ABOUT
Gary Kasl
Architectural & Design Photographer
San Diego, California
Published in
Architectural Digest · Dwell · Modern Luxury · Ranch & Coast
The StoryI didn't stumble into this. I made a very deliberate series of decisions that led me here and I haven't looked back once.
I started as a portrait photographer at Spotlight Studios in San Diego, one of their top shooters. I was good at it. But the business model revealed itself pretty quickly. Weekends, sunset sessions, uninterested husbands, kids who didn't want to be there, and if you were lucky, one booking a year followed by an in-person sales appointment. Hard pass.
Meanwhile I was deep into the photography program at San Diego City College, spending full days in the studio losing track of time completely. The control, the light, the technical problem solving. That was the part I loved. Then I came across a Mike Kelly tutorial and something clicked. Architectural photography could give me everything I loved about studio work and apply it to some of the most incredible spaces in one of the best real estate markets in the country. Repeat clients, reasonable hours, and work that genuinely excited me. It was an easy decision.
I've been obsessed ever since.
ObservationI'm drawn to spaces with strong geometry, natural light, material contrast, and a sense of presence. Whether photographing a modern coastal residence, a hospitality project, or a cultural landmark, the process always begins the same way. Slowing down, studying the environment, and discovering what makes the space feel alive.
ApproachRather than overpowering a scene with heavy production, I prefer to work with the character that already exists within it. Light becomes a guide. Shadows create rhythm. Small shifts in perspective can completely change the emotional weight of an image.
The goal is not simply to document architecture, but to create photographs that feel connected to the experience of being there.
That said I came up through a formal photography program and spent years in the studio obsessing over light and flash composites. When the character of a space needs a little help, I know exactly how to build it. Some architectural photographers take what the light gives them. I shape it, control it, and build it when I have to.
For me, the editing side is where the image actually gets made. Full attention and zero shortcuts.
CollaborationOver the years I've had the opportunity to photograph some of Southern California's most recognized residential and architectural spaces while collaborating with architects, interior designers, hospitality brands, builders, and creative teams who care deeply about their work.
Those collaborations include landmark projects like the Razor House in La Jolla, the Crescent House by Wallace Cunningham, and the late Steve Chase's iconic Palm Springs residence. Work that has appeared in Architectural Digest, Dwell, Modern Luxury, and Ranch & Coast.
Those collaborations continue to shape the way I see and photograph the built environment today.
ExplorationOutside of commissioned work, exploration remains a constant source of inspiration. Road trips, personal projects, quiet moments observing light and structure in unexpected places. That curiosity shows up in the work whether I'm shooting a luxury residence or a brutalist landmark at dusk.
In 2026 I’m bringing that same energy to PMRE in Las Vegas, where I'm joining Andrew Bramasco as a featured workshop instructor. A chance to get in a room with photographers who care about the craft and share what actually works.
The LifePhotography didn't just become my career. It became the thing I built my life around.
The road here wasn't straight and I wouldn't have it any other way. The experiences that shaped me, good and bad, are the reason I approach this work the way I do. With intention, with curiosity, and with a genuine appreciation for where I've ended up.
Mary knew me before I became who I am today and chose me anyway. That says everything about her. She's my biggest supporter and increasingly my most valuable business partner. She has a gift for connecting with people I've genuinely never seen matched and she's starting to put that to work on behalf of what we're building together. Watch that space.
When we're not working we're cooking, golfing, hunting down good speakeasies, and being completely smothered by our three French Bulldogs. Hairy Larry, Lulu, and Mochi, who is their pup and already took over the house.
If you have a project worth photographing, I'd love to hear about it.