“Flamboyance,” Digital, 2023. From the Vinyl Artwork series.
Bright. Bold. Engaging. These are just some of the words that can be used to describe Salt Lake City photographer Sharon Reza’s work. Reza is as bold and beautiful as her art, which is getting the local photographer recognized on a national level. Her work has appeared in editorial magazines such as Glamour as well as a variety of local and national print campaigns including Baranof Jewelers, Amplified Health and Aesthetics, Splendor Beauty Emporium and more.
“Serendipity,” Digital, 2024. From the Jing series.
Perhaps the second most interesting thing, only to her art, is the fact that Reza did not start seriously working in photography until the pandemic, starting off shooting for local brands and networking with other photographers and industry experts, which allowed her to segue into commercial and editorial photography. While some aspiring photographers may have been hesitant to make such gutsy moves, Reza took a bold approach by “not thinking about whether I should or shouldn’t, whether it was good enough or not,” she says. “I just really focused on it and shot everyone, anyone and anything that I could to build my portfolio and I just reached out to as many people as I could.”
Reza’s risk-taking paid off and she landed her first major campaign with Sitka Fur Gallery in Park City, who gave her a chance. From there, she continued to develop her portfolio, experimenting with a variety of styles, models and other artistic elements.
“Kiki,” Digital, 2022. From the Atomic Dreamscapes series.
“Nothing in that portfolio was just me—it takes a lot of people.”
While her subject matter may vary, her style does not. The goal of her work, she says, is to always tell a story. “I like to be cinematic and grand; I like things to be vibrant and large-scale and theatrical. I like things to show emotion and be interesting,” she explains.
As for her overall aesthetic, she explains what differentiates her work from others: “I like escapism. I’m a maximalist. I like to create other worlds,” she states, with evidence of her vibrant work clearly backing up that statement.
The theme of escapism translates into her film work as well at Reza’s production company, Rivas x Reza Productions, where Reza and her partner Tony J Rivas strive to create film content that is as unique and engaging as her photography.
“We don’t write anything that people can relate to on a surface level—you really have to dig deep—everything is bombastic, that’s what we try to do,” Reza explains, citing several recent films that her production company has worked on, including one with talking teeth, Where The F*ck Are Your Teeth?, which is slated to premiere at the Glendale International Film Festival.
“I like to be cinematic and grand; I like things to be vibrant and large-scale and theatrical. I like things to show emotion and be interesting.”
Photo: Sharon Reza
Photo: Sharon Reza
Photo: Sharon Reza
While Reza’s name has become synonymous with success, she is quick to point out that her biggest productions are a team effort. She credits a great deal of her success to “finding people who are on board with your vision and selling your vision. Nothing in that portfolio was just me—it takes a lot of people,” she says. The hardest part of the process, she says, is “communicating your idea and empowering people to do it,” but she also notes that the talented individuals and teams she has worked with have been vital in achieving her vision and ultimately leading to her success.
As for the future of photography and film in Salt Lake City, Reza says that she sees “a lot of stuff coming to Salt Lake City, especially with LA seeing a downturn in production. There are a lot of good filmmakers, a lot of good storytellers and we’re excited to be a part of it.”
