Scott McDermott grew up in Switzerland, backpacked through the American West and trekked the Himalayas before spending the last 20+
years as a commercial photographer in New York City. After initially shooting sports, Scott’s work eventually shifted toward the
athletes themselves and portraiture. This led to photographing many of the best creative minds in Hollywood, the music industry
and the worlds of business and government. Along with his advertising work for global brands and major magazines, Scott has
created several personal projects, including his “Scar Stories” portrait series, the highly acclaimed  “Mandela Day” project
(capturing the hands and faces of many of those who support Nelson Mandela’s message.) and a series of portraits
accompanying the film ‘Pop Culture’ about the fatherhood experience. His fine art work has shown at solo and group exhibits
and is held in many collections internationally.
Scott is also a director on a variety of projects through his production company, Magenin Films . He recently directed a feature
documentary “Danica: DRIVEN” that follows racing driver Danica Patrick in the lead up to her final race before retirement. The
film was selected into ten film festivals, and has won awards for Best Biographical Film Best Sports Film and; Best Cinematography
Scott is an International Cinematographers Guild Local 600 member.

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Scott McDermott

Scott McDermott is an American artist whose vision has been shaped by a life lived across cultures. Raised as an expat in the Netherlands and Switzerland, McDermott developed a keen eye for visual storytelling during a gap year traveling through the Himalayas and the American West. Upon returning to the United States, he earned a degree in Photography and Cinematography, with a minor in Art History, from Ithaca College. He has since spent over two decades in New York City building a prolific career as a photographer and director.

Internationally recognized for his stylized portraiture, McDermott has captured some of the most compelling figures in film, music, art, and politics—including Robert DeNiro, David Letterman, Clint Eastwood, Jeff Koons, Adrien Brody, and Sharon Stone, to name a few. His work spans global campaigns, editorial features, and award-winning documentaries, but always centers around a singular goal: telling emotionally resonant, visually arresting stories.

Alongside his commercial work, McDermott has cultivated an evolving fine art practice. His acclaimed portrait series Scar Stories explored the beauty of imperfection and survival, while Mandela Day documented the faces and hands of those championing Nelson Mandela’s legacy. His portraits accompanying the film Pop Culture highlighted the complexities of modern fatherhood.

His latest body of work, The Backline Series, marks a new chapter. Born backstage at a Red Hot Chili Peppers concert, this series pays tribute to the unsung heroes of live music—the instruments themselves. Shot in vivid color and rendered at monumental scale, The Backline Series transforms road-worn guitars, battered drum kits, vintage amps, and studio gear into modern relics. These objects, once extensions of the artist’s body, now stand alone—weathered, iconic, and full of stories. The project celebrates the tactile power of music and the physical tools that helped forge the sound of American rebellion.

McDermott’s fine art photography has been exhibited internationally in solo and group shows, and is held in both private and institutional collections. He is also a film director and co-founder of Magenin Films. His feature documentary Danica: DRIVEN—chronicling race car driver Danica Patrick’s final season—was an official selection at ten film festivals and received multiple awards.

When he’s not behind the camera, Scott builds guitars, writes children’s books, and lives in New York City with his wife and two children.

CLIENTS

AARP, Abbott Healthcare, Abbvie, ABC, Absolut, Acer, Adidas, Amazon, AT&T, Bank of America, Bausch & Lomb, BlackRock, Bravo TV, CBS, Champion, CW-X, Dell, Deutsche Bank, DIRECTV, Discovery Channel, Disney, Entertainment Weekly, Gilead, Golf Digest, GlaxoSmithKline, Haute Living, Head & Shoulders, HBO, iPayment, JetBlue, Kaplan, Macy’s, Mandela Day/ 46664, Marlboro Racing, Matrix Hair, Men’s Health, Miramax, NBC, Nike, NYRR, Outside, Old Spice, Paramount+, Peacock, Penguin, Playboy, Polo RLX, Rodale Books, Quest Diagnostics, Sears, Ski Mag, Starbucks, Swiss RE, Time, Time Warner, USA Network, Simon & Schuster, Sinvin, Spike TV, SYFY, Tanqueray Gin, Target, Universal, USA Boxing.

Awards

 

  • 1x AI-AP International Motion Art Awards
  • 1x APA Short Film Contest Winner
  • 4x American Photography Awards
  • 2x Black & White Spider Awards
  • 5x Communication Arts Photo Annual
  • 1x Davey Award
  • 2x Int’l Color Awards
  • 4x Int’l Photography Awards
  • 1x Lens Culture Critics Pick Award
  • 2x Lurzer’s Archive 200 Best
  • 1x NYCA Cinematography Award
  • 2x PDN Faces
  • 3x PDN Photo Annual
  • 1x Telly Award