Sophie Zhai is a photographer whose journey began at the age of thirteen, when she received a camera as a birthday gift from her late father. In her early twenties, she began her career in photojournalism, covering New York Fashion Week. Over time, she developed a distinctive voice through her portraits of classical musicians—images that blend timeless elegance with an electric, contemporary edge.
Her work has appeared in The Strad, The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Gramophone, Pianist Magazine, Vogue Hong Kong, and ELLE Hong Kong, among other publications. She has photographed album covers for major record labels including Deutsche Grammophon, Sony, Warner Classics, and BIS, and created the cover imagery for the Grammy-nominated albums Seven Pillars and Belonging by Andy Akiho.
After more than a decade working in the commercial world, her expansive curiosity and pursuit of artistic growth led her to transition into fine art photography. Her exhibition Permanent Vacation has been presented in Art Fair and galleries in New York and London.