Photoumbra Studios is a combined mix of talent, experience, and creative imagination. We love beautiful photography, interesting art, good music and great design, and we blend it all together to create unique and creative photographic art.

Monica Holt-Burby is the brains, the inspiration, and most of the brawn behind Photoumbra Studios. Monica has been passionately photographing for nearly 15 years. She has exhibited her work in several galleries and art museums, taught college level photography and has had her work published in The Salt Lake Tribune, The Deseret News, Salt Lake City Magazine, Lightwork Magazine, The Enterprise, the UMFA Catalog, and more. Her photographs can be seen on album covers for The Cosmos, Moonboots, and The Child Who Was a Keyhole. Monica loves hanging out with her family, crazy-fast downhill mountain biking and snowboarding, and all things Anthropologie. Oh yeah…and she’s absolutely terrified of snakes.

Jake Burby’s years of experience in design, fashion, art and layout blends seamlessly with a strong background behind the camera, creating the style, art direction and scenery for some of Photoumbra Studio’s most creative portraits. Jake has done branding, marketing, art direction and writing for several corporations, won national awards and directed magazine work in over 19 countries. Jake has traveled, climbed, skiied, kayaked, snowboarded and bike-raced his way around the US, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the UK. He has an unhealthy creative passion for all things Disney, and hopes to one day have his remains included on Pirates of the Carribean (but Indiana Jones wouldn’t be too bad either).

Mirinda Losee is our go to gal for help with just about anything around the studio. She is our primary lighting assistant and assistant photographer. Her background as an amazing sketch artist and painter make her a natural at creative photography. She has 4 kids and keeps her sanity (and ours) with a great sense of humor.

Justine McIff is our fabulous stylist and lighting assistant. With years of experience in visual arts and theater and formerly a model in both Salt Lake and San Fracisco, she has a great eye for make-up and styling. she gives us very valuable insight and help into all that goes into making awesome portraits. She handles make-up, hair, and clothing selections for our ROCKSTAR Sessions and also helps us with lighting in studio and on location.