New York born and Los Angeles based, I am a surfer, photographer, sometime director, dog owner, story teller, writer, traveler, and special education teacher. I began my journey into photography and filmmaking in the early 90’s when you could find me either in the high school film lab or at any number of surf breaks between Rockaway Beach and Montauk, New York filming hundreds of hours of video that I’d edit together using the primitive two VCR and CD player method. 

The photos from that period are unfortunately lost to time, but the remaining surf videos are fun, quirky, and somewhat watchable. Mostly playing in surf shops and libraries across the south shore of Long Island. Some overly generous reviews at the time suggested they were generally well received.

After college, I spent 15 years as a Special Education teacher in New York City Public Schools and San Diego Unified School District. While teaching full time, I continued to surf, travel, and take photos; roadtripping back and forth across the United States (19 times and counting), exploring Eastern and Western Europe by rail, and hiking and surfing my way through Panama and Costa Rica. 

I eventually said goodbye to teaching and picked up my camera full time. While my love of education remains strong, it’s through photography and directing that I am able to express myself and combine my love of storytelling, art, travel, and meeting new people.

Currently based in Los Angeles and available worldwide, my work is passionate and spontaneous and influenced by the things I love and the things that continue to fascinate me.

Thanks for stopping by.

Contact: john@johnschellphoto.com

Represented by Alyssa Pizer Management

Contact: Alyssa@alyssapizer.com

@johnschell