Hi, I'm Carlos David
a portrait photographer based in New York City.
I’m bilingual (Spanish/English), split my time between New York, Mexico, and Slovenia. I drink too much coffee, host a podcast about identity and presence, and spend my days helping people feel comfortable in front of a camera. Every session is fully guided. You’ll know exactly what to do and leave with portraits that actually work for you.
Ongoing Projects
PODCAST
Being in New York. Conversations with artists, creatives, and everyday New Yorkers navigating identity, transformation, and presence.
PORTRAITS
40 Portraits of New Yorkers. 40 Portraits. 40 Stories. A Living Exhibition of Our City.
ART
BE is a multimedia project exploring the intersections of identity, self-expression, and the transformative role of art.
A bit More
Previous Lives
In the early 2000s, I worked as a ghostwriter of vampire novels. Not long after, I moved to New York City with plans to become an actor.
Photography
A friend taught me photography in coffee shops. I was young, and the camera became my key to New York nightlife. My first gigs were photographing clubs in the Meatpacking District. From there, I moved into fashion and magazine work.
Art Projects
Personae & Personae II are multimedia projects exploring imagination, fantasy, and the resilience of the human spirit.
BE explores the intersections of identity, self-expression, and the transformative role of art.
Being in New York is my ongoing love letter to the city I love, I hate, and everything in between.
Interviews
One of my strengths is helping people feel comfortable in front of the camera. I host a podcast, and many of my art projects include in-depth interviews with participants. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to interview artists and public figures such as Eva Longoria, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Emilio Estefan. Latino history is American history (Link).
Documentaries
As a director, my documentary work explores identity, belonging, and the quiet courage required to remain true to oneself.
Being in New York centers trans, queer, and immigrant artists navigating creativity and survival in the city. (Trailer)
La Costurera continues that thread, documenting community, repair, and resilience at El Barrio’s Repair Café.
Carlos David Photography
Carlos David Photography is my commercial portrait studio, focused on headshots, portraits and personal branding photography for professionals, creatives, and entrepreneurs.
It’s built on nearly two decades of working with artists, public figures, and everyday people. The approach is calm, guided, and intentional.
You don’t have to know how to pose.
You don’t have to be “photogenic.”
You just need to reach out.
Not just an image, a story. Your story.
If you're ready for a session that's guided and built around you, let's get started.
©carlosdavidphotography 2026
