Sophie Zhai is a photographer whose journey began at thirteen, when she received a camera from her late father. In her early twenties, she entered photojournalism, covering New York Fashion Week, and later developed a distinctive voice through portraits of classical musicians—blending timeless elegance with a contemporary edge.
Her work has been featured in publications such as The Strad, The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Gramophone, Pianist Magazine, Vogue Hong Kong, and ELLE Hong Kong. She has shot album covers for record labels including Deutsche Grammophon, Sony, Warner Classics, and BIS, and created cover imagery for the Grammy-nominated albums Seven Pillars and Belonging by Andy Akiho.
After nearly a decade in the commercial editorial world, she transitioned into fine art photography, driven by a desire for deeper artistic growth. Her exhibition Permanent Vacation, which explores leisure and repose in surreal settings, has been shown at art fairs and galleries in New York and London.