Tess Ayano is a New York based Japanese-American photographer and director. Her formative years in Tokyo shaped who she is, and her creative sensibility is often inspired by the transitory nature of life that is deeply rooted in Japanese culture and philosophy. Her love of cinema and fondness for early 20th century photographs, which she acquired during her time as an archivist for an art gallery handling photographic prints, gives her work a timeless quality.

Her subjects appear completely at ease in-front of her lens, a firm nod to Tess’s strength in building trust with those she photographs, and a sentiment celebrated throughout her personal project, Japanese New Yorkers, an ongoing portrait series of Japanese living in New York. Tess’s thoughtful and organic approach to image-making has led to commissions with Dior, Chanel, Apple, Vogue, WSJ Magazine, The New York Times and more.