Marc Benjamin Photography Blog bio picture

What's Marc's Story?

I use a combination of natural light and precision flash photography techniques for my work. More importantly and what really matters is that I'm really good at making people look good in pictures. My clients tend to end up being my friends and my friends tend to end up being my clients. I think that's pretty cool.

My studio is based out of the San Francisco Bay Area. I'm a Master Photographer which is the photography field's equivalent of being an international level black belt in Karate. There are less than 2.5% of us who have earned the title amongst all the professional photographers in the world. Since the Karate analogy's already out there, I think I could get away with saying that the pictures my clients and I create, kick ass!

I'm also a national level speaker within the photographic community. My topics range from how to possition people to make them look good, how to light people to make them look good and how to find angles that help make people look good. Catch the theme yet?

I'm totally addicted to audio books. My earphones are almost glued to my head it's freaky scary. I go through a new book every couple of weeks. Mostly fiction and fantasy adventures. I've listned to the entire Twilight Saga 3 times though I think Kristen Stewarts to hot to play Bella Cullen. 

When not reading err listening to books, I'm into Movies, TV, very lazy Sunday afternoons and spontanious drives down the California coast. I think Bon Jovi's Crossroads albums is the best album of all time and I've seen almost all of the Cirque du Soleil shows in Vegas.

I love traveling! I've done photography work and lectures all over the United States, Canada and Mexico. On my 21st birthday, I went on a Scandanavian soul searching vacation because of some girl. I've drank Absinthe in Denmark, that tequilla (mescal really) with the worm in it in Mexico and a lot of cheap gin in the Philippines. I think frequent flyer programs are a big sham. I love Sushi even more, one of my goals is to get a special roll named after me at the sushi bar down the street from my studio.

Thanks for stopping by, check in frequently and I hope to see you in the real world.

Accomplishments and Awards

Wedding Photographer of the Year - Professional Photographers of California, 2009

Master Photographer - 1st Filipino-American to be awarded the prestigious tittle by PPA, 2009

Professional Photographer of the Year - Professional Photographers of America, 2008

Professional Photographer of the Year - Professional Photographers of Sacramento, 2008

Wedding Photographer of the Year - Professional Photographers of California, 2008

Fuji Masterpiece Award for Best Wedding Image - Western States (CA, OR, WA, AZ, BC, NV, HI) Regional Print Competition, 2008

Photographic Craftsman - Awarded by PPA, 2008

Professional Photographer of the Year - Professional Photographers of America, 2007

Wedding Photographer of the Year - Professional Photographers of California, 2007

Professional Photographer of the Year - Professional Photographers of America, 2006

Professional Photographer of the Year - Professional Photographers of Sacramento, 2006

Best Image of the Year - Professional Photographers of Sacramento, 2006

Best Wedding Image of the Year - Western States (CA, OR, WA, AZ, BC, NV, HI) Regional Print Competition, 2006

Professional Photographer of the Year - Professional Photographers of Sacramento, 2005

Wedding Photographer of the Year - Professional Photographers of the Greater (San Francisco) Bay Area,  2005

Wedding Image of the Year - Professional Photographers of the Greater (San Francisco) Bay Area,  2005

Studio Photographer of the Year - Professional Photographers of the Greater (San Francisco) Bay Area,  2005