Mark Robert Halper is passionate about everything he does. A professional photographer for two decades, Mark has built a successful career in a competitive field by bringing a consistent vision to a diverse client base. Mark thrives on the variety in the projects he tackles. “Every day is something different doing exactly what I love,” Mark explains. Mark's photography has evolved to include a number of personal projects, several of which have been exhibited as fine art.

Recently, Mark expanded his clientele to include families and children. He brings the same creative perspective to that work as he does to his fine art and commercial photography.

"I take out everything that isn’t absolutely necessary, until the only elements that remain are those which are entirely essential; the best photographs are usually the simplest. It’s about getting something honest out of who I’m shooting” and even the most challenging personalities come across as relaxed in his images.

“The most important consideration is the intent of the photo. The process begins by understanding how the image will be used and what it is meant to communicate, which always takes branding into account. Every commercial image I create is designed to sell a product or a service, and a good photographer will always keep that in the front of his or her mind.”

Mark has a particular talent for arriving on location and making great images with what is on hand, based on what needs to be communicated. In fact, most of the images on this website were not planned out in advance.

Mark sits on the advisory board for the Art Institute of California - Hollywood, has frequently been invited about his work to groups of industry professionals such as APA, ASMP, PPA and the Northwest Arkansas Art Directors Club. He has exhibited his photography in venues that range from the Acrlight Cinemas to the Beverly Hills Country Club and was selected to be part of the Palm Springs Photo Festival slide show competition. He has been profiled twice in Rangefinder Magazine, most recently in January of 2010 for his fine art photography, has had his work twice featured in ISM magazine, and is a frequent guest on the Lightsource Podcasts. He has been profiled by Hasselblad for his use of their equipment as part of his Low Overhead personal project, and is a Dynalite VIP.

Mark has his own visual perspective. “When I’m setting up, people often don’t at first understand what I’m doing. When they see the test images they get this quizzical look on their face, as if they’ve never before seen that particular corner of their own office or home. Then they smile. They see something that can only be communicated visually. They see what I see; I’ve influenced the way they look at the world.”

CURRENT EXHIBITIONS AND EVENTS

Beverly Hills Country Club
Selected images from Sunlight and Water: Portraits of Santa Barbara County Winemakers.

Opening Event: January 20, 2010
There is no closing date yet scheduled for this exhibition.

Beverly Hills Country Club
3084 Motor Avenue
Los Angeles, California 90064
310 836-4400
beverlyhillscc.com

Chez Melange Restaurant
Early Harvest: The First Crop in Halper’s Series of Portraits of Santa Barbara County Winemakers.

Please consider dinner reservations at this exceptional restaurant. They offer both a gastro bistro and fine dining menu, as well as an outstanding selection of wines.

Opening Event: October 29, 2009
There is no closing date yet scheduled for this exhibition.

Chez Melange
1611 South Catalina Avenue
Redondo Beach, California 90277
310-540-1222
chezmelange.com

SELECTED PAST EXHIBITIONS AND EVENTS

ASMP and APA present An Evening with Mark Robert Halper
A standing room only San Diego speaking event in March of 2009 where Mark presented his work and discussed his photographic point of view with the American Society of Media Photographers and the Advertising Photographers of America.

Palm Springs Photo Festival: Connect 08
Mark's black and white fine art portrait series was selected as a finalist in their competition, and projected during the festival at the Palm Springs Art Museum in May of 2008.

Arclight Cinemas
The Low Overhead exhibition ran from August to October of 2005, and featured a mini-book launch party on September 16. The Arclight is home of the Cinerama Dome, and a premier entertainment complex in Hollywood.

Northwest Arkansas Art Directors Club
Mark presented and spoke about his work as the featured speaker in February, 2006.

Professional Photographers of Orange County
Mark presented his photography and spoke on his approach to creating outstanding portraits in March of 2007.

Professional Photographers of Canada - Alberta
Mark presented a full day program at their yearly convention in October of 2006.

Julia Dean Workshops
Mark has taught several classes for these Workshops from 2004 to 2007, covering topics relating to lighting and environmental photography.

Santa Fe Workshops
In March of 2004 and July of 2005. Mark led weeklong workshops in professional lighting at these highly respected Workshops.

ARTICLES AND INTERVIEWS

Rangefinder Magazine
An article on Mark's fine art photography entitled Private Worlds starts off the decade in the January, 2010 issue with a critical examination of Mark's fine art photography.

Rangefinder Magazine
An interview with Mark focusing on lighting is the lead article in the September, 2005 issue.

ISM Magazine
The Bed Project gets a six page layout in a 2007 issue of ISM Magazine.
Mark is profiled by this Fine Art Quarterly in the Summer 2005 issue.

Lightsource Interviews
Mark is a frequently and popular guest on these popular studiolighting.net podcasts. Listen in to six podcasts with Mark that span from 2005 to 2009.

Double Exposure
Mark is interviewed in December of 2006 in an article entitled Photos to Inspire: Mark Robert Halper.

Photo Talk Radio
Mark discussed his corporate photography in this January 19, 2008 broadcast.

Beauty in America
Mark participates in a roundtable discussion on the subject of photography in the highly rated internet radio show on Voice America.

The Digital Bits Artist of the Month
Mark is selected and profiled on this website for his black and white fine art photography in September of 2008, and also for his commercial and celebrity photography in April of 2004

About.com
This well known website features Mark's work in a critical discussion of portrait photography in Some Portraits - from Daguerre to Today.

Hasselblad Profile
The premier manufacturer of professional camera equipment features Mark and the Low Overhead project in a Winter, 2005 Self Ixpression Profile.

Dynalite VIP
Summer, 2007. Mark is proud to be inducted as a Dynalite VIP and to have his work featured on the Dynalite website.

TELEVISION

10 Years Younger
May 31, 2005. Mark opens his studio to an emerging photographer in this episode of 10 Years Younger on The Learning Channel. The episode first aired May 31, 2005.

Starting Over
Mark is featured in this episode of the number one rated daytime reality show, Starting Over, on NBC on the January 27, 2005 episode.

Designing Your Future
This LA 18 television show featured an interview with Mark where they discussed his career as a commercial photographer. The program aired October 25, 2007.

Reproduced with permission from the January, 2010 issue of Rangefinder Magazine