Patrick Nugent
Owner/Lead Photographer, Camera 1
It’s a first impression, the handshake before the meeting, the voice before the call and a sense of credibility and who you are before a word is spoken.”
Patrick Nugent is a New York City–based photographer and owner of Camera 1, with two decades of experience in corporate portraiture, events, and post-production. After joining the Times Square studio in 2007 and leading its digital retouching department, he took over as Owner and Lead Photographer in 2022, overseeing all creative direction and operations.
A graduate of the Hallmark Institute of Photography and a former freelance BMX photographer for ESPN, Patrick treats every headshot as a digital handshake. He prioritizes authenticity and personal comfort to ensure every client looks both confident and personable.
My Philosophy
I believe that a headshot is no longer something that’s just stuck to a press release or in the corner of a pitch book. It’s a first impression, the handshake before the meeting, the voice before the call and a sense of credibility and who you are before a word is spoken. I understand that when your name is Googled, an image we create will be one of the first things to show up, that is not a responsibility I take lightly.
Professionalism doesn’t have to erase your personality, being confident doesn’t mean you need to be stiff and being authoritative in your work doesn’t require intimidation. My team and I help people balance those pieces while still making sure they look human.
Most of the people stepping in front of our cameras are in the midst of something BIG happening in their life. A promotion, career change, a new business venture, a first job. My job is to translate you into who you are, and who you are becoming in the next chapter.
I value working efficiently, but not being in a rush. Offering direction but not demanding control. Delivering an excellent final product without ego. While we may be photographers, the camera is just our tool, our real job is helping people feel comfortable, respected and confident in their own skin.
I am here to help give you an edge. While so many people are leaning into AI, my team and I offer the ability to show that our clients are authentic and trustworthy.
Why I Do It
I became a photographer because I was amazed by the ability to capture a moment and keep it forever. Over the course of my career that has shifted tremendously, while corporate work and headshots are often seen as dry and boring, the people are fascinating. We work with people who come from all walks of life and are in a position where something meaningful is on the line.
Outside the Studio
When not in the city running Camera 1, I spend the majority of my time raising my two daughters and three step daughters (yes, it’s hectic) along side my wife in the Hudson Valley. There is plenty of live theater, walks in the woods and loud days involved with a family vacation thrown in every year. The little bit of free time I carve out for myself is spent riding bikes anywhere I can.