Amy Carson is a commercial and advertising photographer based in San Diego, also working in Los Angeles and Orange County as a local. Available for travel elsewhere. Specialties include lifestyle, food & beverage, product still life, hospitality, and tourism.
CONTACT
(619) 880-7037
amy@amycarsonphotography.com
My pursuit—in both life and work—has always been to find magic amid the mundane
In an age when machines can create technically perfect images, my focus remains clear: to make work that feels meaningful and organic—to highlight the human spirit, the unexpected details, and the subtle shifts in perspective that transform ordinary experiences into something magical.
In my commercial work I strive to create unique, memorable stories that align seamlessly with a brand's narrative. My photography and motion work invite viewers to feel and explore something new--whether it's a food, a product, an experience, or a place, the goal is to ignite curiosity and inspire a sense of wonder.
Years of budget solo travel and living in places where little English was spoken trained me to be flexible, decisive, and resourceful—Qualities that have proven incredibly useful on-set and when managing creative teams. It also taught me the value of community, diversity, and generosity towards others--Lessons that continue to shape my world view and the stories I choose to tell.
Select Clients
Pepsi | JPMorganChase | Pecorino Romano PDO | Boochcraft | Adagio Teas | California English x Chef Richard Blais | Magnolia Kitchen | Bighorn Golf Club| Longfellow Real Estate Partners | GLOW Kitchen
Publications
The Los Angeles Times | Westways | Eater | San Diego Magazine | The Infatuation | Palm Springs Life | San Diego Business Journal
“Amy immediately understood the brief and brought fresh, creative ideas to the table. Her eye for styling elevated our original concept and resulted in a library of stunning images that we've used throughout our marketing campaigns, website, recipe app, and socials, as well as in our cookbook. The lifestyle portraits she took of our founder are natural-looking and vibrant—We will definitely be hiring her again.”
—Giselle Sancari, Creative Director, GLOW
Client Testimonials
“Amy is a true professional. She is a delight to work with and her photos are exceptional. Getting her work back is like Christmas morning and we can't wait to see the final image gallery. Highly recommend working with her.”
—Ashley Van Tatenhove, Marketing Director, Adagio Teas
“Working with Amy was absolutely amazing. She did such a great job capturing what our team envisioned for the shoot. She was professional, timely, and flexible. Her creativity shined through and we've been able to use the photos for so much collateral. We can't wait to work with her again!”
—Terrnekia Collier, Marketing Lead, Longfellow Real Estate Partners
Fun Facts
My first job out of college was as a writer for the San Diego Union-Tribune, where I honed my editorial storytelling skills. By night, I explored my artistic inclinations through photography, and I’ve been in love with the medium ever since.
My first photography commission was the art for a friend's rap album (still available on Ebay!), and I have the CD sitting on my desk at all times to remind me of how I started.
I grew up in north Orange County. When I’m there visiting my parents, I love browsing the product shelves at Mother’s Market.
I'm a dual citizen of the US and Italy, and I'm fluent in Italian. I lived in Rome and Catania for a total of 3.5 years.
I spent 3 months traveling around northeast of Brazil. Following that I lived in Rio de Janeiro for a year and a half. I fell in love with the music, culture, and food there, and I tell everyone that Brazilian cuisine is one of the most underrated.
I still love to travel every chance that I get. I enjoy hiking and spending time in nature just as much as I appreciate the cultural experiences that cities have to offer.
My first ever photography commission: the album art for Leif Kolt’s Spiders and Widows. Shot in my house on a borrowed DSLR with zero post-production.
Hammocking in Costa Rica.
BTS of a shoot for Chef Richard Blais’ restaurant California English.