MY STORY
My name is Neo Gilder, originally from South Africa and now based in London. I studied photography at the Cambridge School of Art, where I developed a practice grounded in portraiture and storytelling. Through early projects exploring identity, vulnerability and mental health within Black communities, I developed an approach that still informs the way I photograph people today.
I now work across commissioned portraits, editorial and cultural storytelling, bringing a documentary sensitivity to each frame, balancing honesty with a refined, intentional visual language.
WHY IT MATTERS CULTURALLY
The way culture is represented visually shapes how it is understood. I'm interested in creating work that moves beyond surface-level representation, contributing to imagery that feels nuanced, intentional and connected to the people within it.
Much of the imagery surrounding contemporary culture can feel fast, performative or driven purely by aesthetics. My approach is rooted in creating photographs that still carry style and visual impact, but remain emotionally aware and human at their core. Whether working across portraiture, editorial or cultural storytelling, I'm drawn to images that feel lived-in, honest and reflective of real people rather than simplified ideas of them.
CLIENTS & COLLABORATIONS
The Booker Prizes
Trevor Noah
Maxhosa Africa
Diaspora Calling, curated by Lauryn Hill
ONE.org
The National Emergency Briefing
Deeds Magazine
South African Department of Sport, Arts and Culture
The Jazz Café
KOKO London
Masego
Dreaming Whilst Black
Courvoisier
Abercrombie & Fitch
Michael Kors
ellesse
50 Cent
Pianopeople
TALENT PHOTOGRAPHED
Sarah Jessica Parker
Stormzy
Erykah Badu
Nas
Jay-Z
PUBLICATIONS
Guap Magazine
TMZ
Dope Black Art
The Independent
Deadline
The Daily Mail
The London Standard
This Is Oxfordshire
Times and Star
Telegraph & Argus