Jonathan Mannion


Jonathan Mannion is a photographer and film director. Mannion has shot over 300 album covers working with hip hop and R&B performers including Jay Z, Dr. Dre, Aaliyah, Outkast, Nas, Nicki Minaj, Brandy Norwood and Kendrick Lamar. He was also the photographer behind the Beats by Dre "Straight Outta" campaign.

Early life and education

With English and American ancestry, he was raised in Cleveland, Ohio. His father and mother are both Midwest artists. His mother is from London and his father from Brooklyn. Mannion studied at Kenyon College in Ohio graduating with honors. In 1996 he moved from Cleveland to New York City.

Career

New York and Richard Avedon

Mannion worked for a year with photographer Richard Avedon in his Manhattan studio. Avedon had always been a major influence to Mannion as a young art student. Mannion went on to work with photographers Ben Watts, Steven Klein and Marc Hom.

Jay-Z and hip hop

In 1996, Mannion was commissioned, in his first major record company contract, to take photos of Brooklyn rapper Jay-Z for Reasonable Doubt. Mannion has gone on from that first assignment to photograph twenty years of hip hop history. Performers include: Aaliyah, Eminem, Nas, Busta Rhymes, Lil Wayne and others.

Mannion versus Coors Brewing Company

In Mannion versus Coors Brewing Company Mannion successfully sued Coors for their unlicensed use of his photograph in one of their advertisements.

Album Credits