Piper Ferguson Bio

As LA photographer and director, Piper Ferguson’s work is defined by an electric relationship between high style and pure spontaneity. Whether she’s shooting a musician or politician, she views the world through a rock and roll lens, producing images that are compelling, bold, timeless and of-the-moment. It’s hard to imagine another photographer who could capture dynamic shots like Coldplay’s Chris Martin jumping three feet in midair at the Chateau Marmont or feminist lawyer Gloria Allred standing proudly on top of her conference table, while also giving gravitas and dignity to portraits of music icons like David Crosby and Kenny Rogers. It takes a special gift to be able to read a mood and tap into a subject’s true essence, and this is what Piper consistently brings to the table. 

A Northern California native living and working in Los Angeles for three decades, Piper’s photographic journey began with the Brit pop club Café Bleu in Hollywood, which she co-founded with a friend. Here, she was booking acts like the Dandy Warhols and Maroon 5 -- and documenting every artist who stepped onto the stage. “I often shot double fisted,” she recalls, “a still camera in one hand and a video camera in the other.” 

These off-the-cuff sessions led to assignments from Rolling Stone, Spin, Mojo and Filter. Piper was also the photographer for the Levi’s Fader Fort from 2002-2006, shooting performers at festivals around the country including SXSW, CMJ and Coachella. During her decade-plus collaboration with Filter magazine, her subjects have included everyone from her longtime favorites Bobby Gillespie and Primal Scream to The Strokes’ Julian Casablancas, who painted with light for one of her most beautiful magazine covers. Piper’s portfolio also features over 20 Apple/iTunes Sessions album covers of some of the biggest names in contemporary pop, including Imagine Dragons and Ellie Goulding and the L.A.-based sisters of Haim. 

As a director, Piper is given the chance to truly let her imagination run wild, and now working with her partner Will, AKA her “Secret Weapon”, she feels more fearless than ever in being able to expand and grow her vision in all areas, film and photography.

Whatever project she’s on, clients count on Piper to bring humor, calm and a sense of camaraderie to her set. “I’m a team player,” she says, noting that even difficult moments are worth it in the end. “Every day I get to work in the service of a creative vision is a perfect day.”

HELLO!

Thank you for checking out our site! We are a couple who, over the past 10 years, discovered just how much we love creating images together. From the very beginning, we found ourselves jumping into each other’s projects—helping out whenever we could—not just because it was useful, but because we genuinely enjoyed collaborating. It kept happening again and again, and at some point we realized: We had found a flow making projects together! It felt natural, fun, and inspiring. We complemented each other’s strengths so well that we finally decided—why not make it official? We’re a team. And it’s way more fun this way.

Will Dearborn Bio

Will has been a Camera Operator and 2nd Unit DP since 2015 preceded by 15 years of union camera apprenticeship.  He has worked on every major studio lot in Los Angeles with over 80 IMDb credits.  He most recently completed filming Season 4 of Lincoln Lawyer as the “A” Camera Operator and 2nd Unit DP.  

With his decades long obsession with cameras, Will had always fancied himself to be a photographer, but when he and Piper began dating, she revealed what a photographer truly is:  a director of still images. When you release the shutter and how you set the iris is such a tiny fraction of what a photographer does; Piper showed that it’s about creating a world, a colorful fantasy, with characters and heroes that allow you to transcend the mundane through an emotional connection.

Because of so much overlap in their careers, Will began working with Piper almost immediately, especially DPing her videos and helping with lighting on photo shoots.  This has evolved into a creative partnership that pairs their extensive experience and complimentary skill sets.  Will’s background as a camera operator allows him to quickly and decisively translate an abstract visual or narrative concept into a specific camera set up and frame, a great asset for high pressure commercial projects.

Will’s own photography practice is primarily based in a range of film formats as a way to explore natural light, emotion and compositional formalism independently from his work as a narrative camera operator.  Getting to build his own portfolio of work with the encouragement and critique from Piper has been a profound inspiration.

Will grew up on a small family farm in Central Kentucky, son of a horse breeder and fine artist.  His study abroad in Germany during college introduced him to Wim Wenders and art cinema and he began making Super 8 films.  His extensive travel eventually led him to Los Angeles where he has been working in the film industry since 1997.  Will loves hiking and backpacking, attending live concerts with his three sons and Piper and traveling abroad whenever possible.


CLIENTS

  • PwC

  • Blue Note Records

  • Zenni Optical

  • SEE Eyewear

  • Red Bull Media

  • Red Bull Records

  • Sony Music

  • California Association of Realtors

  • PETA

  • Capitol Music Group

  • PokémonGO

  • Blue Élan Records

  • UMG/Verve Records

  • Entertainment Weekly

  • UMG/Republic Records

  • O.H. Partners Ad Agency

  • SPIN Magazine

  • space.camp/Ayzenberg Group