I partner with surf brands, hospitality companies, and destinations to create visual stories that connect people with places, products, and experiences.

Through creative direction, photography, and production, I help brands build campaigns that feel authentic, intentional, and rooted in the environments they represent.

About

Phillip Hernandez is a California-based creative director, photographer, and founder of Photo Phil Productions LLC, a creative studio specializing in surf, travel, and lifestyle brand campaigns.

With a background spanning international communications, creative operations, and commercial photography, Phillip helps organizations translate ideas into visual stories that connect with their audiences. His work combines documentary instinct with strategic thinking, creating imagery that feels both genuine and thoughtfully produced.

Before founding Photo Phil Productions, Phillip spent over a decade working in global communications and creative strategy for international development organizations including the International Monetary Fund. That experience shaped his ability to manage complex projects, collaborate across cultures, and bring structure to creative ideas from concept through execution.

Today, he works with surf brands, hospitality companies, and destination-focused businesses to develop campaigns that capture not only what a product or place looks like, but what it feels like to experience it. From surf campaigns and destination storytelling to hospitality experiences and lifestyle brands, Phillip works across the creative process to develop concepts, direct productions, photograph on location, and deliver visual assets built for modern marketing.

With roots in ocean culture and a global perspective shaped by years working with international teams and communities, Phillip brings a unique combination of creative direction, production expertise, and visual storytelling to every project. BWRAG-certified and experienced in aquatic environments, he is equally comfortable working independently in the water or leading larger campaign productions.

Through Photo Phil Productions, he delivers everything from branded social content and lifestyle photography to editorial storytelling and full gallery rollouts. His images have supported launches, defined aesthetics, and helped shape how modern surf, leisure, and luxury are visually remembered.