Los Angeles-based photographer Wade Brands is a master storyteller through the lens, capturing the authentic selves of his subjects with a unique flair for surreal lighting. Born in a small farm town in Illinois, Wade graduated from UCLA with a pre-med degree before discovering his passion for photography. Wade is a self-taught photographer whose talent has taken him around the world and given him experiences he never imagined possible.

Wade specializes in creating light to evoke emotion and depth in every picture, drawing inspiration from iconic masters like Irving Penn, Richard Avedon and Helmut Newton,  as well as more current icons like Nick Knight, Richard Burbridge and Toxemia Yeste. He believes photography is both a reflection of reality and a manipulation of it—an artful choice of what to convey as reality.

Early on, Wade went on tour with Michael Jackson, where he began honing his craft and developing a unique style that has led to work with A-list celebrities, iconic musicians, and top brand campaigns. One of his most memorable experiences was meeting his musical hero, Eddie Van Halen, on a Rolling Stone shoot. And being a huge Formula 1 fan, Wade has also had the great pleasure of meeting Lewis Hamilton on a GQ shoot, among countless other incredible experiences along the way.

Through his lens, Wade creates a stylized interpretation of reality, inviting viewers to connect with the stories behind each image while offering a fresh perspective on the world around.