Ian Spanier began making photographs at six years old when his parents gave him his first point and shoot camera. After majoring in photography in college, Spanier worked in publishing as an editor, but making pictures never left him. Having only known 35mm, he taught himself medium and large format as well as lighting. Ian's first full book of published work was Playboy, a Guide to Cigars, which arrived in cigar shops November 2009. His second book project, Local Heroes: America’s Volunteer Fire Fighters, came out to critical acclaim in the Fall of 2012. His personal project, "Right Next Door," has been featured on Huffingtonpost.com as well as The Daily Mail and his latest project, MoTo is now a multi-award winning series. 2023 featured, Arturo Fuente: From 1912 by Assouline books, a two-book series that features all of Ian’s images in their highly touted luxury “Impossible Collection.” Up next for Ian is another cigar book, Cigars: A Biography, featuring nearly two decades of Ian’s work in the cigar industry released to critical acclaim in March 2025. Ian is a Westcott Lighting “Top Pro,” as well as a Brand Ambassador for Spider Holster, Tether Tools, OWC, CamRanger, ThinkTank, Hoodman USA, True Classics, his added affiliations with V-Flat World and Sekonic bolster his reputation as an expert in his field. He lectures and creates video content regularly for Canon, B&H Photo, and PPA. The original “Masters of Photography” have always inspired Spanier as they shot what they saw. For him, there is no “one” subject that he photographs; he also chooses to shoot what he sees. Although he works anywhere and everywhere, Spanier left NY for the sunny coast, and now lives in Los Angeles, Ca.