About

David Gordon has worked as a professional photographer since 1985, shooting primarily fashion and portraiture at the beginning of his career. Like many aspiring artists trying to build a reputation, David needed to supplement his income while launching his vocation. At the outset, he worked on the side for some of New York City’s top high-end caterers. In the process, David became exposed to the fast-paced, sometimes frenetic world of event photography. Through his catering contacts he started to get assignments and referrals, and the rest, as they say, is history.
While he had worked with plenty of models and actors, shooting events was a whole different ballgame and required another set of skills. It was at this time David discovered what an exceptional talent he has for capturing the moment as opposed to creating the moment. “I consider myself first and foremost a photojournalist, a chronicler of people and events”. David finds it tremendously rewarding to use his talents to create indelible images which stand on their own, more so than mere documentation of an important event in a company or person’s life.
David brings tremendous energy and enthusiasm to his work, along with an artist’s sensitivity, a fashion photographer’s flair for style, a photojournalist’s patience, and the all important ability to make himself a fly on the wall, whilst never letting anyone or anything escape his watchful eye. Last but not least, one cannot help but notice in his work a playful, spontaneous spirit along with a great sense of humor.

Philosophy

I’ve come a long way since my first Instamatic camera I had as a child, but I’ve never lost the sense of thrill and magic I feel taking pictures. Photography for me is not just about process, however. As a photographer specializing in people and events, I feel it’s of the utmost importance for me to click with people so to speak, not just click pictures. I would never be able to capture people’s personalities on film the way I do if my subjects didn’t feel comfortable enough with me to let their guard down and relax. I want people to just be themselves, to hardly know I’m there. I don’t want to take things over, run the show, or be intrusive in any way. It should be a fun, enjoyable experience. Being part psychologist and sensitive to the people I’m photographing and the mood and surroundings are all a part of it. The people who hire me put their trust in me, and I don’t like to breach that faith. As one of my clients wrote: “ I appreciate so much that you had really listened to what I wanted to do, and you made every effort to carry those wishes out”.

Partial Client List

American Express
AmFar
Arthur Anderson & Co.
Catholic Big Brothers of NY
Chase Manhattan Bank
Chadbourne & Parke, LLP
Coca Cola
Columbia Presbyterian Hospital
Condé Nast Magazines
Deutsche Bank North America
Donaldson, Lufkin, & Jenrette
Hearst Magazines
IBM
Insignia-ESG
Intrepid Museum Foundation
Johnson & Johnson
Lehman Brothers
Leukemia Society of America
MCI
NEC-Mitsubishi
PepsiCo
Soros Fund Management
The Jewish Museum
The March of Dimes
The Paul Taylor Dance Company
The Sierra Club
The Whitney Museum of American Art
Walt Disney Co.
Warner Books
Williams Communications