Joe Scarnici is a California-based photographer and director with a unique eye for capturing the energy and authenticity of sports and lifestyle moments. His work blends movement, personality, and a sense of place, making every shot feel alive and real. From the intensity of athletes in action to the calm of coastal scenes, Joe’s ability to connect with his subjects and tell their stories shines through in every frame. In this interview, Joe opens up about how his journey in photography began, the way he approaches his craft, and the importance of genuine human connection in creating unforgettable images.

What inspired your journey into photography and directing?

‍When I was about six years old, my father took a photo of one of my plastic dinosaurs and a toy soldier with leaves falling onto it, then told me this whole story about how it happened in our backyard while I was at school. Even as a kid, I knew it wasn’t real, but I loved that a photo could make you believe something. That stuck.

I also remember sitting in the “way back" of my mom’s station wagon with a piece of paper, realising I could shape the light coming through the windows and control what was in shadow. It’s a small, random memory, but that curiosity, the messing with light, figuring things out, that’s where it all started.

Where did your passion for sports & lifestyle photography come from, and how did you develop your own style?

‍I always grew up liking sports. I didn't grow up in much of a sports family, but my grandfather used to let me watch football and baseball with him because I was quiet, paid attention, and wasn't running around like a little kid. Fast-forward to moving to California. I worked with a photographer named Art Brewer in his studio who is a commercial sport photographer, and I loved the challenge of trying to capture a specific action or a specific kind of light on a field for a campaign. I loved working with athletes because they are "real" people doing extraordinary things.

What pulled me in was the athletes. There’s a work ethic there that I connect with, and that’s something I’ve always tried to carry into my work.

Which campaign or project have you most enjoyed working on so far, and what made it especially memorable for you?

‍I just wrapped my sixth Olympic Games in Milan. It’s always an honour to be called up. It’s also a grind most people don’t fully understand. But being part of Team USA through Getty Images is something I take seriously.

Over time, you build real relationships, not just with the team behind the scenes, but with the athletes themselves. Every Games, you meet people at the very start of their experience, and then you see them again in these career-defining moments. Being there for both sides of that is what makes it special.

Is there a particular image or piece of work you are most proud of? What makes it stand out to you?‍

I don’t really have one single image that stands above everything else. For me, it’s always about the moments where everything lines up: timing, emotion and connection.

The images I’m most proud of are the ones that feel honest. Not just what someone is doing, but what they’re actually experiencing in that moment. If you can feel it, that’s the win.

How do you approach creating images that meet client needs while integrating your own style?

‍Clients hire me because they trust me to get it done and because they’ve seen my work and want that perspective.

Early on, it’s easy to chase what you think the client wants. The real shift is understanding what they need and then delivering it your way. That means trusting your instincts and not watering down your vision. At the end of the day, if they wanted something generic, they wouldn’t hire you.

Can you share a challenging or unexpected situation you encountered during a shoot, and how you handled it?

As a photographer, you have to build an instant rapport with the people that you're shooting. You have a short amount of time to connect with them mentally, emotionally, verbally, and then start taking pictures. This makes it necessary for you to be a "people person" in order to work with all types of people. There are times, of course, where personalities just don't mesh. It's rare for me because I get along with everybody.

Every once in a while, you run into someone where it just doesn’t click. I had a shoot with a model where the energy was off from the start. Either my humour didn’t land, personalities didn’t line up or whatever. It happens. We both knew it. But at the end of the day, the job still has to get done. We stayed professional, got what we needed, and moved on. If you look at the final images, you’d never know anything was off.

What advice would you give to someone just starting their journey in photography?

If I could give one piece of advice to someone starting off in photography, I would say look around you at all of your peers and work harder than all of them. There are hundreds and thousands of photographers in the world doing exactly what you want to do. All of them are creative, all of them have their own little style and their own geeky cameras they like to shoot on, and their own methodology. The photographers in our era who are going to get the work are gonna be the ones that work harder than everybody around them while somehow staying true to their own vision and style. This means you're working nights and weekends. This means you're getting up early to get some work done. This means you're sacrificing birthdays, holidays and vacations because jobs come up. This means you're rescheduling events or personal things in order to keep your career moving forward. Photography is not a great place for work-life balance. The hardest working photographer wins.

What is your next career goal or dream collaboration?‍

I’ve hit a lot of goals already, but every time you check one off, another one shows up. Right now, it’s about levelling up with bigger clients, bigger campaigns and more impact.

I’m also at a stage where having a rep makes sense. Earlier this year, I was on the road for three straight months. Having someone supporting me while I’m in that mode would let me stay focused on what I do best.

What does being part of the Production Paradise community mean to you?

‍It’s a way to put my work in front of a global audience, but it’s more than that. The people behind Production Paradise make it feel personal. It’s not just a platform; it feels like a curated group of photographers who take their work seriously.

A big thank you to Joe Scarnici for sharing insights into his creative journey, approach to storytelling, and the artistry behind his sports and lifestyle photography. It’s been inspiring to learn about the moments and mindset that fuel his work. View his member page to see more of Joe's dynamic imagery.

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