125+ US Photojournalists on Instagram: 2025
Photojournalists on Instagram list UPDATED FOR 2025!
By Sean Rayford
Instagram sucks. But there are still photojournalists using the the platform and sharing important work from around the world — and here where I live in the United States. It’s harder to curate your feed these days — more than ever, but here’s an effort.
I like photojournalism more than I like sunsets, mountains or influencers. I like still photography with context. I don’t like vertical video. I like seeing what people do at their jobs, how they play, how they celebrate and grieve. I like seeing how people navigate the challenges that life throws at them. I like seeing how people do these things in my community and in other communities.
If you are like me, or want to add some storytelling about real people to that mix of sunsets and mountains - here’s a giant list of photojournalists and documentary photographers based in the United States and active on Instagram. Please contact me if I have overlooked anyone. I’m sure I did.
Alaska
Mark Lester / @marclesterphoto / Anchorage, Alaska / Anchorage Daily News
Arizona
Caitlin O’Hara / @caitlin_oh / Phoenix, Arizona
Kelly Presnell / @kellypresnell / Tucson, Arizona / Arizona Daily Star
Patrick J Breen / @patrickjbreen / Phoenix, Arizona / The Arizona Republic
Rachel Woolf / @rachelwoolfphoto / Denver, Colorado
California
Jessica Christian / @jachristian / San Fransisco, California / SF Chronicle
Patrick Fallon / @patrickfallon / Los Angeles, California / AFP
Brian Feinzimer / @bri.fei / Los Angeles, California
Kori Suzuki / @korisuzukiphoto / San Diego, California
Stepehen Lam / @stephenlamphoto / San Fransisco, California / SF Chronicle
Colorado
Michael Ciaglo / @michaelciaglo / Denver, Colorado
Rachel Woolf / @rachelwoolfphoto / Denver, Colorado
Rudy Ortega/ rudyortega / Denver, Colorado
Logan Trevor Newell / @adventuresofbeard / Fort Collins, Colorado - The Coloradoan
Dustin Chambers / @dustchambers / Atlanta, Georgia
DiSTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Al Drago / @al_drago / Washington, DC
Anna Rose Layden / @annaroselayden / Washington, DC
Chip Somodevilla / @somophoto / Washington, DC / Getty Images
Jim Watson / @jimwatsonafp / Washington, DC / AFP
Ken Cedeno / @ken_cedeno / Washington, DC
Mary F. Calvert / @maryfcalvert / Washington, DC
Stephen Crowley / @crowleygraph / Washington, DC
Julia Nikhinson / @julia.nikhinson / Washington, DC
Kent Nishimuru / @kentnish / Washington, DC
Eric Lee / @itselee / Washington, DC
Bryan Dozier / @bryandozierphoto / Washington, DC
Craig Hudson / @chudsonphoto / Washington SC
Aaron Schwartz / @aaronschwartzphoto / Washington DC
Florida
Crystal Vander Weit / @crystalvanderweit / Treasure Coast, Florida / Treasure Coast Palm
Saul Martinez / @saulmartinezphoto / South Florida
Georgia
Dustin Chambers / @dustchambers / Atlanta, Georgia
Elijah Nouvelage / @wanderinghome / Atlanta, Georgia
Erik Lesser / @epalesser / Atlanta, Georgia
Miguel Martinez / @mmartinezatl / Atlanta, Georgia / AJC
Brynn Anderson / @brynnranderson / Atlanta, Georgia / AP
Arvin Temkar / @arvintemkar / Atlanta, Georgia / AJC
Adam Dewey / @adjadewey / Detroit, Michigan
Indiana
Jenna Watson / @jennajulyaugust / Indianapolis, Indiana / Indy Star
Illinois
