If you had to choose one photo you took in 2025 that was your favorite, which would it be?
That's exactly what we asked our Sony Artisans Of Imagery and Alpha Collective members – and they sure delivered! See Part 1 of this five-part series below, featuring a variety of portrait images that showcase the talent of these creators and their ability to photograph people. If you’re interested in portrait photography, check out our Portrait Photography 101 course on Alpha Camera Academy.
Stay tuned to Alpha Universe as we count down to 2025 with another selection of images each day.
Kesha Lambert
Photo by Kesha Lambert. Alpha 9 III. 50mm f/1.2 G Master.
“This photo is a part of a personal passion project that I started this year. This took place on a random weekday. My friend and I decided on a whim to go to the beach for a creative collaboration. Using items she found around her home to style the concept, planning was very much in the moment.”
“This is my favorite image of 2025 because it reminds me why I love photography as an art form. It reminds me that I don't have to do extensive planning or a big production to create something beautiful. We can simply go outside with one camera in hand and create something just because we feel inspired, because we're curious, or for no reason at all.”
Scott Robert Lim
Photo by Scott Robert Lim. Alpha 9 III. 16-25mm f/2.8 G.
“I was in Havana, Cuba, backstage in a beautiful old theater, standing on scaffolding when I noticed the overhead lights casting incredible light onto my ballerina friend. I directed her to turn her nose toward the light and placed a Sony HVL-F46RM flash behind her to create a subtle rim light. This wasn’t a planned shot – it unfolded naturally, like many of my images do. I simply followed the light and worked from there, relying on my systematic approach. In that moment, everything came together, and I created something that felt truly special to me.”
“I wanted to create a meaningful image for my friend, a ballerina living in Havana, Cuba. I never planned to photograph backstage, but sometimes the best moments reveal themselves when you least expect them. This image reminded me that your next favorite photograph can come from the most ordinary places – as long as you stay open, aware and ready for possibility.”
Brooke Shaden
Photo by Brooke Shaden. Alpha 7R V. 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master II.
“While visiting fellow Sony Artisans Cristina Mittermeier and Paul Nicklen on Vancouver Island, I whipped together this shoot featuring Paul and Cristina themselves (plus a pretty epic mermaid tail)! I donned a wetsuit and positioned myself in the freezing water with my Alpha 7R V. 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master II so I could shoot split, half underwater and half above.”
“This has been an idea that Cristina and I began collaborating on a couple of years ago. Through her friendship I have developed greater understanding and empathy for our planet and what plagues it. This image shows beauty in darkness - a mermaid caught in a net, and someone willing to reach in and help.”
Chris Orwig
Kid Cudi. Photo by Chris Orwig. Alpha 7R V. 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II.
“This is a portrait of celebrity Kid Cudi. Getting a chance to connect with Kid Cudi (Scott) for a mental health movement we are launching, and he is supporting. Super rad!”
Zabrina Deng
Photo by Zabrina Deng. RX1R III.
"I wanted to challenge myself to create a bold fashion editorial using the smallest possible camera while still delivering the highest image quality. With the pocket sized Sony RX1R III, which allowed me to stay agile, present, and creatively focused without the physical fatigue that often comes with heavier gear for shooting the entire day. One of the most powerful features of the RX1R III is its leaf shutter, which enables flash synchronization up to 1/2000-sec. This gave me precise control over how much ambient light to preserve or eliminate while shaping the scene with flash.
For lighting, I used a Sony HVL-F60RM2 Flash connected via PC cable to a radio receiver, mounted on a light stand and shot through a large parabolic umbrella with diffusion. Positioned approximately five feet from the subject at a forty five degree angle, the light remained soft and flattering while preserving the fine details of the garment and the textures within the Chinatown kitchen. To enhance the ambient mood of the space, I added a Rotolight NEO 3 Pro LED with a yellow gel on the left side of the model. This introduced warmth and depth to the background while maintaining the authenticity of a working kitchen environment.
