Zach Bergren

What does it take to stage a life that looks complete from the outside? 

High Maintenance examines how contemporary American identity is shaped by appearances and material goods. When life is expected to appear beautiful and presentable, the images in this series consider the aesthetics of “living well” both as self-definition and self-defense. Lifestyles across the country cohere through excess and polish, and ordinary spaces become flash-filled stages on which success is rehearsed.

Zach Bergren is a New York-based photographer known for his bold color, careful posing, and dramatic light. His work captures moments of self-awareness between glamour and authenticity.