Eric Johnson
Photographer
Eric Johnson is an American photographer whose work spans music, fashion, portraiture, and popular culture. With a career spanning over three decades, Johnson is recognized for his portraits of influential figures in hip-hop and R&B, documenting artists and movements that shaped the visual culture of the 1990s, 2000s, and beyond.
His extensive portfolio includes The Notorious B.I.G., Aaliyah, Lauryn Hill, Nas, Missy Elliott, Erykah Badu, Maxwell, and Lady Gaga, alongside contemporary artists including Doja Cat, Shygirl, Pusha T, GloRilla, and Doechii. His photography has featured in the visual campaigns and artwork for landmark albums including The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite, and De La Soul's Stakes Is High.
Johnson's editorial work has appeared in publications including Vogue, Rolling Stone, Interview, i-D, The Face, Dazed, W Magazine, V Magazine, 032c, GQ, Cosmopolitan, The FADER, The New York Times, and ESSENCE. His commercial and fashion collaborations include MTV, Telfar, Nike and Stefano Pilati's Random Identities.
Johnson is also the founder of Upstairs at Eric's, a New York-based creative studio and cultural space bringing together artists, musicians, designers, and creatives across disciplines. The space serves as a platform for photography, events, exhibitions, and creative collaborations, reflecting his longstanding involvement in New York's music, fashion, and arts communities.
In 2022, Johnson received the inaugural Abbey Road Studios Music Photography Icon Award in recognition of his contribution to music photography.
Johnson continues to work across editorial, commercial, and personal projects, photographing established and emerging talent while maintaining an active presence in contemporary music and fashion.
