20+ years behind the lens. National campaign work. Omaha’s go-to photographer for corporate headshots and commercial imagery.

The Photographer

I’m Phil Nealey — a portrait, editorial, and commercial photographer based in Omaha, Nebraska. I’ve spent more than 20 years creating images for advertising campaigns, corporate clients, and editorial publications, working both behind the camera and in post-production at the highest levels of the industry.

My career started in Chicago, where I co-founded e-Light Studios — a photography and digital imaging studio that produced work for national brands at a time when the transition from analog to digital was just beginning. Our clients included McDonald’s, Disney, Blockbuster, Burger King, Taco Bell, Crate and Barrel, Dole, Morton Salt, and major agencies including Leo Burnett, Publicis, FCB, and DDB. For McDonald’s, I helped develop a modular photography workflow that reduced production time and costs across hundreds of in-store promotions — work that was genuinely groundbreaking at the time.

During those years I was invited to speak at Seybold Seminars three times — alongside presenters like Chris Cox, senior developer at Adobe, and Gil Amelio, former CEO of Apple. I beta-tested Apple’s ColorSync monitor, served on their industry advisory group, and wrote on color management and digital photography for Digital Output magazine. I wasn’t just keeping up with the industry; I was part of the conversation shaping it.

I also produced stock photography for Getty Images and Corbis. My work has been published globally — in Delta Sky Magazine, NationalGeographic.com, Time.com, The Guardian, ABCNews.com, and The Farmer’s Almanac, and on book and album covers worldwide.

Today, my focus is Omaha. I’ve been an official UNMC vendor since 2006 and work regularly with law firms, healthcare organizations, and corporate teams across the metro. The national campaign background is still here — it just shows up in the quality of every headshot I deliver.

• 20+ years professional photography experience
• Official UNMC vendor since 2006
• National campaign work: McDonald’s, Disney, Burger King, Taco Bell, and more
• Published internationally — Getty Images, NationalGeographic.com, Time.com, Delta Sky Magazine
• Speaker, Seybold Seminars (color management, digital photography, workflow)
• FAA-licensed drone pilot (Part 107 certified)

Omaha-Based. Nationally Experienced.

I spent years working at the highest levels of commercial photography before building a business here in Omaha — and that background shapes everything I do. The lighting knowledge, the efficiency, the ability to coach any subject through a session — all of it traces back to years of working under pressure on national campaigns where getting it right the first time wasn’t optional.

My current clients include Kutak Rock, Husch Blackwell, Kiewit, Children’s Hospital Omaha, UNMC, Nebraska Medicine, Google, Tigerpaw Software (now Revio), Colliers International, and Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital. Whether I’m photographing one executive or an entire organization, the standard is the same: polished, consistent, professional images that reflect the quality of your work.

“I’ve never been pleased with headshots done by other photographers in the past… I’m amazed by the results! He is very personable and talented — you will not be disappointed with the images you get from Phil!”

— James Foxall, CEO, Tigerpaw Software

What It’s Like to Work With Me

Most people don’t love being photographed. I know that — and I’ve built my whole process around it. Sessions are relaxed, efficient, and directed. I’ll tell you exactly where to look, how to stand, and what to do with your hands. You don’t need to figure any of it out.

For corporate teams, I coordinate directly with your HR or office manager to make scheduling as smooth as possible. For individuals, I walk you through everything from wardrobe choices to final image selection. The goal is always the same: a headshot you’re genuinely proud of, with a process that didn’t disrupt your day.

Don’t just take my word for it — read what clients say about working with Nealey Photo.