Justin Cook Documentary Photography INC

I am an editorial, commercial and documentary photographer based in Durham, North Carolina. As a child my identical twin and I moved frequently around the American south and midwest and, as a result, I had to learn how to make new friends easily. I’m good at talking with strangers and connecting with new people. After graduating from UNC Chapel Hill with a B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communications, I worked at newspapers in Florida, Texas, Michigan, Virginia and North Carolina, and my storytelling background influences my documentary approach to portraits and lifestyle work.

Working on long-term documentary stories about the difficulties of the American condition engrained in me that relationships are the core of powerful images, and the quiet, little in-between moments most often reveal a personality or tell a story. I believe in maintaining a sustainable and ethical industry by mentoring other photographers, working with teams, charging and paying fair wages, and taking intellectual property rights seriously.

My work has been honored by The Magenta Foundation, Photolucida, POYi, The Society of Professional Journalists, American Photography, and funded by The Puffin Foundation and The Durham Arts Council. My clients include AARP, The Bitter Southerner, ChannelAdvisor, Duke University, Education Week, The Guardian, @mynameisjessamyn (Jessamyn Stanley), The Marshall Project,The National Audubon Society, The New Yorker, The New York Times, National Public Radio, The Trace, VICE, The Wall Street Journal and others.