I was recently commissioned by the good people at ARITZIA to photograph their brand new Salt Lake City store located at Fashion Place Mall. I only had two hours to get the entire shot list, so needless to say, I did not use any artificial lighting. Here are a few favorites:
The Ashton project interiors
This is a recent favorite interior design project I photographed for Katie Conner & Lisman Studio. Katie is talented beyond her years and this is the latest of several shoots we’ve done together. Here’s what she had to say about the project:
“This luxe interior in the heart of Salt Lake City combines ultimate comfort with sleek and refined craftsmanship. When our client approached us looking for a luxuriously sophisticated second home, we jumped at the chance to bring their dreams to life. Their only requirement for this entire project was, "Wow". I mean, what more could a designer ask for?
Bringing a strong skillset and intense creativity was a must. We spent nearly 6 months simply refining the palette and diving deep into unusual materials and processes. After working very closely with our most trusted local craftsmen and builders, we pulled together a uniquely stunning home with incredible architectural features and luxurious furniture.”
-Katie Conner
Angie Harrington People Magazine Interview
I’ve always had dreams and ambitions when it comes to my career and life in general, but I never thought that my photos would end up in People Magazine. Thank you Chris and Angie for trusting me to capture these images and help you share your story:
Angie Harrington is putting family first.
In a conversation with PEOPLE confirming that she will be leaving The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, the mom of three, 41, reveals for the first time that son Hart with husband Chris Harrington has been diagnosed with autism.
The road to receiving a diagnosis wasn't easy for the blended family of seven, which also includes the reality star's older sons, Cole, 15, and Rome, 18, as well as her husband's older two children.
"I think we noticed that something wasn't typical with Hart, probably around age one," Angie tells PEOPLE. "He was extremely advanced physically. He was walking by 9 months. He was climbing on things, but he wasn't saying those little words that you expected your 1-year-old to start saying."
Portrait work for Utah Business Magazine
I’ve had the great pleasure of shooting for Utah Business Magazine for the past 2 years or so, and I believe that this experience has led me to become a better portrait photographer. Most of the people who end up in front of my camera for these shoots are not exactly ecstatic to be photographed. This is simply the case with most people who are not professional models, or influencers, whatever that word means… I realized pretty early on that my people skills had to improve if I wanted to get something special out of my subjects. The great Annie Leibovitz once stated: “There’s this idea that it’s the portrait photographer’s job to set the subject at ease. I don’t believe in setting people at ease.” This is only works some of the time in my experience, but I believe that most people do need to be guided towards a place where they can slightly lower their guard. Most people have a rehearsed “photo face,” but that’s the last thing I want. I’m always on a mission to get a look, a moment that seems candid, genuine, and authentic.
Brian G. Lloyd
Nikki Walker
Christopher Sanchez
Steven Larsen
Tina Larson
Joseph Carbone
Amber Leavitt
Amir A.H. Jackson
Sam Hobson
Brooks Kirchheimer
Yasmen Simonian
Chris Crittenden
Canvas Rebel Feature
Read my recent interview with Canvas Rebel here: https://canvasrebel.com/meet-phillip-istomin/
Utah Business 20 in their 20s
I was asked to photograph this project recently. I loved the visual concept which consisted of red lighting, black wardrobe, and strong contrast. The honorees were fun to work with, most everyone being game to try anything and just have fun with it. Thank you for having me, Utah Business.
Acknowledgements
It’s always a good feeling to be recognized for your work. Here are a couple of articles that came out recently.
