Larry Sillen

Larry Sillen is a freelance event photographer living in Brooklyn, NY. He got his start in commercial photography with an apprenticeship at the Mike Cuesta Studio in 1967. Larry worked first as a darkroom technician and then as an assistant for 2 years. Afterwards, he freelanced as a photographer’s assistant. 

In 1971 he started to work at the award-winning studio of David Langley. It was there that he learned the art of story telling though picture taking. David gave him a few assignments, which developed his commercial and event photography styles. 

In 1973 Larry became the staff photographer of the acclaimed advertising agency Doyle Dane Bernbach. During his time there he developed his photography skills in still life and conceptual advertising photography. After a few years Larry's photography looked as good as many well-known photographers had done. The Agency started to let him photograph many of the finished ads that appeared in magazines. Some of the clients were Seagram's, Polaroid and the New York Lottery. Some of theses ads were award winning.  

Larry also did photography for the company newsletter and developed his skills as an event photographer. His Christmas party photos were so loved that he was asked to photograph many of the employee’s weddings. Since then, he has photographed over 500 weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, and special events.

In 1978 Larry started running and that began his interest in running sports photography. He got a few photography assignments from Runner’s World during 1984. On one of these assignments he met Dick Traum, founder of Achilles International, an organization that helps people with disabilities to participate in different sports. In 1995 Larry became the Achilles International volunteer staff photographer.  

Recently he has photographed the past 9 Achilles Hope and Possibilities 5 Miler weekend events as well as their participation in the ING New York Marathon. Larry also has been photographing the Achilles Kids workout events that are held 2 or 3 times a month.

Larry left DDB in 2012 to pursue his passion in event and running sports photography. He has developed a keen eye in being at the right place at the right time to get the story telling photograph and capture the moment.