Mark Robert Halper is passionate about everything he does. A professional photographer for two decades, Halper has built a successful career in a competitive field by bringing a consistent vision to a diverse client base. Halper thrives on the variety in
the projects he tackles. “Every day is something different doing exactly what I love,” Halper explains.
Raised in Los Angeles, where he still resides, Halper became interested in filmmaking in high school, an interest which would transform into still photography in college. After graduating from University of California Los Angeles in 1987, Halper began studying commercial photography and in 1989, started shooting professional assignments.
His entrepreneurial spirit has guided him in the expansion of his business. He realized the power of the Internet early on in promoting his work and business, resulting in his becoming more widely known. His clientele evolved from magazine editorial in the mid and late 90’s to corporate and advertising clients in the new millennium.
Included among Halper’s commercial clients are American Airlines, AT&T, Business Week, CBS, Cedars Sinai
Medical Center, City of Hope National Medical Center, Cisco Systems, Electronic Arts, FedEx, Forbes, Hasselblad, Hello Kitty, Johnson and Johnson, My Space, Paramount Pictures, Samsung, Sanyo-Fisher, Sonicare, Sony, Sysco, UCLA, USC, and, Warner Bros. Bringing his unique perspective to the consumer portrait business, Halper has shot a wide range of artists, business leaders and celebrities, including Frank Gehry, Tori Spelling, Sumner Redstone, Randy Jackson, Lauren Hutton, Ben Stein, James Marsters, Gene Simmons, and, Wolfgang Puck. Halper comments, "The key to my work is simplicity. I take out everything that isn’t absolutely necessary, until the only elements that remain are those that are entirely essential. The best photographs are usually the simplest.”
Halper 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 project, and he is a Dynalite VIP. His work has appeared in variety of major magazines from Time and Business Week to Vogue. He is a sought-after lecturer and mentor, teaching at the prestigious Santa Fe Workshops, The Julia Dean Photo Workshops, and UCLA Extension as well as teaching workshops through his own studio. Halper also sits on the advisory board for the Art Institute of California–Hollywood. Halper’s photography has evolved to include a number of personal projects several of which have been exhibited as
fine art.
In 2007, Mark married Jennifer Hunt, a special effects digital compositor and lighter for academy award winning
films. She now brings her expertise to the business, retouching Halper’s imagery, including all of the fine art
photography. She also works with Halper on his sessions, and was a constant presence in Sunlight and Water. Mark and
Jennifer give back to the community in many ways, including donating portraits to the victims of the Sayre Fires in
Sylmar (who had lost their images and belongings) and by helping to raise funds for a wide variety of charities through donations of their work.