY Studios
Second‑generation leader who scaled CADY’s senior studios and school business across multiple states, adding branding/creative services to elevate school imagery.
Pascal Dangin
Founder & CEO, Box (Box Studios, NYC)
Celebrated ‘photo whisperer’ retoucher who founded Box, a premier photo post‑production studio used by top magazines, brands and photographers.
Claudia Dencer
Executive Vice President, Leonard’s Photography (FL)
Executive VP helping expand one of Florida’s longest‑running school photography and yearbook providers, advancing senior and military portrait programs.
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