Roger Erickson was raised in Oakland, California, where he began his tutelage in fine art photography while studying psychology at San Francisco State University. Best known for his evocative use of lighting and composition, his work represents a unique perspective in American portrait photography.
In 1990 his first commissioned assignment were photographs of Neil Young, with Crazy Horse, for Select Magazine. After which he relocated to London, where he began his career photographing musicians. His images have appeared in numerous magazine editorials, as well as on the covers of Latin American Vogue, Entertainment Weekly, Out Magazine, Ebony Magazine, Q Magazine, The Source, Fast Company and The Advocate Magazine.
In 2015, Meg Shiffler, Gallery Director of the San Francisco Arts Commission Galleries, recently acquired his photographic series entitled “Outspoken: Portraits of LGBTQ Luminaries” for its inaugural exhibition in the restored Beaux Arts, San Francisco City Hall Building. This four month, eighty image exhibition opened June 9th to October 19th, 2015. it also opened the same month as the U.S. Supreme Courts decision on the national legalization of gay marriage (Obergefell v. Hodges).
His notable advertising clients are GQ, T Brand Studios, Grey Goose. LG. H&M, GAP, Bloomingdales, Piloxing, Jockey, Zenith Watches, Mercedes Benz, Lexus, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Fruit of the Loom, Fox Broadcasting, Twentieth Century Television, A&E, CNBC, Disney Entertainment, Interscope Records, Island/Def Jam Music, Sony Music, and Atlantic Records.
Over the course of his career, Roger has photographed many celebrities, musicians and athletes. Among them are Mark Wahlberg, Chris Evans, Eminem, Juliette Lewis, Jerod Leto, Billy Bob Thornton, Samuel Jackson, Elizabeth Banks, Kristen Bell, Neil Young, Wanda Sykes, Usher, Ozzy Osbourne, Zang Ziyi, Evan Rachel Wood, Ray Liotta, Ian McShane, Edward Albee, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Greg Louganis, Sugar Ray Leonard, Georges St. Pierre, Snoop Dog, Dr. Dre, Lil'? Kim, Joan Jett, and LL Cool J.
Roger's work has appeared in numerous books including "Indochine"? (Rizzoli Publishing), "Hip Hop Immortals"? (Sock Bandit Publishing), "More Body and Soul"? (Rizzoli Publishing), "Def Jam Recordings"? (Rizzoli Publishing), "Hip Hop: A Cultural Odyssey"? (Aria Multimedia Entertainment) and in "GOWEST! "? (DAAB Publishing) which profiled and featured his work among other "cutting-edge creatives in the United States"