Sony is excited to welcome three industry leaders to the prestigious Sony Artisan Of Imagery program: Jose Villa, Endia Beal and Monica Sigmon. They will be joining a lineup of ambassadors that includes leading photographers and filmmakers with a variety of disciplines and achievements. Learn more about our new Sony Artisans below.

Sony welcomes industry leaders Jose Villa, Endia Beal and Monica Sigmon to the prestigious Sony Artisan Of Imagery program.

Jose Villa

Sony Artisan of Imagery Jose Villa

Jose Villa is a fine art wedding photographer based in California. His approach applies fine art photography to the living, breathing, fast-moving phenomenon that is a wedding. His ultimate goal is to craft vibrant, energetic, fine art images that are as unique as the people in the photographs. His work has been published in many magazines around the world. He’s been named one the the top wedding photographers by Martha Stewart Weddings, Harper's Bazaar, Style Me Pretty, and Vogue. He’s also been named one of the top 10 wedding photographers in the world by American Photo Magazine, and one of the most influential photographers of our decade by PDN. 

Photo by Sony Artisan of Imagery Jose Villa

“As a film wedding photographer prior to discovering Sony, I've always had an appreciation for incredibly beautiful skin tone. Words like Timeless, Classic, Organic are the words that I live by. With Sony’s technology I can truly say it's not about digital versus film. The question is, 'Do you have what it takes to be a true wedding photographer?' You do what you want with it...Sony will make you shine."

Photo by Sony Artisan of Imagery Jose Villa

Follow Jose on Instagram @josevilla to see more of his work.

Endia Beal

Sony Artisan of Imagery Endia Beal

Endia Beal is a North Carolina-based artist, curator and educator. Through her photography and videography she works to reveal the often overlooked experiences unique to people of color. In her first monograph, “Performance Review,” she brought together work over a 10-year period from first-hand experiences that highlight the realities and challenges for women of color in the corporate workplace. She provides lectures about such experiences and addresses bias in corporate hiring practices. She has been featured in several online editorials including The New York Times, NBC, BET, Huffington Post, and National Geographic and her work has been exhibited in several institutions. She is a fellow of the Center for Curatorial Leadership and has completed residencies at Harvard Art Museums, the Center for Photography at Woodstock and McColl Center for Art + Innovation. She holds a dual bachelor’s degree in art history and studio art from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a master’s from Yale University. She has also completed the certification from the Executive Education in Fostering Inclusion and Diversity Program at Yale School of Management.

Photo by Sony Artisan of Imagery Endia Beal

"As a Black, female photographer, I merge fine arts with social justice," she says. "My work reveals the often overlooked and unappreciated experiences unique to women and people of color. I am excited to join the Sony Artisans of Imagery and continue to build upon their levels of excellence and innovation."

Photo by Sony Artisan of Imagery Endia Beal

Follow Endia on Instagram @endiabeal to see more of her work.

Monica Sigmon

Sony Artisan of Imagery Monica Sigmon

Monica Sigmon is a professional portrait photographer, speaker and educator based in Virginia. She opened her Williamsburg studio in 2000 and quickly built a successful business with a reputation for excellence and cutting-edge imagery. She has earned the prestigious craftsman and master’s degrees from the Professional Photographers of America, was named Kodak’s Photographer to Watch in 2007 and was a past Creator-In-Residence in Sony’s Alpha Female Program. She is a popular speaker and is known for her entertaining programs that focus on marketing and building your brand. She travels around the country to educate others on these topics, energizing seasoned studio owners and inspiring new photographers alike.

Photo by Sony Artisan of Imagery Monica Sigmon

"Sony loves the same things I love," she says. "Creating with excellence, giving back to our communities, advancing our industry, and family. As a portrait photographer for more than 20 years, I’ve built my career around creating art of – and for – my clients’ families. Family is at the heart of my business … the reason I do what I do."

Photo by Sony Artisan of Imagery Monica Sigmon

Follow Monica on Instagram @monicasigmon to see more of her work.