Hand painted backdrops

Yesterday I took a workshop from Mathew Peterson on how to make your own hand-painted backdrop and learned very quickly, it’s a lot harder than it looks. It’s the reason why the undisputed master of hand-painted backdrops, Sarah Oliphant, charges $1,000 just to RENT one.

Mine turned out ok. It’s got flaws for sure, but I can’t wait to shoot with it, and I also can’t wait to try painting one again and yet again and see what else I can come up with.

I’m always looking for ways to improve my photography, whether that’s getting better at responding to people’s gestures and expressions, or adding things such as hand-painted background to my arsenal.

Once painted, it takes 24 hours to dry, so Mathew and Ashley delivered the backdrop to me today at my house and I thought the very first time I used it should be a picture of Mathew, since he’s the one that showed me how to do it.


Alt Summit portraits, 2019

This year was the 10th anniversary of Alt Summit. I’ve been all ten years. It’s how I met and became best friends with Martha. (You may know her as Martha Stewart).

Martha Stewart at Alt Summit
Martha Stewart

Ok, fine. We’re not best friends, but Alt is how I met her and others. Like Joanna Gaines, this year, and last year that lady that played Lyla Garrity on Friday Night Lights —Minka Kelly— and Sarah Michelle Gellar and Christy Turlington and I think you get the idea.

This year I was hired to photograph Alt attendees. Here’s a tiny sample.

If you have an interest in seeing more, here’s one of each person: http://www.justinhackworth.com/alt-summit-2019 Thanks for looking!

Don't wait until it's too late. Let's schedule your family portraits today!

Every year around the holidays, a number of people contact me about getting family pictures in time to send something out with holiday cards. I always do what I can to work that out, but some people wait until it’s too late. I don’t want that to happen to you! (One time I pulled a drawer out too far and it landed on my foot. I don’t want that to happen to you, either, but that one is pretty much out of my hands).

The next couple months are the perfect time to book a family portrait session so give me a call or email me and let’s set something up!

Family pictures can be done at your home, some outside location, or at my studio in Provo. 

If I’ve photographed your family before, you know how easy it can be. If I’ve never photographed your family before, it’s possible you have some apprehension about the process, perhaps feeling like it’s too big of a hassle. Well, you’ve got nothing to worry about.  One of the comments I hear over and over from families that come to be photographed, is just how easy and fun it is. In fact, just last week, I received this text from a mother who brought her five kids and husband to the studio. “Thanks again for your work with us yesterday. That was a really great experience on our side and far less painful than everyone was dreading. You’re awesome.” See, nothing to worry about!

To make an appointment, there's contact information here.

I'm looking forward to hearing from you!

New York City

A walk around town.

Headshots

Comedy writer Dave Vance came to the studio for some non-stuffy portraits of himself that he could use for all his promotional material. Here's a handful that I favored. 

Portraits of the BYU Broadcasting employees

It took four days, but we got it done. In September, I photographed every full time employee at BYU Broadcasting (nearly everyone--some were out of town). 

I really love how these turned out, and I've got to hand it to BYU Broadcasting for not settling on the safe, straight-forward, head and shoulders shot, but instead, be willing to get something with a little more personality, pizazz, and quirkiness. They told their employees they could bring a prop if they wanted that reflected something about their personality, job, or outside interests (so that's why you may see a dog or fly rod in some of these, among other things).

The shoot was set up so that I'd have a decent amount of time with each person. Long enough for me to learn something about their life, their job, their personality, and then make a portrait that was a reflection of that in some way.

Meet the folks at BYU Broadcasting! Click on any image to view it larger.

Utah wedding photography

The wedding of Tiia and David.
Click on any image to view it larger.

Provo Family Portraits - Quigley Family

If you don't already know about the company Chatbooks, well, there aren't very many of you left. They're taking over the planet! It's a brilliant idea and a great company. That's because brilliant people cooked up the idea. Founder Vanessa, and co-founder Nate (they're husband and wife!) have a wildly successful business but say they're just getting started and I can't wait to see how Chatbooks continues to grow. (And if you really haven't heard of Chatbooks, check out this hilarious video). 

So Vanessa and Nate run a great company, but they've also got a great family. And they came to the studio a few months ago to be photographed. Their kids are growing up, moving on, spreading their wings, and they felt it might be one of the last times to get a picture of them all together for a while.

Meet the Quigley family.

Justin photographs big families with lots of kids or families just starting out and he wants to photograph you.
Let's talk. 

Utah Family Portraits - Oldham Family

In high school, Annie learned to drive her fathers 1982 diesel Mercedes. When, as an adult, it was time for another car for her family, she told her husband about how much she liked that 1982 Mercedes. Her husband searched secretly to find the perfect option, and found one from a lady in New Jersey, and without Annie knowing, had it shipped to Utah as a surprise. Now, Annie's kids drive that car to school, the car they named: Beauty. It just made sense to include Beauty in the family pictures. 


Meet the Oldham family, and the Oldham family auto, photographed in Provo Canyon.

Utah Wedding Photography - Ruby + Lee

Ruby and Lee wanted a different wedding. Low key, just family. No party. Just a get-together the night before. So that's just what they did. Family members gathered at Ruby's father's house in Salt Lake and had dinner, and make beautiful speeches and tributes to Ruby and Lee. The next day they got married in the Provo Temple, across the street from my studio. There were a few formal pictures taken, there, then Ruby and Lee came back to the studio, just the two of them, for a few more pictures. And that's it. Then off to the honeymoon!

I met Ruby a few years ago when I photographed her sister Meredith's wedding in Santa Cruz. I was always hoping she call me when it was time for her wedding. And what do you know!

Meet Ruby and Lee. (Click on any image to view it larger).

Justin Hackworth photographs extravagant weddings or small gatherings and he wants to photograph you. 
Let's chat!

Family portrait photography - Provo & beyond

I first met Lara when their first-born, Baker, was just a teeny little thing. Now, he's all grown up. Lara told me that everywhere they go, everyone wants to say hello to him. As soon as we left their house to walk over to where these pictures were taken, the first car that drove by was a van full of girls. They rolled down the window and called out, "HI BAKER". 

Meet the Henry family, photographed near their home in Spanish Fork.

Justin photographs families with responsible kids or kids that are...more carefree, and he wants to photograph you. Let's talk!