JON WILLIAMS
Professional Photographer
Bio-Sketch
See Samples of Jon’s work in Photo Galleries
Jon Williams has been passionate about photography since 1962 when his Grandmother in Park City gave him an old plastic roll film camera to relieve the boredom of a two week summer visit. He spent three happy days walking around the “pre-ski boom” town carefully selecting the most meaningful black and white shots, while feeling the importance of documenting all of that “neat old stuff .” This primed Jon's love of photographing subjects of historical importance. During his late teens he photographed and filmed his frequent mountain climbing adventures. Climbs in the Teton range and in the Pacific Northwest provided him with some of the most beautiful photographic views in North America. These photographs were edited into programs for area school children. It wasn’t long before school administrators and local businessmen asked him to shoot their public relations and advertising work. This marked the beginning of Jon's career as a professional photographer. He was twenty years old.
For the next twenty years Jon worked as a professional photographer. His photography clients included Mountain Fuel Supply Company ( Questar), The United States Forest Service, Cutter Laboratories, Ogden School District, Commercial Security Bank, Key Bank, Weber State College, and many other businesses. It was a busy and satisfying time, during which Jon successfully photographed an unbelievably diverse range of subject matter, in all types of light and conditions, and for a very discriminating clientele. During this time he also developed his expertise in motion picture technology, creative lighting, script writing, and video tape production.
Despite a full time photography career, Jon also managed to – superimpose – a twenty year career as a full time professional firefighter serving as a rescue EMT, Captain, Medical Training Officer, Battalion Chief, Incident Commander and finally retiring as Ogden City Fire Chief and City Disaster Planner in 1994.
In 1994 Jon decided to add personal and family services to his commercial work. His “high end” commercial photography experience had prepared him for the highly specialized art of Bridal/Wedding, and Family portrait photography. He has managed his own studio while adding to his client base as one of Northern Utah's most respected professional photographers. He now successfully juggles a broad range of photographic assignments including: Weddings, Families, Individual Portraiture, Products and Advertising, Catalog, Fashion, Executive Portraits, Wildlife and Nature, General Commercial Photography, Commercial Video Productions, and teaching.
In 2006, Jon opened his own photography school called Jon Williams Photography Seminars and Expeditions®. Students come to him to learn a wide variety of vocationally oriented photography and business skills. Hundreds of student photographers and many ascending professionals have enjoyed these classes, seminars, workshops, and expeditions.
Jon has been called a “ Master Teacher” by his photography students. He has taught on a collegiate level with expertise in a variety of relevant subjects, including: Corporate Image, Personnel Management, Customer Service, and Human Relations skills. He has extensive experience as a Chief Administrative leader and public image leadership. His understanding of studio management and photographic ethics reinforce his credibility as a teacher and mentor to many aspiring professionals. Jon loves to teach photography. He is a frequent teacher and lecturer at the Eccles Community Art Center and Ogden Blue Art School in Ogden, and has developed and presented coursework in Portraiture, Editorial Photography, Street Photography, Photography by Natural Light, The Business of Professional Photography, Understanding Light, Photographing Foods and Artwork, and Executive Portraiture. He delivers his lecture series: “Legendary Photographers of the 20th Century,” on a regular basis around the state. He also organizes and leads photography workshops and tours exploring many of Northern Utah’s visual and cultural treasures. His passion for high quality photography is evident to his clients and students.
Commercial Client List
Past and current Commercial clients include: Allegiant Airlines, Williams International, Larry H. Miller Corp., Nike USA, Hershey Chocolate Company, Picabo Street Enterprises, Amcor Corp., Health Monitor Magazine, Utah Travel Council, United States Army and Office of Public Affairs, Cactus Reds Restaurant, LDS Church Education System, Comfort Suites Hotels, Holiday Inn Express Hotels, BMC West, Sears Roebucks, Weber State University, Ogden City Corp, MarketStar Corp., Kathy Oviatt Interior Design, Brent Brimhall: Wasatch Colors Design, Progressive Food Brokers, Utah Civil Air Patrol, Ogden Golf and Country Club, Penny McKay School of Classical Ballet, Infiltrator Systems Inc., Weber Heritage Foundation, Weber Fire District, Ogden School District, Roosters and Union Grill restaurants, The Taco Maker Inc., Northern Wasatch Home Builders Association, VISTA Magazine, Your Community Connection, Junction City Magazine, Petersen Inc., Meadow Gold Dairy, Kinara Advertising, Great Western Insurance, Tread Lightly Inc., Snap On Tools Inc., Myers Mortuaries, Ken Garff General Motors, Northern Utah Junior Miss Pageant, United Way of Northern Utah, Ogden Clinic, Eccles Community Art Center, Ogden Arts Council, Kids are Music and Dance, Machine Quilting Magazine, Snap-On Tool Co., Schmitt, Griffith, Smith CPA’s Inc., General Steel Buildings, Allen, Richards and Pace Law Firm, Maddox Restaurant, Country Hills Eye Center, Ken Burton Law Firm, UST Manufacturing LLC Nutrition, G4CE Amusement Parks .... and thousands of Utah's finest individuals and families.
Family
Jon has been married to the former Nancy Mortensen for 45 years. They are the parents of four successful adult children and are
grandparents to ten good boys and girls. They are all active in their community and church.