Joseph Seif is a photographer, cinematographer, and composer based in Los Angeles and San Francisco whose work spans commercial advertising, editorial portraiture, and long-form visual storytelling. His photography and films have been commissioned by global brands, media companies, and cultural institutions, and his work has taken him across a wide range of environments, from film sets and studio productions to some of the most remote locations on Earth.

Joseph trained at the Global Cinematography Institute in Los Angeles under legendary directors of photography Vilmos Zsigmond, ASC and Yuri Neyman, ASC. His narrative and television cinematography credits include Ground Control, A Day, Henry Miller: Prophet of Desire, The Auditor, Lost Love, and Rebel in Rising. His second feature film, Tellers, was theatrically released in 2019, and several short films he lensed have screened on the international festival circuit. His advertising work has received multiple honors, including two Silver Awards at the 2020 American Advertising Awards and additional recognition from the Hollywood Film Competition and the London Fashion Film Festival.

In parallel with his film work, Seif has built an international photography practice that includes commercial campaigns, brand storytelling projects, and editorial portraiture. His first photography book, ONWARD, a collection of personal images created over twelve years of travel and assignments, is carried in select bookstores including Leica Gallery LA, Leica NY, and Hennessey + Ingalls.

Joseph is also known for bringing a production-driven approach to visual storytelling in challenging environments. An ASA-certified sailor and experienced scuba diver, he has used his underwater cinematography skills on commercial projects with athletes from the USA Olympic swim team. In 2022 he traveled to Antarctica on assignment for National Geographic Expeditions, an experience that expanded his personal documentary work and led to subsequent expeditions in Svalbard and East Greenland.

His forthcoming photography book, Midnight Sun (May 2026, Daylight Books), builds on this body of work, using the polar regions as a backdrop for a broader exploration of humanity’s relationship with the natural world.

Joseph is a member of the International Cinematographers Guild (ICG Local 600), an IAATO Antarctic Ambassador, and a board member of the American Photographic Artists (APA) Los Angeles chapter. He is represented by Paradigm.