Biography
Amy Stanford Gaskin is a Los Angeles–based photographer and journalist known for her ability to gain extraordinary access to the people she photographs. By spending time with those who welcome her into their worlds, she creates images that capture the humanity, authenticity, and truth at the heart of her work. Her photography and journalism have been featured in National Geographic, STERN Magazine, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, and The Guardian, among other publications.
Her new book, Marilyn Forever! Marilyn Monroe—A Symbol of Hope (Roche Publishing), explores the deeply personal and often unexpected ways Marilyn Monroe continues to inspire people around the world—far beyond her enduring fame and Hollywood stardom. The book was selected by People magazine as one of its Top 10 books about Marilyn Monroe, earning the #3 spot.
Staley-Wise Gallery in New York City is currently exhibiting selected images from the Marilyn series and represents the project.
Marilyn—A Symbol of Hope will be exhibited at the Festival of Ethical Photography in Lodi, Italy, in September–October 2026.
Awards and Recognition
Her honors include being named a finalist for the World Report Award; five National wins in the Best of ASMP competition presented by the American Society of Media Photographers; four National wins from American Photographic Artists (APA); First Place in the International Color Awards; recognition from the Lucie Foundation (MOPLA) and the International Photography Awards; and honors from the Leica and Fujifilm awards at the Palm Springs Photo Festival. She was also named a Top 50 winner in Critical Mass.
Her images have been selected for group shows by jurors from major museums and photographic organizations around the world, including the J. Paul Getty Museum; National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; Groninger Museum, Netherlands, Los Angeles County Museum of Art; San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; among others. Her horse racing images are part of the permanent collection of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.
Leadership and Education
She is President Emerita of the Press Photographers Association of Greater Los Angeles, a 90-year-old organization representing more than 400 members of the broadcast and still-image news media throughout the Greater Los Angeles area.
She earned her undergraduate degree from Northwestern University and her Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Southern California (USC), where she received the Captain Winifred Q. Collins United States Navy Endowed Fellowship.
In 2024, she was inducted into the Council of One Hundred at Northwestern University, an organization recognizing 100 distinguished living female graduates of the university.
