Ron Foster

National Geographic + The New Yorker Published Photographer

Adobe Image Contributor

Getty Image Contributor

me

I am a professional photographer and interior designer, located in New York City. I have a love for the beauty of architecture, design, and travel. I enjoy experiencing different activities such as trying new foods, cycling, and connecting with other cultures. Life for me is all about truly living my dreams in real time.  I am happy to be a global citizen because I have a passion for sharing our diverse, wonderful, and complex world through photography. 

bio

One Winter morning in 2016 after returning home from Lagos, Nigeria, I sat at my dining room table. I looked out the window, and ponder these thoughts: Ron, are you living your life to its fullest potential, what is your purpose now, and what is next?

I graduated from St Francis College here in New York City with a degree in Aviation Business Studies and a Minor in History. I spent more than a decade working in the Financial Sector and more than that working in Retail as a Visual Merchandiser. I began to see at that point, my career had become a dead-end. I wanted to do more with my life. I wanted to make an impact on the world. I felt a calling to be the change I sought. I no longer could just live life routinely.

" I wanted to do more with my life. I wanted to make an impact on the world. I felt a calling to be the change I sought. I no longer could just live life routinely." - Ron Foster

For many years I lived simply to travel the world but at first, my world was no bigger than America. I have traveled 40 out of the 50 states and enjoyed the hobby of photographing my destinations. But in 2008 I began to travel internationally and never looked back. Now after visiting almost 20 countries and counting, I have fallen in love with the diversity of humanity and experienced its multitudes of cultures. I have become more aware of our effect on climate change, ecosystems, and wildlife. I then realized that I could turn my hobby into a profession to bring awareness to causes that are committed to improving our environmental protections, humanity (equality and justice), and wildlife conservation.

After attending every free, “sometimes paid”, photography training event in NYC over nine months in 2016; in the late Autumn of the same year, I handed in my resignation. One week later I landed on the African continent to embark upon my journey to become a professional photographer. I spent three months nonstop photographing five countries in the African southern region and two countries in the Middle East. My goal is to share my visual story of the world.

In the Spring of 2017, I returned home to creatively build my photography business by participating in networks and collaborating with other entrepreneurs. I am currently an ambassador for the Manhattan Chambers of Commerce, a member of the Brooklyn Soloist, and a Member of SCORE NYC.

My work has been published in The New Yorker, National Geographic, Getty Images, The sun, Adobe, American Cancer Society, HSBC, The Patch, The Bklyner, NYCGO, Ikonic Magazine, and Our Time Press. I've been interviewed by EJ Way, Still Focus, and My Local Heroes. I lectured for Touro College and Berkeley College. Recently my photo focusing on civil justice was on exhibition at “Capture the Movement” and “Brooklyn Resist”.

I currently reside in Brooklyn, New York working on several projects about equality and justice in America during COVID-19. I am also teaching basic photography virtually and in person. I am the volunteer photographer for the Fort Greene Association.

"Photography is my passion and so I will continue to share the world's visual stories." - Ron Foster

The journey continues...

photography skills

• Architecture + Design: Interiors + Exteriors

• Engagements + Wedding Proposals

• Events: Branding, Business, Concerts, Parties, Family Reunion, Funerals, Fairs, Speaking, Awards, Graduation + Proms

• Photojournalism

• Portraits: Head + Full Body Photo Sessions

• Street

• Travel

International travels

I have been fortunate to capture some wonderful images from these amazing places. There is no place too far for me to journey to photograph the world’s stories.

• Barbados

• Bermuda

• Botswana

• Canada

• Costa Rica

• Dubai

• Ghana

• Great Britain

• France

• Iceland

• Italy

• Malta

• Mexico

• Namibia

• Nigeria

• Qatar

• South Africa

• Spain

• Zambia

• Zimbabwe

projects

• Brooklyn Conservatory of Music

• IIDA NY Equity Council

• Photoville

• American Cancer Society: Mean Wear Pink

• Compass

• HSBC Bank: CERG

• Solutions NOW

• Brooklyn Fashion Week

• NY Fashion Weeks

• Fort Greene Association

• Fort Greene Flings

• Fort Greene Historic House Tour

• Fort Greene Soul Summit

• LMNOP: Leadership Mentoring Networking + Professionals

• Lunch Lady

• Manhattan Chamber of Commerce: Business Awards Dinners

• Montreal Jazz Festival

• Society Fashion Week: NYC

• The Riant Theatre Strawberry One-Act Festival

• Summer Sizzle British Virgin Islands

• South African Wildlife

• StylePointe Dance Theater

• African Interior Designs

• African Destinations

• Avalonic Rooms

• Beyond Potential - Live Life Your Way Radio Show

on exhibition

• Brooklyn Resist, 2021

• CAfED, 2022,

• Black Expressions, CAfED, 2023

• Capture the Movement

• Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Plaza, 2020

• Salon on Kingston, 2020

• Bronx River Art Center, 2021

• Bowdoin College, 2022

periodicals

• The New Yorker

• National Geographic

• Interior Design Magazine

• Manhattan Lifestyle Magazine

• The Sun: South Africa

• Bklyner

• Our Times Press

• Patch

• NYGO

• Exalte Magazine

• Ikonic Magazine

interviews

• MediaScope: Season 8 Episode 4 Massive! Hey, it's going to be an exciting edition of the show, as we get to welcome photographer extraordinaire and host of Touch Base Daily, Ron Foster @ronlouisphotos! Join us as we talk about his fantastic photography and video journeys and take questions and comments from you!

• Friday Conversations with Christ Edwards: Fridays guest Ron Foster

• Episode 6 NYC Public Activist Photographer Ron Foster by Still Focus

  Ron and I talk about how the camera found him, traveling to Africa after choosing to quit his job to do so. We also dive into why photography and being a photographer are important to him.  I hope you enjoy this episode… by Alan Sherer on August 21, 2020. To listen to the podcast

• “My Local Heroes” Facebook.com The day after the rioting and the looting of stores in SoHo, the Lower East Side, the Bowery, and Union Square in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, Ron Foster spent three days straight – from sunup to sundown – biking around and photographing every single store whose protective boards had been marked by the work of an artist. Knowing that two weeks later, when the stores began to reopen, this beautiful "art of protest" would come down and be ..., by Eleanor Traubman on July 22, 2020. Continue Reading

• EJ Way, Tuesday Night Live - Creative Entrepreneurs (with Ron Foster) On the next episode of Tuesday Night Live we have special guest Ron Foster joining us to discuss his journey about an issue many people face when it comes to creative skills, which is how to turn them into paid jobs. -Osi Ejiofor on July 21, 2020, For Viewing on YouTube

educational speaking

• Mount Vernon High School

• Turo College

• Berkeley College

• Manhattan Chamber of Commerce Business Referral Group

• Workforce Professionals Training Institute

• Futures and Options

public speaking

• Manhattan Chamber of Commerce

• Australian Consult, NYC

contact me

my interior design link

top of page