Saul Bromberger and Sandra Hoover are a photography team whose work over the past 40 years has captured the essence of American life, particularly within the LGBTQ community. 

Their shared passion for rich experiences, creating work with a social commentary vibe, and storytelling through photography has led them to a collaborative career, where they have created poignant and impactful photo essays, blending their unique backgrounds and perspectives.

Saul, a Jewish immigrant from Israel, moved to the United States at the age of nine. Growing up in Los Angeles, where his parents ran several small businesses, he often felt like an outsider in American society. Sandra, on the other hand, was raised in Hayward, California, a working-class city in the San Francisco Bay Area, where her father was a teacher and her mother worked in education. Their different backgrounds brought a  diversity to their collaborative work, which began in 1984 when they met at the Hayward Daily Review.

Their first major project together, ‘Our American Portraits: 1978-2006’ was a blend of their experiences and visions of America, their social commentary that captured the lives of ordinary people and the diverse cultures within the country. 

This project laid the foundation for their future work, including the ‘PRIDE - Hearts of the Movement: The San Francisco Gay & Lesbian Freedom Day Parade: 1984-1990’ photo essay. They documented the LGBTQ community’s fight for civil rights and equality, capturing intimate moments of love, resilience, and activism.

In 1992, they embarked on the ‘House of Angels - Living With AIDS at the Bailey-Boushay House: 1992-1995_1997,’ photo essay in Seattle, Washington. This deeply emotional project documented the lives of young men dying of AIDS, focusing on the human aspect of the epidemic and the compassionate care provided by the Bailey-Boushay House community.

Over nearly three years, this project was both a professional challenge and a personal journey, as they built relationships with patients, families, and staff, aiming to evoke empathy and raise awareness about the AIDS epidemic.

The emotional toll of the ‘House of Angels’ project was significant, leading them to put the work away for almost 20 years. However, a presentation at San Francisco Cameraworks in 2015 reignited their passion for telling stories about the LGBTQ community. 

Inspired by the Long Term HIV  Survivors community in San Francisco, they began the ‘Portrait of the AIDS Generation’ photo essay. This project focuses on individuals who have lived with HIV since the early days of the AIDS pandemic, highlighting their strength, perseverance, and the numerous health challenges they face as they age.

Living in Alameda in the San Francisco Bay Area, they’ve raised 2 sons: Bryce, 25, and Micah, 20, as they continue to work with their clients on their photography needs, while looking for new stories, new projects, and for new adventures.