Still-Life Editorial and Product Photography

Photos by Dan Wagner

Still-Life Photos © Dan Wagner 2023

For a photographer, shooting still-life photography is the ultimate method of developing discipline and attention to detail. Creating a still-life photo offers an opportunity for perfection. With still-life, I can focus on every part of the photo. The apex of my still-life work was when I was shooting 8x10 transparency film. Margins for exposure error were one-quarter of an f-stop—photographer geek-speak for holi cannoli!

Nowadays, thanks to digital photographic technology we have much more technical leeway. Nonetheless, putting on my “still-life hat,” is a great way to slow down and really look at what I’m creating. The experience always informs my work, and helps me see things with a fresh perspective.

As you can see from my website, I have many photographic and other interests and skills. My still-life work has been featured on book covers, record albums, national and trade ads, packaging, and magazines. I’ve shot for Aboslut Vodka, DuPont, AT&T, Wine Spectator, Cigar Aficionado, Scientific American, Estée Lauder, and Fortune 500 companies.

Absolut Wagner Ad

“Dan Wagner is a multi-talented individual who I've know for over twenty years. His photography skills are second to none, especially when it comes to product photography. I worked with him on numerous projects and he provided us with imagery in a timely manner that was near perfect and only required a minimum of retouching.”

—Edward Flynn, Creative Director

The photos in the top gallery are from an Addy Award-winning brochure I shot for DuPont. Together with my crew of two photo assistants, stylist, landscaper, and ad agency art director we created these still-life photos over five shoot days, four prep days, and two wrap days. Amazingly, none of the photos were retouched.

Click on the still-life photos for a larger view!

Photo of synthetic fiber rugs for an Addy award-winning DuPont brochure photographed by Dan Wagner, Still-Life Photographer.
Photo of synthetic fiber rugs for an Addy award-winning DuPont brochure photographed by Dan Wagner, Still-Life Photographer.
Photo of synthetic fiber rugs for an Addy award-winning DuPont brochure photographed by Dan Wagner, Still-Life Photographer.

The still-life photos in the bottom gallery are an eclectic collection of personal and commercial work that I simply enjoy looking at. These photos are not necessarily representative of the work that would generally get me hired. Even so, these photographs were featured on the covers and insides of magazines—and in the case of the hand photo with the word “Protected” on the palm, for pharmaceutical advertising.

Still-life photo of toothbrushes inside a mason jar, by Dan Wagner, Photographer.
Still-life photo of peaches and styrofoam, by Dan Wagner, Photographer.
Still-life photo of wine bottles, by Dan Wagner, Phootographer.
Still-life photo of beer bottles on a stainless steel background by Dan Wagner, photographer.
Photo of smiley men, sky, and the World's Fair Unisphere, shot on location in Flushing Queens, NY by Dan Wagner, Still-Life Photographer.
Still-life photo of wine glasses, wine bottle, and corkscrew, by Dan Wagner, Phootographer.
Still-life photo of a stack of backlit glass teacups and bubble wrap by Dan Wagner, Photographer.
Still-life cosmetic photo of a men's cologne bottle by Dan Wagner, Photographer.
Still-life photo of a jar of glass marbles on a mirror reflecting a window grid and blue sky by Dan Wagner, Photographer.
Still-life pharmaceutical advertising photo of hand with the word "Protected" on the palm by Dan Wagner, Photographer.
Still-life photo of a green leather chair, antique table, and a humidor full of Cuban cigars for the first issue of Cigar Aficionado Magazine, photographed by Dan Wagner, Photographer.
Still-life beauty shot of an ashtray and cigar for the cover of the first issue of Cigar Aficionado Magazine, photographed by Dan Wagner, Photographer, and art directed by the talented and generous Martin Leeds, formerly of Shanken Communications.

“Dan Wagner is a multi-talented individual who I've know for over twenty years. His photography skills are second to none, especially when it comes to product photography. I worked with him on numerous projects and he provided us with imagery in a timely manner that was near perfect and only required a minimum of retouching.”

—Edward Flynn, Creative Director