Oz Pearlman · by Alex Karnyukhin for Forbes, 2024
PRIVATE PORTRAIT COMMISSIONS · NEW YORK
Portraits by Alex Karnyukhin
For the people magazines put on their covers: chief executives, founders, investors, public figures. Photographed by Alex. Produced by Match Production.
30+ MAGAZINE COVERS · FORBES · FORBES LIFE · FORBES WOMEN · ESQUIRE · GQ · INC. · MEN'S HEALTH · ELLE
Most of the people in these photographs did not choose the photographer, the concept, or the frame the world ended up seeing. A press shoot belongs to the publication: its story, its cover line, its crop. Two of the chairmen Alex has photographed gave the camera less than two minutes between meetings, and the picture still had to hold.
A private commission reverses the terms. The same caliber of portrait, planned and produced the same way, made for you rather than about you. You agree the direction with Alex before the sitting, the light is rehearsed before you arrive, and the finished portraits are licensed to you, not to a magazine.
SELECTED COVERS
Ten Forbes daily covers in the last three years.
ICHAEL DORRELL · STONEPEAK · DAILY COVER, APRIL 2025
ANKUR JAIN · BILT · DAILY COVER, APRIL 2024
FRANCIS PEDRAZA · INVISIBLE · DAILY COVER, FEBRUARY 2025
DOUG OSTROVER · BLUE OWL · DAILY COVER, MAY 2024
IGOR TULCHINSKY · WORLDQUANT · DAILY COVER, MAY 2025
MARK SOTIR · EQUITY GROUP INVESTMENTS · DAILY COVER, MARCH 2024
MICHAEL NOVOGRATZ · GALAXY DIGITAL · DAILY COVER, JANUARY 2026
PETER RAHAL · DAVID · DAILY COVER, DECEMBER 2024
MISHA ESIPOV · NOVA CREDIT · DAILY COVER, FEBRUARY 2025
CHRISTOPHER DAVIS · DAVIS ADVISORS · DAILY COVER, MARCH 2024
THE COMMISSION
One person. A half-day of production. Ninety minutes of photography.
Every commission is photographed and art-directed by Alex, with a dedicated producer, a first assistant, and hair and makeup on set. The direction is agreed before the sitting; the studio is held for a half day so the light is ready before you arrive.
Six master portraits, retouched under Alex's supervision, delivered with the licence your office actually needs: press, leadership pages, boards, publications, speaking. Commissions begin at $12,500 and are arranged through the studio's producer.
I · THE BRIEF
One conversation, with you or your office: the role, the rooms the portraits will live in, the direction.
References and wardrobe reviewed remotely. Studio booked, light planned, call sheet issued, confidentiality handled.
II · PRODUCTION
III · THE SITTING
Grooming first, then about ninety minutes of photography across several directions, reviewed live. You leave on time.
IV · DELIVERY
Selects in a private gallery, yours or your designated contact's. One priority portrait within a day; the finished set within days of your selects.
Francis Pedraza · by Alex Karnyukhin for Forbes, 2025
ARRANGED THROUGH ONE PERSON
Most commissions are arranged by a chief of staff, an assistant, or a communications office. The subject attends one thing: the sitting.
NDAs, embargoes and closed sets are ordinary here. Nothing is published without written consent.
Publication names and cover artwork are shown to document Alex Karnyukhin's photography credits. All trademarks and artwork belong to their respective rights holders; their appearance does not imply endorsement of Match Production.