Sean Rayford is a freelance photojournalist, documentary and commercial photographer in Columbia, SC. A 2001 graduate of the University of South Carolina, Rayford has been covering the state since 1997. After the "1,000 Year Flood," struck his own city in 2015, Rayford has become a significant contributor in the documentation of North America's most powerful storms. He spends much of the offseason preparing his micro camper van for working in the the most demanding off-grid scenarios.
Prior to becoming a full time photographer, Rayford bartended at a live music venue for more than decade. A lifelong distance runner, he does not shy from experiences demanding physical endurance.
CJR: Meet the photographer who captured the Confederate flag’s removal
Rayford works with:
Getty Images
The New York Times
National Public Radio
The Associated Press
The Wall Street Journal
The Washington Post
Fox News
TIME
European Press Photo Agency
The Guardian (UK)
The Boston Globe
Dove Soap
ESPN
The ACLU
Texas Instruments
Facebook
Comcast
The Red Cross
The South Carolina Agricultural Association
Chernoff Newman Ad Agency
VICE Media
Columbia Visitors Bureau