30 Surf Photographers Worth Following on Instagram
A hand-picked list of surf photographers worth following on Instagram — from Chris Burkard's cold-water epics to Ben Thouard's underwater light — and how to actually support their work.
In this article, you'll learn
- A curated list of surf photographers genuinely worth following
- Who to start with, and what makes each one's work distinct
- How Instagram changed access to professional surf photography
- Why buying a print does more for a photographer than a like
There was a time when seeing the world's best surf photography meant buying a magazine or standing in a gallery. Now it lives in your pocket, posted daily, free to scroll. Instagram didn't just make surf photography more accessible — it turned the photographers themselves into the galleries, publishing their own work on their own terms.
Below is a hand-picked list of surf photographers worth following. It's a starting point, not a ranking — surf photography is a big, generous world, and there are wonderful shooters we've inevitably left off. If you love someone's work, do the one thing that actually helps: buy a print from their website. A like is nice; a print pays for the next trip.
A few to start with
If the full list feels like a lot, these are some of the names that have shaped how modern surfing looks.
- Chris Burkard — the master of cold-water adventure. Vast, frozen landscapes with a tiny surfer for scale, shot in places like Iceland, Norway and beyond. As much about the journey as the wave.
- Morgan Maassen — cinematic and minimal, with a painter's eye for colour and light. Equally at home shooting stills, film and portraits, and instantly recognisable.
- Ben Thouard — based in Tahiti, and arguably the finest water photographer working today. His images of light bending through the face of a wave, and of Teahupo'o from the inside, are extraordinary.
- Russell Ord — a Western Australian who shoots heavy water with a "one frame" philosophy: swim out to the slab, take the single shot that matters, come in. Uncompromising and brave.
- Ted Grambeau — decades of chasing waves around the globe, and a body of work that reads like a history of modern surf travel.
- Sarah Lee — Hawaii-based, drawn to the ocean's quieter, freediving side; soft light, clear water, a sense of calm.
- Todd Glaser — a Californian with deep Hawaiian ties, known for big-wave and travel work and a long association with Kelly Slater.
- Christa Funk — one of the standout water photographers at Pipeline, shooting from the channel and the impact zone where few will swim.
- Tim McKenna — long based in Tahiti, with a career of documenting the region's heaving reef passes.
The full list
All of these are worth a follow. Search their names on Instagram to find them, and visit their sites to buy prints and support the work.
Morgan Maassen · Chris Burkard · Russell Ord · Joni Sternbach · Karl Lundholm · John Bilderback · Christa Funk · Andrew Chisholm · Murray Fraser · Myles McGuinness · Ben Thouard · Tim McKenna · Rhydian Thomas · Ted Grambeau · Trent Mitchell · Ed Sloane · Jake Wundersitz · Sean Davey · Sarah Lee · Alana Spencer · Lucia Griggi · Pierre Leboucher · Karo Krassel · Cait Miers · Todd Glaser · Guy Williment · Ming Nomchong · Bryanna Bradley · Megan Costello · Luki O'Keefe
Think we've missed someone who deserves a place? Get in touch — we update this list.
Frequently asked questions
- Who are the best surf photographers to follow on Instagram?
- A great starting list includes Chris Burkard (cold-water adventure), Morgan Maassen (cinematic, minimal water and travel work), Ben Thouard (underwater light and Teahupo'o), Russell Ord (heavy-water slabs), Ted Grambeau (decades of global surf travel), Sarah Lee, Todd Glaser and Christa Funk. The full list below has 30 names worth a follow.
- How do I support a surf photographer I love?
- Buy a print. A like costs nothing and does little; a print (usually sold through the photographer's own website) directly funds the travel, gear and time that go into the work. Crediting them properly when you share their images matters too.
- Why is Instagram good for surf photography?
- It put the work of the world's best surf photographers — images that once lived only in galleries and print magazines — directly onto the screen in your pocket, updated daily and free to view. It's the easiest way to discover new photographers and follow the ones you love.