Gerber + Scarpelli Photography

What Gerber + Scarpelli Photography does

Gerber + Scarpelli Photography is a privately held commercial photography studio founded in 1999 and based in Chicago, Illinois. The studio operates with a core team of four photographers — co-founders Kurt Gerber and Mike Scarpelli plus Belen Aquino and Nick Gerber — who have worked together for more than 15 years. It produces still photography and video content across six service categories: Editorial, Food+Bev, Events, Interiors, Portraits, and Branding, serving a mix of large enterprise brands, hospitality and F&B operators, agencies, and individuals.

The studio's underlying capability is high-end commercial image-making in challenging real-world environments — low-light hotel lobby bars, fine-dining restaurants, luxury events, and on-location editorial — distributed to clients through print, social, web, and email channels. It runs a Squarespace portfolio website (rebranded 'Gerber + Scarpelli: Now') with social sharing into Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Reddit, and Pinterest, and acquires work via direct contact form and phone.

The business model is project-based professional services: pricing is not publicly disclosed and is negotiated per engagement. The studio's primary revenue anchors are multi-year enterprise relationships in Chicago's luxury hospitality market — most notably a nearly decade-long engagement across multiple Chicago Hilton Properties, plus ongoing work with Four Seasons Chicago, Loews Chicago, and St Regis Chicago — supplemented by recurring F&B clients, real-estate development work (Bronzeville Lakefront), and brand-activation partnerships with names such as GOOP, Macallan, Stella Artois, and Modern Luxury. Geographic scope is primarily Chicago-area with occasional destination projects, including a Baha Mar resort shoot in the Bahamas.

Name

Gerber + Scarpelli Photography

Legal name

Gerber + Scarpelli Photography

Website

https://gerberscarpellinow.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Gerber + Scarpelli Photography is a privately held Chicago-based commercial photography studio producing stills and video across editorial, food and beverage, events, interiors, portraits, and branding for luxury hospitality, F&B, and lifestyle clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Photography Services

NAICS

Commercial Photography (541922), Photographic Services (54192)

SIC

Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)

akta.pro primary industry

Photography & Photo Production (BPAFAIAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Photography & Still Production (Stills, Product, Lifestyle) (MPAAAMAI)

Keywords

• Commercial photography services
• Hospitality photography
• Food beverage photography
• Editorial portrait photography
• Brand content photography

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Photography services: Commercial photography services for brands, hotels, restaurants, and events. Projects include social media content, event photography, catering and sales materials, editorial work, and branding campaigns.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Gerber + Scarpelli Photography is a Chicago-based commercial photography studio that produces still images and video content for hotels, restaurants, brands, agencies, and publications. The studio delivers work across editorial, food and beverage, events, interiors, portraits, and branding categories, with content deployed by clients across print, social media, websites, and email campaigns.

Product overview

Gerber + Scarpelli Photography operates as a commercial photography studio offering six core photography service categories: Editorial, Food and Beverage, Events, Interiors, Portraits, and Branding. The studio specializes in creating visual content for luxury hotels, restaurants, hospitality brands, and lifestyle clients in the Chicago area and beyond. Projects are delivered across various mediums from print to social media, serving large and small brands, individuals, agencies, and firms. The company was established by Kurt Gerber and Mike Scarpelli and has been operating for over 15 years with a team including Belen Aquino and Nick Gerber.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Editorial Photography Services Editorial photography services for publications and magazines, featuring portrait and lifestyle imagery for editorial coverage.
• Food and Beverage Photography Services Food and beverage photography services for restaurants, hotels, cafes, and beverage brands, capturing culinary offerings and dining experiences.
• Events Photography Services Events photography services for corporate conferences, luxury hotel events, and brand activations.
• Interiors Photography Services Interior design and hospitality photography services showcasing hotel lobbies, restaurants, and retail spaces.
• Portraits Photography Services Professional portrait photography services for individuals, corporate teams, and personal branding campaigns.
• Branding Photography Services Brand-focused photography services creating visual content for marketing campaigns, social media, and brand identity materials.

Quantifiable outcome

• 17+ years in business with 15+ years as a cohesive team
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, core and minor.

