I create food and beverage imagery that persuades, not documents. Images that live between timelessness and immediacy. Carefully composed, never still, always alive.

My studio in Greensboro, NC is purpose-built for full-scale production: full kitchen, deep prop library, and crew that keeps productions running smoothly. Clients come to me, or I travel to them. Recognized in Lürzer's Archive 200 Best Advertising Photographers Worldwide.

Selected Clients:

Miller Lite, The Fresh Market, Smithfield Brand, Purefarmland, Discovery +, Compass Group, Wild Wing Cafe, Blue Zones Kitchen, NoBull Burger, LMS Agency, Pace Communications, Sage Restaurant Group, Mina Group, The Culinary Entertainment Agency, Ultrasuede, Gabby Home, Verellen, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, T: The New York Times Style Magazine, Food Network Magazine, AAA Living, Our State Magazine, Condé Nast Traveller, Gravy Magazine, The Local Palate, Southern Living, San Diego Magazine, Where San Diego, Walmart World.

Awards:

What Clients Say…

“I’ve hired Dhanraj multiple times for national campaign shoots, both in-studio and on location, and he delivers every time. When you work with Dhanraj, you’re not just getting a master photographer; you’re gaining a true creative partner. His eye for lighting and composition is impeccable, and he approaches every project like a creative partner, collaborating closely to bring your vision to life.
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— Mark Kaminski, Creative Director, Compass Group

“Working with Dhanraj and his team was a joy! He was responsive, conscientious and, most importantly, our photos were beautiful and more than we could have hoped for. It was a major upgrade from what we were using and will definitely make a big difference on our packaging, online, etc. Our product is tricky to work with, and he and his stylist were absolutely determined to work until they got the shots that we had planned, going above and beyond our expectations. Cannot recommend highly enough!
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— Cassandra H

I'm based in Greensboro, NC with a purpose-built studio fully equipped for food and beverage production. I travel nationally for location shoots, and shoot in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and across the Southeast.
I work with ad agencies, art directors, and CPG food and beverage brands on advertising campaigns, packaging, and editorial assignments. Past clients include Miller Lite, The Fresh Market, Compass Group, Blue Zones Kitchen, and The Washington Post.
Yes. My studio is purpose-built for food and beverage production with a full kitchen, an extensive prop library, and the space and infrastructure to handle large-scale campaigns. Clients are welcome to be on set in person or to art direct remotely.
Absolutely. I regularly work with clients who aren't on set. We use live video feeds so you can review shots in real time, and I'm comfortable working directly from a brief or mood board with minimal back-and-forth.
Yes. I work with a trusted network of experienced food and prop stylists. I can assemble the right team for your project, or work with your preferred stylists if you have existing relationships.
Every project starts with a creative brief and pre-production call to align on the vision, deliverables, and timeline. From there I handle crew coordination, studio prep, and production. Final retouched images are delivered digitally, typically within one to two weeks of the shoot date.
Yes. I produce motion content alongside stills, which allows for consistent visual language across a campaign. If your project requires both, we can plan and execute them in a single production.
It really depends on the scope of the project. Two to four weeks is typical for most shoots, and larger productions requiring extensive pre-production may need more lead time. Reach out and we'll figure it out.
Shoot me an email at dhanraj@dhanrajemanuel.com or call 917.443.3060. As many details as you can provide about the shoot will help us get to an accurate number as quickly as possible.