Brian Cassella / @briancassella / Chicago, Illinois / Chicago Tribune
Colin Boyle / @colinbphoto / Chicago, Illinois
Talia Sprague / @taliasprague / Chicago, Illinois
Iowa
Lily Smith / @lilyas53 / Des Moines, Iowa / Des Moines Register
Jordan Gale / @jordangalephoto / Iowa / Oregon
Joseph Cress / @josephwcress / Iowa City, Iowa
Cody Scanlan / @scanlancody / Des Moines, Iowa / DM Register
Kentucky
Luke Sharrett / @howdyluke / Louisville, Kentucky
Silas Walker / @silasiwalker / Lexington, Kentucky / Lexington Herald-Leader
Wayan Barre / @wayanbarre / New Orleans, Louisiana
Louisiana
Emily Kask / @ek_the_pj / New Orleans, Louisiana
Wayan Barre / @wayanbarre / New Orleans, Louisiana
Chris Granger / @cgranger / New Orleans, Louisiana / Times-Picayune
Christiana Botic / @christianiabotic / New Orleans / Verite News Nola
Maryland
Katina Zentz / @katzentzphotos / Frederick, Maryland / Fredererick News Post
Jessica Gallagher / @jessicagallagherimagery / Baltimore, Maryland / Baltimore Banner
Kylie Cooper / @kyliecooperphoto / Baltimore, Maryland / Baltimore Banner (Fellow)
Massachusetts
Sophie Park / @sophieupark / Boston, Massachusetts
Angela Rowlings / @angelarowlings / Boston, Massachusetts
Sarah Beth Maney / @sbmaneyphoto / Michigan / Detroit Free Press
Michigan
Adam Dewey / @adjadewey / Detroit, Michigan
Nick Antaya / @nicantaya / Detroit, Michigan
Jake May / @jakemayphoto / Flint, Michigan
Sarah Beth Maney / @sbmaneyphoto / Michigan / Detroit Free Press
Ryan Garza / @ryangarza / Detroit, MIchigan - Detroit Free Press
MiNNESOTA
Alex Korman / @alexkormann12 / Minneapolis, Minnesota / Star Tribune
Joel Alquist / @jahlquist / Rochester, Minnesota
Nicole Neri / @nicolehneri / Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minh Connors / @minhconnors / Columbia, Missouri
MIssouri
Minh Connors / @minhconnors / Columbia, Missouri
Charlie Riedel / @charlie_riedel_pix / Kansas City, Missouri / AP
Brian Munoz / @brianmmunoz / St. Louis Public Radio
Michael B Thomas / @miketphotog / Michael B. Thomas
MIssissippi
Hannah Ruhoff / @theruhoffphotography / Biloxi, Mississippi / Sun Herald
Rory Doyle / @rorydoylephoto / Cleveland, Mississippi
Micah Green / @micahgreen15 / Mississippi
Micah Green / @micahgreen15 / Mississippi
Montana
Ben Allen Smith / @basmith.photo / Missoula, Montana / Missoulian
Nebraska
Ken Ferriera / @kenferriera / Lincoln, Nebraska / Lincoln Star Journal
Nikos Frazier / @nikosfrazier / Omaha, Nebraska / Omaha World Herald
Chris Machian / @chrismachian / Omaha, Nebraska / Omaha World Herald
New JERSEY
New Mexico
Chancey Bush / @chanceybush / Alburquque, New Mexico / Alburquque Journal
New York
Alexi J. Rosenfeld / @alexirosenfeld / New York, New York
Lauren Petracca / @laurenpetracca / Rochester, New York
Gabbie Bhaskar / @dontgabalot / New York, New York
Yunghi Kim / @yunghi.kim / New York, New York / Contact Press Images
Michael Santiago / @msantiagophotos / Brooklyn, New York / Getty Images
Stephanie Keith / @steffikeith / New York, New York
Sydney Walsh / @sydneywalshphoto / New York, New York
Adam Gray / @agrayphot0 / New York, New York
Spencer Platt / @plattys1 / Brooklyn, New York
Christian Monterossa / @chrismatography / New York,, New York
Allison Joyce / @allisonsarahjoyce / Wilmington, North Carolina
North Carolina
Allison Joyce / @allisonsarahjoyce / Wilmington, North Carolina
