Payam

Iranian-born photographer Payam, moved to New York in 2002 to pursue his love of photography after earning a degree in Bio Psychology and Sociology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Soon after arriving in New York, Payam began a highly coveted internship with the Annie Leibovitz studio. With a newly discovered knowledge of photographic technique and aesthetic, Payam went on to become the first assistant for some of the most world-renowned photographers, oftentimes being enlisted to work on shoots for magazines such as GQ, VOGUE, VOGUE HOMMES and ALLURE. As a lighting designer and director for many large-scale advertising campaigns, Payam collaborated with photographers and closely worked with Creative Directors from agencies such Publicis, Ogilvy Mather and Grey to realize the final image in large-scale productions. Payam’s portraits encompass a variety of subject matter, context, and employ a variety of lighting approaches. His portrait reveal a intimate personal experience, may it be a silent moment between shared with his sitter or in a boisterous moment of exuberant self expression. Payam became drawn to the human condition and various states of existence as a result of being a political refugee at a young age. ((His work is sensitive and intuitive, as he allows his subject to naturally convey their character through a mutual dialogue during the portrait session.)) In addition to his Editorial and Advertising work, Payam collaborates with many established and award-winning creative teams and agencies to execute campaigns for Social, Human and Environmental Rights causes. Payam’s ongoing landscape photography project, involves the documentation of man’s relationship with his surrounding and the repercussions, once man removes himself from it. Payam divides his time between the East and West coast and is a practitioner of Vinyasa and Ashtanga Yoga. In his free time, Payam is rumored to frequent dog parks in the East Village of NYC with his two dogs Shirley and Bruno. Awards and Recognition 2007 International Photography Awards/Lucie Awards 2007 International Color Awards/Master's Cup 2008 International Photography Awards/Lucie Awards 2008 International Color Awards/Master's Cup Exhibits 2009, Solo Exhibit, Portraits Retrospective Publicis ( New York, NY) 2010, Solo Exhibit, New York 100 Publicis ( New York, NY) 2010, Group Show, International Photography Show Rogue Gallery, New York, NY 2011 Museum of Modern Photography – American Portrai