Proud in Utah
A Portrait Project Celebrating Pride, Community, and Authenticity
Proud in Utah is a fine art portrait series and forthcoming photo book celebrating the individuality, expression, and spirit of Utah’s LGBTQ+ community and allies. Shot during the 2025 Utah Pride Festival, the project will feature striking, high-quality studio portraits taken on-site — capturing the personalities, styles, and stories of those who make Pride unforgettable.
This initiative is a fundraising collaboration with the Utah Pride Center, with 100% of proceeds from book sales going directly to support their mission of advocacy, education, and community care.
We just wanted to send a heartfelt thank you for stopping by the Proud in Utah portrait studio at the 2025 Utah Pride Festival!
Because of your amazing energy and presence, this project was a huge success — over 350 portrait sessions and nearly 500 incredible individuals photographed across two beautiful days of Pride.
Over the next week, photographers Nick Sokoloff and Steve Conlin will begin the process of reviewing and curating the images for the Proud in Utah photo book. This collection will serve as a powerful, lasting visual archive of Utah’s LGBTQ+ community and allies.
A Community Collaboration
This project is made possible through the generous support of:
The Utah Pride Center – Our nonprofit partner and beneficiary
Five Husbands Vodka – A longtime supporter of Utah Pride and LGBTQ+ causes
Pictureline – Utah’s leading camera and lighting equipment supplier, facilitating support from Canon USA and Profoto.
Meet the Creators
Steve Conlin
Steve considers Utah home when not travelling and is a longtime LGBTQ+ ally. He was the CEO of Ogden’s Own Distillery for 13 years, where he helped launch the Five Husbands Vodka brand and champion community-based marketing rooted in equity and expression. Now based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Steve is also a photographer whose portraits and documentary work have been featured in editorial, event, and social impact campaigns. He is currently editing a book on his many years of photographing drag in Utah.
Nick Sokoloff
Nick is a Salt Lake City-based commercial and editorial photographer known for his expertly crafted environmental portraits and lifestyle imagery. With a Master’s degree in photojournalism from the University of Missouri School of Journalism, Nick brings a journalistic sensibility and deep technical craft to every image. His celebrated New Americans and Capturing COVID series reflect his passion for storytelling, empathy, and social impact. Nick’s attention to light, moment, and authenticity make him a natural fit for this project.
Book Release
Proud in Utah will be published later in 2025, to launch by the Utah Pride Center’s Fall Celebration. Stay tuned for pre-order opportunities, featured portraits, and behind-the-scenes looks at the creative process.
Get Involved
Want to participate?
Interested in sponsoring, pre-ordering, or helping spread the word?
➡️ [Contact Us]
➡️ [Get on the Pre-Order list for 1st Edition of Proud in Utah]
Let’s celebrate Pride with purpose — one portrait at a time.