• CTC Destination ManagementstrategicGTM or Marketing Partner · 23 January 2024Partnership with CTC Destination Management for the Four Seasons Group Leadership Conference. CTC along with the Chicago Four Seasons crew delivered luxury event design paired with five star hospitality including wellness, experiences, culinary surprises and delightful details.
• Modern Luxury CSstrategicGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership with Modern Luxury CS and Stella Artois on a series of summer concerts around downtown Chicago. Images used in both print and on social media by both brands.
• MacallanstrategicGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Macallan and Four Seasons Chicago yacht experience collaboration. The studio crafted a library of images and videos capturing the luxurious yacht journey with Macallan ambassador, handcrafted cocktails, and Chicago skyline views.
• Bronzeville LakefrontstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Multi-year relationship with the Chicago South Side Mega-Development from 2020-2022. Created social media content, videos, web content, and community portrait photography. Served as a bridge from the development to residents of the South Side of Chicago.
• Chicago Area Hilton PropertiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNearly a decade-long relationship with Chicago Area Hilton Properties including Hilton Chicago, The Palmer House Hilton, The Drake, and Hiltons in Rosemont and O'Hare. Projects include social media content generation, event and catering sales materials, and collaborations with PR and editorial partners.
• Four Seasons ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing relationship with Four Seasons Chicago including yacht experience photography, group leadership conference documentation, and management team portraits for hotel opening.
• Loews ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing relationship with Loews properties in Chicago, with bi-annual refresh of food and beverage photos for ETA and Streeterville Social restaurants.
• GOOPstrategicGTM or Marketing PartnerGoop's go-to photography partner for Chicago based events with brands like Ketel One, Chase Sapphire and YouTheory. Work includes events, editorial, and lifestyle photography.
• Ketel OneminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBrand featured in GOOP Chicago events photographed by the studio.
• Chase SapphireminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBrand featured in GOOP Chicago events photographed by the studio.
• YouTheoryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBrand featured in GOOP Chicago events photographed by the studio.
• Stella ArtoisstrategicGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner brand for summer concert series photography with Modern Luxury CS around downtown Chicago.
• Party Little ThingsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRachel from Party Little Things masterfully produced and styled the Toni Patisserie holiday catalog photoshoot.
• Festive FrogminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided tastefully chosen table and glassware for Toni Patisserie holiday catalog photography.
• BBJ LinensminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided linens that complemented the overall aesthetic for Toni Patisserie holiday catalog photography.
• Beau ChateauminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided backdrop for Toni Patisserie holiday catalog photography.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Andrew Purcell: Commercial food and beverage photographer producing editorial and branded content for restaurants, hotels, and CPG brands. Overlapping service categories (F&B, editorial, branding) and similar premium client mix.
• Christina Wedge: Editorial and commercial photographer producing food, beverage, travel, and hospitality imagery for hotels, magazines, and lifestyle brands. Directly comparable in editorial + commercial hospitality focus.
• Anthony Tahlier Photography: Chicago-based commercial photographer specializing in food, beverage, hospitality, and interiors for hotels, restaurants, and brands. Directly comparable to Gerber + Scarpelli in market, craft, and Chicago hospitality client base.
• Petrina Tinslay: Commercial photographer specializing in food, interiors, and lifestyle imagery for hospitality, restaurant, and consumer brands. Comparable deliverables (still + video) and high-end hospitality clientele.
• Eric Wolfinger: Renowned commercial photographer focused on food, beverage, and hospitality storytelling for cookbooks, restaurants, and luxury brands. Comparable craft specialization and enterprise client roster.

Broad incumbents

• Getty Images Commercial: Global stock and editorial imagery platform serving hotels, restaurants, brands, and publishers. While not a direct commissioned-photography competitor, it represents a broader incumbent alternative for hospitality marketing imagery.
• Tribe Photography (Hotel Photography Agency): Specialized hotel and vacation rental photography agency offering standardized content production for hospitality chains. A broader incumbent competing for the same hotel marketing budgets but at scale and with a multi-photographer model.

Emerging players

• Heather Saunders Photography: Chicago-based commercial and editorial photographer producing lifestyle, hospitality, and branding imagery for hotels and restaurants. Geographic overlap with Gerber + Scarpelli and similar client verticals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gerber---scarpelli-photography

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gerber + Scarpelli Photography