For 42 years, professional photographer David Papazian has brought stories to life through his dynamic photography.
Originally from the San Francisco Bay area, his interest in photography began at an early age. Inspired by his father Harry, who worked as an art director and head of marketing for the San Francisco Examiner newspaper, David embarked on a high school trip to Europe at the age of 18, delving into the world of photography. Upon his return, David’s father and colleagues were impressed by the quality of David’s work. His father upgraded David’s camera, and for the next two summers, David returned to Europe as a student tour guide.
He captured images of architecture in Rome, London, and Paris, fascinated by landmarks such as the Pantheon, Colosseum, and the Roman Forum in Rome; Piccadilly Circus and Hyde Park in London; and gothic architecture in Paris. In Spain, he documented fishermen working their nets along the Costa Brava. Outside the cities, David photographed the natural beauty of landscapes like the Matterhorn and the Swiss Alps. These experiences, coupled with a desire to work outside of an office, motivated him to pursue a career in photography.
David earned a bachelor’s degree and graduated from the prestigious Brooks Institute in Santa Barbara. Soon after, he launched his photography career, moving north to Portland, Oregon. There, he worked for world-class brands, refining his skills, and transitioning from film to digital photography. While balancing his professional career with personal commitments, he started a family.
In 1997, David expanded his photography skills beyond his studio, shooting for shelter magazines. His work was published in architecture magazines, opening doors to new clients. Currently, he subscribes to over a half dozen shelter magazines to stay abreast on the latest trends in lighting and composition.
To supplement his existing clients, David explored stock photography and found success for nearly 30 years. His images are available on Getty, Shutterstock, and Adobe Stock, with nearly a million downloads since he began. Whether photographing doors in major cities, capturing the iconic Iowa State Fair, or walking in cornfields, his stock images resonate with graphic designers.
In recent years, new opportunities have allowed David to diversify his photography projects by capturing images of equipment, often traveling to remote areas in the Pacific Northwest forests or construction job sites for his clients. Adaptability and versatility are key when David dons a hard hat, safety vest, and work boots, working in natural conditions and patiently waiting for the perfect shot.
Photography is David’s passion, and he’s dedicated over four decades to his career. It excites and motivates him, and he always looks forward to the next shoot.
Family is a top priority for David. As a father and grandfather, he enjoys spending free time with his children and his four grandchildren. Additionally, he relishes fishing trips to Alaska and other travel adventures.
CLIENT LIST
Adidas
Ann Sacks
Chesmore Buck Architecture
DEVELON North America
Getty
Gramor Development, Inc.
Gray Magazine
GSW Architects
House Beautiful
LRS Architects
Maison, Inc.
Marriott
Microsoft
MWA Architects
Nike
R&H Construction
Scott Edwards Architects
Sunset Magazine
Two Rivers Marketing
Zillow
Testimonials
“After working together for almost 20 years, David intuitively understands our needs. He is always flexible in discussing the ever-changing landscape of photography styles and what magazine editors are looking for. David pays meticulous attention to detail, especially lighting. He consistently goes above and beyond what many others do. We frequently feature David’s photos in our ads and consistently receive positive comments about the quality of our images. Essentially, our entire portfolio is comprised of David’s work.”
- Joelle Nesen, Owner, Maison, Inc.
“David is an experienced photographer and is easy to work with. His photography displays beautiful imagery, and David consistently captures the shots we’re looking for. Additionally, he does nice touch-up effects in post-production. His photography effectively portrays our company’s developments and contributes to our success.”
- Kristin Woods, Administrative Assistant, Gramor Development, Inc.
“I have had the pleasure of working with David for over 20 years as my go-to architectural photographer in the Northwest. David listens, is attentive, committed, receptive, and inclusive in his work. He is passionate about his craft, displaying a high level of professionalism, dedication, and knowledge in both architecture and photography. His work is authentic and honest to the design intent, capturing the light and color of specific spaces and features on the project in a way that makes us feel like we are there.
David’s architectural photography is added value for our firm and marketing. His photography is stunning and stands alone as artwork, yet he also understands that his body of work must allow his architectural clients to effectively market their projects. In essence, David’s success is our success.”
- T Paul Frank, Senior Principal, AIA, NCARB, LRS Architects
“David brings to life the stories of hard-working loggers and contractors through his photography for our marketing agency. We routinely engage David to visit forestry and construction job sites, documenting the lives of the customers using our client’s construction equipment. He pays close attention to detail, follows our instructions, and adheres to rigorous safety standards on the job sites. Our graphic designers value David’s photography, particularly his lighting skills. David’s work is regularly featured in industry-leading business-to-business trade publications and websites.”
- Ryan Johnson, APR, Public Relations and Content Strategy Manager, Two Rivers Marketing
