Jonathan Barkat grew up along the shore in Cape May at the southern tip of New Jersey. Many moments were spent watching as the light moved across the ocean, dunes, and wetlands as well as amusement piers, beach hotels, boardwalks, and seaside attractions. The atmosphere and mood of the area played a large part in shaping how he sees the world and continued to be an influence as he turned the camera to the people around him. Though he started taking photographs in high school, he spent the first part of college focusing on painting and drawing before turning again to photography. This background, along with his love of evocative light, informs his work and approach to image making. 

Jonathan has always been drawn to portraiture. From studio shots with carefully considered lighting to environmental portraits that evoke a sense of time and place, his approach pairs his lighting skills and understanding with a desire to create thoughtful portraits with emotional impact.

Jonathan works with advertising, book publishing, and editorial clients, and has been recognized by Communication Arts, Photo District News, The Society of Publication Designers, and the International Photography Awards. He thoroughly enjoys the collaborative process and working with a wide range of clients to bring his visual voice to an assignment. In addition to commissioned work he spends as much time as possible shooting personal images. 

When not shooting or working out new productions with clients, he can often be found riding around his local mountain bike trails. And if you ever want to come along he’s pretty sure he knows where to find an extra bike.