Phillip Istomin Voyage Utah Interview
Today we’d like to introduce you to Phillip Istomin.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve always been a creative person. Music was my first love and form of expression. I took some photography classes in college but decided to pursue photography full time after getting laid off from my job at an advertising agency after the financial housing crisis in 2010. I think I’ve always had a unique way of expressing myself and my ideas, but it’s taken me all of this time to really perfect what I do, and I’m certainly far from feeling like a master of my craft. My attitude is live and learn. You never stop improving.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has certainly not been a smooth road, but I think that’s most people’s experience getting anywhere in life. You only have control over your own part of it. I think the recipe to success is made up of many factors. It’s a serious challenge trying to make a living as an artist. I’ve always wanted to be my own boss and make a good living doing what I do, but that’s a tall order when you don’t cater to what’s popular or trendy. You only hope to stay true to yourself and attract a certain type of audience who appreciates authenticity, quality, and a desire to create something truly special and unique. I’ve had plenty of moments of doubt and thoughts of getting a “real job.” My parents have been an amazing support system, they’ve really helped me get through the tough times. I consider myself extremely fortunate. The feedback I’ve heard from people throughout my career has been something that’s gotten me through those tough times. Anytime I hear that something I’ve created has really resonated with someone, whenever someone picks up on exactly the feeling, a story, or an emotion I’ve put in one of my photographs… well, that makes it all worthwhile.
2021 So Far...
Hi there. I wanted to share a few things that we’ve been up to in 2021. I don’t have to tell you about the crazy times we live in, but I can tell you how thankful we are whenever we are able to create and do what we love. We seem to forget all the troubles of the world when we find ourselves enthralled in a project. Luckily we’ve had a few that we’d like to highlight here.
Shades of Radiance Beauty:
Liz, the makeup artist, reached out to me on instagram and asked me to help her create some outstanding images for her portfolio. This was our first time working together, and it went just about as well as either one of us could have hoped for. The first image (leopard gloves) was actually the last look we spontaneously put together, and it is my favorite. Hair magic provided by Tenesha Luckett and the incredible model pictured is Kasemire Dieumerci. Shades of Radiance Beauty
Brickyard Bar:
Had a great time photographing this private lounge room along with the fantastic cocktails and delicious food at Brickyard Bar. Being able to taste everything was a major bonus for a foodie like myself. TheBrickyardBar.com
Dexterity Salon:
Yet another collaboration with my Dexterity family highlighting their new product “in:dex.” Makeup by Kristen Packard | Model: Sadie Olson. DexteritySalon.com
Anne Carr Design:
It’s always flattering to be approached by out-of-state clients. Anne is an incredibly talented interior designer based in Los Angeles, CA. This is a project she helped design in Victory Ranch, UT. See more photos here: annecarrdesign.com/victory-ranch
Khalm Skincare:
Rebecca and I love to combine business with pleasure and we were able to do just that while capturing some of the photos you see here. The environmental shots of the beautiful Khalm bottles above were captured along the stunning 17 mile drive in Monterey, CA. The studio shots were also a blast to create. We love having the freedom to experiment and improvise on our own time, it’s always a fun and educational experience. KhalmSkincare.com
Girls’ Life Magazine:
Sofia was such a pleasure to photograph. She’s obviously super comfortable in front of the camera. I love the soft and painterly quality of these images. Styled by Wilford Lenov. Hair by Angelina Panelli. Makeup by Mylah Morales for Six K L.A. Beauty copy by Erin Reimel. On-set prop styling by Whitney Brielle. Painted backdrop by Ultraviolet. GirlsLife.com
Julie Assenberg Design:
I love being able to put my graphic design background to use. I was able to photograph and design this ad for Julie Assenberg, which appeared in the September 2021 issue of Architectural Digest. My style is always clean and simple with a pop of color. In this case, the pop of color comes from Julie’s vibrant designs. JulieAssenberg.com
Baranof Jewelers:
This shoot was a dream. I obviously LOVE having my love and partner Rebecca in front of the camera. Yes, I’m a little bias. Her beauty perfectly compliments and elevates the jewelry in my opinion. Major credit goes to Sophie Islip for her vision, direction, and styling. Hair by Nikki Breedlove. Baranofjewelers.com
Sascha Test Shoot
Rebecca and I spotted Sascha at one of our favorite restaurants while brunching. We both though she had a lovely face and my instinct was telling me that I should photograph her. We gave her our business card and hoped that she would reach out. Luckily she did. Sascha proved to be a natural just as I expected. She took direction extremely well, her natural beauty and softness was easy to capture. I’m not sure if Sascha is going to pursue modeling, but I certainly hope she does.
