chris gardner

Director of Photography

Chris Gardner joined eHammer Auctions as Director of Photography in September 2026, bringing more than two decades of experience photographing fine art and cultural objects. A graduate of the San Francisco Art Institute with a BFA in Fine Art Photography, Chris spent 20 years running his own freelance photography business in the New Haven area and throughout New England. His work focused on capturing artwork and museum objects of every kind, from paintings and sculptures to photographs and fine furniture, for a client list that included artists, galleries, museums, and publications. eHammer Auctions was among those clients from the company's very beginning, and when the opportunity arose to join the team full time, Chris closed his freelance business to bring his trained eye and deep familiarity with the collection directly in-house.

Outside the studio, Chris lives in a quiet town near the Connecticut River, where he enjoys spending time with his family. He's an avid reader and a regular at the game table, always happy to settle in for a good board game. When he's ready for something more active, you'll find him mountain biking on New England trails, heading out for winter sports when the snow falls, or getting in a run to stay fit.