Proud in Utah: A portrait project celebrating Pride, community, and authenticity

During the vibrant 2025 Utah Pride Festival weekend, a new project will come to life — Proud in Utah, a fine art portrait series and forthcoming photo book that honors the spirit, individuality, and authenticity of Utah’s LGBTQ+ community and its allies.

Set against the electric atmosphere of Pride, Proud in Utah invites festivalgoers into a minimalist, professionally lit pop-up studio — not for a quick snapshot, but for an intentional portrait experience. The goal? To capture the broad spectrum of what Pride means in Utah. Whether it’s a dazzling drag persona, a quiet expression of gender identity, or a shared embrace between chosen family, each portrait reflects the strength, creativity, and resilience of a community living boldly and beautifully.

The project is a fundraising collaboration with the Utah Pride Center, and 100% of proceeds from the book’s sales will go directly toward supporting the Center’s mission: advocacy, education, mental health services, and care for Utah’s LGBTQ+ population.

Participation is open to all attendees of the Utah Pride Festival. Individuals and small groups will be invited to be photographed, with clear options to opt in or out of being featured in the final printed volume. Digital images will be shared with participants following the event.

Two acclaimed photographers will craft the portraits:

• Steve Conlin, a longtime ally and former CEO of Ogden’s Own Distillery (home of Five Husbands Vodka), whose photographic work centers on drag, identity, and community in Utah and beyond.
• Nick Sokoloff, a Salt Lake City-based photographer known for his deeply human environmental portraits. His prior work, including New Americans and Capturing COVID, demonstrates his ability to create images that combine technical brilliance with emotional resonance.

A strong community partnership powers this project, including the Utah Pride Center, Five Husbands Vodka, and Pictureline.

The Proud in Utah book will be released in Fall 2025, coinciding with the Utah Pride Center’s annual celebration. Pre-orders will open later this year, with featured portraits and behind-the-scenes content shared in the lead-up to the launch.

Whether you’re a festival attendee ready to step into the studio, a supporter wanting to back the book, or a sponsor looking to champion queer visibility through art, there’s a place for you in this celebration.

For information, visit puertoricoportraits.com/about-5