The creative direction I gave the model was simple and intentional. She is in control of this space. She is a seasoned chef who moves with confidence and precision. She knows this craft so well she could do it with even holding the knife unconventionally while chopping. And then that moment happened."
“This photograph was created in San Francisco Chinatown in collaboration with fashion designer Brandin Vaughn, ahead of his KarlArtSF runway debut. For me, it represents the joyous intersection of cultures, where fashion, food, and history & different ethnicities coexist in the same space. Chinatown kitchens carry generations of knowledge, labor, and preservation, and I wanted to honor that lineage while placing it in a contemporary fashion context. Her gaze and grip speak to power and autonomy. In a traditionally male-dominated kitchen, she stands fully in control — feminine, grounded, and unapologetic. This image is not about provocation, but about presence: who holds space, who holds craft, and who gets to be seen."
Monica Sigmon
Photo by Monica Sigmon. Alpha 7R V. 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II.
“I built a ‘wall of light’, bouncing strobes off the wall and back through two 4x8 diffusion panels to get a beautiful, soft, wrap-around lighting pattern.”
“This was my first time photographing these 13-year-old twins, and I wanted to make something that showed them as individuals and their relationship. This is such a sweet age, where we see the last traces of childhood and start to get a glimpse of the young adults they are becoming.”
Sara France
Photo by Sara France. Alpha 1. 50-150mm f/2 G Master.
"This image was captured during an intimate elopement in Lake Tahoe using the Alpha 1 paired with the 50-150mm f/2 G Master, shot wide open at f/2. While I had scouted locations ahead of time, the final moment came together spontaneously when the groom spotted a roadside lookout and we quickly realized it was accessible within our timeline.
I had both the 28-70mm f/2 G Master and the 50-150mm f/2 G Master with me, but I chose the 50-150mm specifically for this scene. From my shooting position on an adjacent hilltop, I knew compression would be key to simplifying the frame and isolating the couple within the landscape. The longer focal length allowed me to stack layers of pine trees, lake and distant mountains while maintaining a clean, natural perspective.
I positioned the couple on a naturally placed log between the trees and climbed higher to create elevation and separation. Shooting at 150mm and f2.0 delivered pronounced subject isolation and smooth, controlled bokeh, even in a dense forest environment. The Alpha 1 handled the scene effortlessly, delivering exceptional detail, dynamic range, and autofocus reliability so I could focus entirely on composition and timing.
This photograph is a clear example of how intentional lens choice paired with the performance of the Alpha 1 allows for precise execution, even when the opportunity itself is unexpected."
"This image is my favorite photograph I took this year because weddings of any size carry a completely new meaning for me after having my own wedding earlier this year. Experiencing that day firsthand reshaped how I see weddings and deepened my appreciation for how intentional and emotionally rich they can be.
This photograph is also deeply personal because of who this couple is to me. The bride is one of my team photographers and a dear friend who has been part of our team for years. I have watched her relationship with her now husband grow over time, and being trusted to document their Lake Tahoe elopement felt incredibly meaningful. It was less about photographing a moment and more about honoring a story I care deeply about.
Their love is adventurous and grounded, and this location felt like a true reflection of that connection. On the hike up, she shared that this was already one of her favorite moments of the day and she had always dreamed of hiking to a mountaintop for her wedding. Being there to witness that dream unfolding, surrounded by layers of natural beauty she would truly appreciate, is what makes this image so powerful to me.
This photograph represents everything I love about weddings of any size. Intention, connection, adventure, and trust. It is a reminder of why these stories matter and why I feel so honored to tell them."
Henry Tieu
Photo by Henry Tieu. Alpha 7 IV. 28-70mm f/2 G Master.
