FROM LENS TO LOUNGE: WILL CORNFIELD PERFECTLY CAPTURES THE MOMENT IN GREATER ROC
- emmaalexander2
- Apr 24
- 3 min read
Photographer and bar owner Will Cornfield is shaking up Greater Rochester with creative vibes, killer cocktails and a cool experience.
In a region where creativity stems from almost everywhere, Will Cornfield found his place, blending photography and hospitality into work that excites him and his patrons. From a camera in hand to a cocktail shaker behind the bar, his story is as Rochester as Kodak film and New York State’s only craft cocktail festival.
More than a decade ago, Will came from Corning, NY, to Rochester for college and wanted a side gig for support. He got a taste of the service industry at Fuego Coffee Roasters, which became more than a job for Will, it was his creative incubator. Between steaming lattes and snapping photos, he learned two things: his love for giving people a great experience and his talent behind the lens.
Will started documenting life, culture and connection in Rochester through his photography, slowly building a reputation in the city. His name circulated as a go-to photographer with a sharp eye and an ability to capture more than just moments. He captured moods.
While he played with the idea of heading to New York City, the West Coast or even abroad, something about Rochester held him close. “This is the place for me to sew many seeds,” he said. Will didn’t see Rochester as a stopover. “It felt like a city where I could make an impact.”
“You have all the things that you need here ... And having those things accessible helps you have the energy to want to create.”
That mindset—focused on building community and creating experiences—became a thread through everything he touched. As his photography career gained momentum, the service industry pulled him in deeper, and coffee led to cocktails. Through a fateful connection with restauranteur Chuck Cerenkoski, Will made the leap to Radio Social. Along the way, he absorbed everything he could from Rochester’s tight-knit food and bev community, picking up shifts at top spots like Good Luck and Cure, and learning from some of the best in the business.
His path culminated in opening Martine, a new cocktail lounge in downtown’s South Wedge. Will and Chuck created a space where the vibe rules supreme—with DJs spinning vinyl, killer lighting, intentional art—built on everything Will values: artistry, hospitality, community and a little bit of rebellion. It’s a place where you can meet people, soak in the ambiance and live in the moment.
“The drinks are important, but it’s more about the whole experience … I like to show people a good time.”
This for-the-people mentality extends to how he thinks about his place in Rochester, committing to the area’s creative evolution. He sees the region enabling flexibility and inspiring transformation. In a way, Rochester has become Will’s muse.
“Rochester inspires me to create. One, there’s a lot of really cool people around here doing that, I’m inspired by them and want to do that as well. Two, the community that supports you when you do create something is awesome—you feel like you're doing it not only to improve your life, but to improve everyone's lives. And three, I look around the city and I'm like, ‘This is a pretty awesome place.’”
Without a doubt, Will strengthens Greater ROC’s creative fabric—as someone who not only captures the energy through his camera, but helps shape it through every drink poured and every memorable night out. That doesn’t just feel good. It feels so right.