Award-winning photographer PAYAM continues to bring his subjects to life in a wide range of work – from landscape to editorial and advertising photography. Regardless of the project, PAYAM is known for his passion and remarkably honest approach he brings to shoots.
An apprenticeship with Annie Leibovitz began PAYAM’s career, after which he was recruited as First Assistant and Lighting Director for world-renowned photographers including Mark Abrahams, Wolfgang Ludes, Norman Watson, and Francesco Carrozzini.
A highly sought after lighting director, PAYAM has worked on many large-scale advertising campaigns, collaborating with leading agencies such as Publicis, Ogilvy Mather, Saatchi & Saatchi and Grey Worldwide. PAYAM has shot campaigns for Mastercard, Matrix, Procter&Gamble and Steve Madden as well as editorial clients including The Advocate, New York Magazine and Ladygunn.
Following his passion for Social, Human and Environmental causes, PAYAM collaborates with leading creative teams and award-winning agencies to conceptualize and execute awareness-building campaigns for non-profit organizations. His landscape and portrait work has been featured in several exhibitions including San Francisco’s Museum of Modern Photography and have gained him recognition by both The International Color Awards and The International Photography Awards. His distinct work has also been featured by The ADC Global as well as Photo District News and Resource Magazine.
In his free time, PAYAM can be found upside down in his favorite yoga studios, people watching in sunny L.A. cafes or strolling through New York’s East Village, with his two dogs Shirley and Bruno.