About
I’m Lisa Hancock, a New York City–based photographer. I grew up in the city in a family of musicians, surrounded early on by creative work and performance. As a teenager and young adult, I wanted to be an actor, studied theatre in school, and trained at HB Studio—an experience that continues to shape how I photograph people today.
Before focusing on headshots, my background was in documentary photography and long-form visual storytelling. That training informs my attention to gesture, expression, and the subtle shifts that happen when someone relaxes in front of the camera. I’m drawn to images that feel honest and grounded rather than overly constructed.
Much of my work focuses on creating calm, confidence-building headshot sessions, particularly for actors. I describe that process in more detail here.
I work out of a small, light-filled apartment studio in Brooklyn. It’s an intentional choice: the setting allows sessions to feel focused and low-pressure, which often leads to more natural photographs. For clients who prefer a larger commercial studio environment, I’m happy to discuss alternative arrangements.
If you’d like a deeper look at my approach, I recently spoke with Steve Hansen for The Happiness Archive about my work as a headshot photographer and the path that led me here.
Outside of client work, I continue to pursue personal projects—particularly documentary photography—and spend my time reading, walking with my dog, drawing and painting, and exploring the world.
If you have questions or would like to talk about whether a headshot session is right for you, feel free to reach out.