About
Ross Charnock is me, behind the camera, every shoot, every time. No juniors. No delegated creative work. Just experience.
Nice to meet you!
I'm Ross Charnock, a commercial product and studio photographer living in a small seaside town on the South African coast. I work with local and international brands alongside my creative partner Jess. My team is built based on job requirements and needs. At all my shoots you will meet myself and my studio assistant Azola Fumba, she is my muscle and an invaluable part of the crew.
We work as a team to ensure everything goes smoothly and on schedule. If the team needs to be larger for the specific job, I work with local creatives, stylists, production mangers, videographers, MUA, set designers, to bring your ideas to life.
Driven by passion
I was recently asked where my love for photography started and it feels like it’s always been a part of me, but photography entered my life through my grandfather Herbert’s love for the camera. He was obsessed with technology and cameras from as far back as I can remember, and somewhere around age 10 he pulled me into that world with him. He sadly passed away at the end of 2023 and I still think about him every time I pick up a camera.
After school I spent three years at award-winning production house RoofTop Productions learning the craft from their amazing team, then another decade working with US company Endless Echo on motion graphics and editing while I finished my Photography degree. All those years across different mediums just confirmed what I already suspected: a good story finds a way through whatever format you give it.
My focus
These days I focus on helping clients build something visually coherent that elevates their brand. I work the same way with everyone, big brand or small business, because everyone deserves the highest quality imagery. Getting to know how a client thinks and what they stand for is half the job, and finding the right visual language for that is the part I genuinely enjoy. I'm comfortable moving between the studio and location work because good light is good light, wherever you find it.
Outside of work I'm being present as a dad, building furniture for the house, cruising on my longboard, somewhere in the Karoo with a glass of wine, or trying to nail a bass line.
My wife tolerates my Lego habit with remarkable grace.
What People Are Saying
“We had such a lovely experience working with Ross. As Head of Marketing at Kleur Space, I work with a lot of creatives, and it is always such a joy when someone gets the brief, understands the brand and brings their own creative eye to it too. We are so happy with the images and really grateful for the way he captured Kleur so beautifully.”
Willow - Head of Marketing Kleur Space
“ It’s been a few years now working with Ross, a very professional and dedicated photographer. His work is amazing and he has put us on another level by telling the story of the Mohair Empowerment Trust.”
Beauty Mokgwamme - MET Manager