Joe Ligammari | Killer Joe Photography

My passion is lifestyle and family photography.

Hi I’m Joe a Professional Photographer based in Brooklyn NY.  Thanks for taking the time to learn a little about me.

I envision photographs that invoke wonder, amusement, compassion, joy and laugher. To make my clients smile when they see their children and themselves in a photograph. The images I create are “straight ahead” and artistic photography.

My career spans over 20 years. I started  shooting black and white film and developing fine art prints in my basement darkroom. At the time, I worked with a 35mm Nikon FE2 and medium format Hasselblad 500C/M. Today I shoot digital format, using Nikon cameras, lenses and speedlights for on location shooting. Elinchrom lighting equipment is used in my Brooklyn Studio.

I still take out my Hasselblad to shoot black and white Kodak Tri-X film. Friends have told me film is coming back!!! I doubt it, maybe only for nostalgia.

I have studied Photography at the School of Visual Arts and The Cooper Union in New York City. Computers and digital imaging software provide me with tools to create a unique vision of reality.

Drop me a line or call to say hello or to discuss your photography needs. 

More About Me

Born in Dyker Heights Brooklyn, NY and raised in Brooklyn.  I went to Brooklyn Technical HS and to NYU Poly in Brooklyn.  Since I have lived my whole life in Brooklyn and consider myself a real Brooklynite.

Lifestyle Portrait Photography - Killer Joe Photography

My older son Joe and his family.

Raised by my parents who were married for over 65 years. Have a sister, two adult boys who are married and have three grandsons and a granddaughter.

First of all, I started taking pictures when I was about 17 years old. My first camera was a 35mm Pentax. I had a darkroom in my parents basement. The chemicals were smelly, that is what I remember most. It would take hours to develop the film and print a 8×10 inch black and white photograph. Digital photography has completely changed the process.

Growing up in Brooklyn involved playing “stick ball”, “stoop ball” and “slap ball”. Me and my friends would spend all day Saturday and Sunday in the “street” playing ball. “Stick hockey” on roller skates was lots of fun too. In the evenings, we would all sit on my best friends porch and talk until 1 to 2 am.While my friends were going to Yankee and Met games, I was taking pictures and playing jazz guitar.

I studied jazz guitar with Rick Stone and Jack Leone, both wonderful teachers.

Aside from my “creative side”, I am a NY and NJ Licensed Professional Engineer, with degrees in Chemical Engineering and Economics from New York University.