Simon Burstall was born in Darwin in 1975, raised in Sydney, Australia, and began taking his first photographs of friends surfing at the age of 15. He went on to study photography in art school, creating his first thesis on the rave culture of early 90s Australia. This work led him to become a photo assistant, gaining experience across many aspects of award-winning advertising photography. Simon’s childhood dream was to work as a photographer in New York and make his mark, a goal he achieved in 2000.

During his early years in Manhattan, Simon assisted renowned photographers such as David Sims, Steven Klein, and Herb Ritts. His career has since spanned a variety of fields, including fashion, beauty, and lifestyle photography. He has contributed editorials to prestigious magazines across Europe and the USA, including Visionaire Magazine, Vogue, and Harper’s Bazaar. His advertising work has included campaigns for brands like Gap, Lancôme, Estée Lauder, Old Navy, and Hugo Boss. In 2019, he published his first photography book, 93: Punching the Light, through Damiani Books in Italy.

Simon’s love for capturing people’s personalities drives his photography. He is passionate about connecting with his subjects to uncover those in-between moments, bringing a playful, energetic quality to his work.