About Chris Kilkus

From San Francisco to a global career

Originally from San Francisco, Christopher Kilkus discovered his love of fashion and photography early in life through the influence of his mother, a successful fashion model. He pursued careers in bicycle racing and fashion-model management before turning to photography full time. After starting out in San Francisco, he spent two years working throughout Asia and seven years in New York City, where he built a reputation for excellent work and a great attitude. Today he splits his time between New York City, Miami and Los Angeles.

The work

Chris shoots and directs across fashion, advertising, lifestyle and celebrity work for an international roster of brands and publications. Selected clients include BCBG Max Azria, Hervé Léger, Forever 21, bebe, Macy's, GAP, Banana Republic, Wet Seal, Arden B., Jockey International, Skechers, Billabong, Sony Music, Island Def Jam, Interscope Records, Vogue, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, Interview, Maxim and Surface. Alongside thousands of still images he has directed dozens of commercials, bringing the same eye for light, movement and emotion to motion as to the frame — and his pictures have been compared to fashion and portrait photographers including Richard Avedon, Cecil Beaton, Robert Mapplethorpe and Man Ray.

Why Kilkus Photo

Kilkus Photo is the journal side of that practice — a place to write about the craft rather than only show it. The essays here cover what Chris has learned shooting fashion, advertising, celebrity and travel work, and the photographers and ideas that continue to shape it. The portfolios themselves live at kilkus.com and chris-kilkus.com.

Selected clients: BCBG Max Azria, Hervé Léger, Forever 21, bebe, Macy's, GAP, Banana Republic, Wet Seal, Arden B., Jockey International, Skechers, Billabong, Sony Music, Island Def Jam, Interscope Records, Vogue, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, Interview, Maxim and Surface.