About Lethe Studio — Editorial Photography in New York
Lethe Studio is an editorial photography practice founded in 2023 in New York City. Editorial photo booths, event coverage, and private portrait commissions across New York City.
Lethe Studio is a one-person editorial photography practice in New York City, founded in 2023. The studio runs editorial photo booths at fashion-week parties, brand launches, and gallery openings, takes on-call event work in NYC by the day or weekend, and accepts a small number of private portrait commissions each season.
The work
I started Lethe because the existing options for serious-looking photography at brand events were narrow. There were rental booths that produced flattering selfies, and there were event photographers who covered the room. Nothing sat in the middle — a working editorial photographer who would set up a single, intentional photo station at the door and shoot every guest like the picture was going to print.
That's what Lethe makes. A booth that doesn't look like a booth: one curated corner of the venue, light built for it, a real photographer behind the camera. Editorial-quality images delivered the next morning. Sessions run on-site — there is no fixed Lethe studio to walk into; the equipment travels in for each booking.
Outside of booth nights, the same camera goes out for day rates (an on-call NYC photographer for an evening, a weekend, or longer) and private portrait commissions (half-day to weekend sessions in a chosen location, delivered as a printed folio and high-resolution scans).
Studio facts
What's in the bag
Equipment matters less than people think — but for the record, the booth and event work runs on:
- Sony A7 IV — primary mirrorless body. 33 MP, full-frame, fast face/eye autofocus, strong low-light performance for venues with imperfect ambient light.
- Sigma 35mm f/1.2 DG DN Art — for environmental portraits, group shots, and tight rooms. The fast aperture is the reason it's in the bag.
- Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM — for single-subject booth portraits and tighter editorial frames. The classic portrait length.
- Profoto A2 — compact studio strobe used for booth setups. Quiet, controllable, doesn't overwhelm the room.
- Mamiya 7 with an 80mm f/4 — a medium-format film rangefinder, used for personal projects and the occasional between-event atmosphere frame. Not a booth tool.
Where the name comes from
"Lethe was named for the river of forgetfulness. The pictures are the small refusal."
Lethe is the river of forgetting in Greek myth. The name is the brief: parties are designed to be erased — the next morning blurs the night before. The photographs are the refusal. One curated corner of the room, one frame at a time, the kind of picture that survives the morning after.
How to work with the studio
Inquiries come through the contact form or to hello@lethestudio.org. The studio responds personally within 48 hours. Bookings are confirmed with a deposit; full details, deliverables, and timing are agreed in writing before the shoot day so the day itself can stay loose.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the photographer behind Lethe Studio?
Lethe Studio is an editorial photography practice founded in New York in 2023. The studio operates as a small, single-lead practice — every booth, event, and commission is handled personally. There is no anonymous handoff.
Where is Lethe Studio based?
Lethe Studio operates as a mobile studio in New York City. There is no fixed retail address. Sessions and photo booths run on-location at venues across New York City; equipment travels in for each booking.
What kind of photography does Lethe Studio specialize in?
Three formats, all editorial in style: editorial photo booths for fashion-week parties and brand activations, on-call event photography (day rates) in NYC, and private portrait commissions. The look across all three is editorial — considered light, considered composition, the kind of portrait that holds up the next morning.
What equipment does Lethe Studio use?
For booth and event work: Sony A7 IV body with a Sigma 35mm f/1.2 DG DN Art and a Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM, lit with a Profoto A2. A Mamiya 7 medium-format film body comes out for personal projects and occasional between-event atmosphere images.
How many events has Lethe Studio shot since 2023?
A select few dozen editorial booths, brand events, and private commissions. The studio scales deliberately to keep each booking personally handled rather than handed off.