“This photo is from Hazel and Otto's vow renewal day. They got married in 2020 and because of the pandemic, they never had the wedding photos they had hoped for. For their 5-year anniversary, they chose to create that experience for themselves and hired me for this experience. They dreamed of wildflowers in the amazing landscapes we have here in Washington State, so we picked a date around peak bloom at Mt. Rainier National Park. For this photo, I wanted to highlight both Hazel and the mountain so I knew I needed to be ‘taller’ somehow. We hiked until we found a rock that I could climb on without stomping all over the meadows. It was a bit nerve wrecking trying to find a spot that would give me a good composition as we were running out of light. As we hiked, I could see the sun was about to go behind the mountain but somehow we made it.”
“This is my favorite image because of what happened just before I pressed the shutter. Knowing we were running out of light, I instinctively wanted to bring the couple together, but Otto gently stepped back, wanting Hazel to have a moment alone with the landscape herself. In that pause, I witnessed his love language unfold: presence, patience, and deep respect. I love it because this photo reminds me not just of the beauty that is surrounding us, but also how love moves.”
Shauna Wade
Photo by Shauna Wade. FX2. 50mm f/1.4 G Master.
“This shot was taken at Kando. The sun was setting… so the soft light gave the perfect ambiance for the mood I was going for – soft and subtle.”
It’s my favorite because everything came together just right: the light, the setting, the model, the mood. The perfect combo.”
Mickey Pierre-Louis
Photo by Mickey Pierre-Louis. Alpha 7R V. 35mm f/1.4 G Master.
“During Kando Seattle, I noticed the model was wearing the same pants I had lol I ran over and we clicked instantly. We focused less on the technical aspect and focused more on getting to know each other.”
“Something I'll never forget is the absolutely beautiful scenery and sunset glow in Seattle. It wasn't just a photograph. It was an exchange of two people getting to know one another. It's the very oath that makes photography last forever.”
Dane Isaac
Photo by Dane Isaac. Alpha 7R V. 28-70mm f/2 G Master.
“I captured this photo of the model (Ally) using natural light and a small reflector on the side to bring light to the face and eyes. We had these beautiful pines silhouetted as a backdrop and the benefit of a large opening with great footing so we could add some movement to the wardrobe.”
“This image was taken during Sony Kando 2025, and it was such a much-needed trip for me. Most of my photography for the year prior had been very personal or for clients where I didn't have much control or also can't share. This image represents the freedom to create in a way that I haven't had the chance to in some time.”
Gregg Jaden
Photo by Gregg Jaden. Alpha 7R V. 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II.
“I wanted to place a fashion-forward portrait inside a landscape that felt raw and untouched, letting contrast do the storytelling. The deep red dress was chosen to cut cleanly through the earth tones, creating tension between refinement and terrain. To make it happen, we were up at 2 a.m., traveled by Jeep, then hiked through the jungle in the dark to reach a remote ridgeline I had scouted specifically for its scale and isolation.”
"This image stands out because it preserves the scale of the landscape while pulling you into a quiet, personal moment. You still feel how massive the environment is, but the connection comes from awareness and presence, not pose. Getting that level of intimacy outdoors, without it feeling staged. The lighting was dramatically on my side that morning. This is the balance I’m always chasing. The location does its job without overpowering the subject, and the subject grounds the frame without performing for it. It feels calm, intentional, and timeless."
Jacob Chamseddine
Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong. Photo by Jacob Chamseddine. Alpha 1. 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master.
“On set for Green Day's One Eyed Bastard Music Video. I had all day to document some behind the scene imagery but this one image of Billie really stood out to me. In between takes Billie had sat down on the floor with his guitar next to him and I had a brief moment to capture this one.”
“It is special to be trusted in moments like this. Behind the scenes photography can be a sensitive situation, so to be allowed into this space was very special.”
Andrew Eggers
Photo by Andrew Eggers. Alpha 1. 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 G Master.
“My friend, Rickey, invited me on a portrait shoot with his friend, Anthony, in downtown Sacramento one night. This shot was on our walk back to the car and I just thought the scene looked great especially with all the bokeh in the background with Tower bridge.”
“I think it's my favorite image because I don't normally shoot portraiture very much and just happened to be out with a couple friends who are into it. It certainly opened up my creativity some, and gave me more confidence to take photos of people more often.”
