Portraits of Aaron Jay Young, Photographer | Utah Portrait Photographer

Aaron Jay Young / Los Angeles, CA / 2021 / Photo: Wendy Hurst

Aaron Jay Young / Los Angeles, CA / 2021

Aaron has a powerfully quiet presence that stands out in a world of so many people who shout to be heard, but his photographs speak loud and clear without any words at all. Three photo projects inspired me to connect more deeply with my creative community. One was a beautifully honest series captured at DragCon. Another was a collection of photographs featuring Adam Rippon, the Olympic skater. (It wasn’t celebrating community, per se, but I was deeply inspired by the incredible lighting on location.) And last was a series of photographs capturing an immigrant caravan in Mexico in 2019. It wasn’t until the third when I realized all three were created by the same photographer, and that photographer was Aaron. So imagine my overwhelming awe and enthusiasm to now, years later, walk into his studio for a life-changing photographer workshop. Further, how honored I felt to find myself standing in his studio, camera in hand, photographing this man who speaks volumes by not speaking at all. Empathetic and quietly wise, he inspires me to keep creating, keep listening, and continue my evolution into an ever kinder human being.

ft. @aaronjayyoung

Comments

Child Liberation Foundation Launch Party 2017

Some portrait highlights of the generous donors and contributors to the newly launched Child Liberation Foundation , hosted at Sky SLC over the weekend. Though attendees were supporting a serious issue, a healthy sense of humor was still present. Come join the conversation on Instagram or Facebook ! Paul Hutchinson (right) is the co-founder of the Child Liberation Foundation

The Lonely Flower, with Kollene Snow | Salt Lake Conceptual Portrait Photographer

Have you ever been stuck trying think of an idea, and then all of a sudden a tiny, fragile glimpse of something appears? In those moments I just want to grab it and hold on so it can't get away, but if you don't let it breathe, that poor little idea gets squished. I wanted this photo shoot with Kollene Snow to illustrate that idea. Like a lonely flower that blooms, sometimes unexpected ideas lead the way to the next one. Model: Kollene Snow Makeup: Kollene Snow Photography: Wendy Hurst Portrait

I am no bird | salt lake city utah conceptual portrait photographer

Model: Jesyka Dereta Makeup & Styling: Jesyka Dereta Wardrobe, Prop & Calligraphy: Wendy Hurst Photography: Wendy Hurst Portrait Sometimes when I don't know something, like what to call an image or series, I identify what it's not. Doing so lends inspiration and actually yields titles that resonate with me most often. For this reason a quote from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte recently stuck in my mind. "I am no bird; no net ensnares me." I also remembered a behind the scenes YouTube video by fashion photographer Joan Allen that I found by accident years ago of a shoot using calligraphy on the skin to add a dimension of edgy elegance. Combine that with a kick I've been on about oversized objects and I knew what I wanted to do. Months ago I draped my dress form, Maggie, with yards of purple cloth I picked up secondhand for a different photo shoot. The shoot turned out okay but didn't fully captured the potential I saw in that &quo

WENDY HURST PORTRAIT

Search This Blog