Bob Karp / @photopup / Raleigh, North Carolina
Cornell Watson / @cornwhizzle / Durham, North Carolina
Madeline Gray / @madelinepgray / Wilmington, North Carolina
Juan Diego Reyes / @juandiego_reyes / Asheville, North Carolina
Kate Medley / @katemedley / North Carolina
Ohio
Dustin Franz / @dustin_franz / Cleveland, Ohio
Kurt Steiss / @kurtsteiss / Toledo, Ohio / Toldeo Blade
Oregon
Joe Lamberti / @joe_lamb / Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennstlvania
Hannah Beier / @hannah.beier / Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Joe Lamberti / @joe_lamb / Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Mark Makela / @markmakela / Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Nate Smallwood / @natesmallwood / Pittsburg, Pennsylvania
Sam Wolfe / @samwolfephoto / Columbia, South Carolina
Sean Rayford / @theangrywhale / Columbia, South Carolina
South Carolina
Andrew Whittaker / @andrewjwhitaker / Charleston, South Carolina / Post and Courier
Gavin McEntyre / @gavin_mci / Charleston, South Carolina / Post and Courier
Henry Taylor / @henrytaylorphoto / Charleston, South Carolina / Post and Courier
Jason Lee / @jleemedia / Myrtle Beach, South Carolina / The Sun News
Jeff Blake / @jeffblakephotog / Columbia, South Carolina
Joshua Boucher / @joshuaaaboucher / Columbia, South Carolina / The State Newspaper
Sam Wolfe / @samwolfephoto / Columbia, South Carolina
John Carolos II / @jac2photo / Columbia, South Carolina
Sean Rayford / @theangrywhale / Columbia, South Carolina
Thomas Hammond / @thomashammondphoto / Columbia, South Carolina
Thomas Hammond / @thomashammondphoto / Columbia, South Carolina
Tennessee
Stephanie Amador Blonder / @_stephanie_amador / Nashville, Tennessee / Tennessean
Stacy Kranitz / @stacykranitz / Tennessee
Seth Herald / @seth_herald / Nashville, Tennessee
George Walker IV / @gw004 / Nashville, Tennessee
Nicole Hester / @nshester / Nashville, Tennessee
Chris Day / @cjdayphoto / Memphis, Tennessee
Brianna Paciorka / @bpaciorka / Knoxville, Tennessee
Texas
Brandon Bell / @branbell2019 / Austin, Texas / Getty Images
Brett Coomer / @bcoomer713 / Houston, Texas / Houston Chronicle
Emil T Lippe / @etl_photo / Dallas, Texas
Jay Janner / @jayjanner / Austin, Texas / Austin American Statesman
Sara Diggins / @sara_digginsphoto / Austin, Texas / Austin American Statesman
Sergio Flores Jr. / @sfloresjr / Austin, Texas
Justin Hamel / @jmhamel / Waco, Texas
Jay Janner / @jayjanner / Austin, Texas / Austin American Statesman
Utah
Spenser Heaps / @sheaps / Salt Lake, Utah
Lauren Miller / @laurenmiller.jpg / Salt Lake City
Virginia
Zach Roberts / @zdroberts / Norfolk, Virginia
Washington
Emree Weaver / @emree_weaver / Washington
Annie Barker / @annaleigh_marie / Everett, Washington / Everett Herald
David Ryder / @davidmryder / Seattle, Washington
Spenser Heaps / @sheaps / Salt Lake, Utah
Wyoming
Natalie Behring / @znatalie.bettina / Wyoming, Idaho
Ethan Weston / @ethanaweston / Buffalo, Wyoming / Buffalo Bulletin
Luke Johnson / @lukegjphoto / Gillette, Wyoming
City, STate, N/A
Barbara Davidson / @photospice
Carol Guzy / @carolguzy
Stuart Palley / @stuartpalley
Ethan Weston / @ethanaweston / Buffalo, Wyoming / Buffalo Bulletin
About the author: Sean Rayford is a South Carolina photojournalist and regularly publishes at here at sodacitizen.com.