Redefining the Frame: How Courtney Hatch is Shaking Up Utah's Photography Scene

Courtney Hatch: Bringing a Dreamy Editorial Eye to the Runway

In a market saturated with standard outdoor portraits, emerging photographer Courtney Hatch is carving out her own distinct lane. Hailing from St. George, Utah, Courtney bridges the gap between high-fashion editorial and a nostalgic, dreamy aesthetic. Currently pursuing her bachelor's degree in art at Utah Tech, she combines her formal education with an undeniable hustle—frequently making the grueling ten-hour round trip to northern Utah just to shoot from the media pits of major fashion shows. With an eye for the cinematic and a fearless approach to color and contrast, Courtney sits down with ShutterSpire Magazine to discuss her rapid rise, her artistic inspirations, and where her camera will take her next.

ShutterSpire Magazine: Let's talk about how you got your start in photography. What was the catalyst for you?

Courtney Hatch: I started out just taking pictures of my friends and realized how incredibly fun it was. From there, I started looking into it more, getting inspired by content on TikTok to start taking pictures of models. I decided to just go for it and emailed Zion Fashion Week, which became my first fashion show as a volunteer. After that, I shot the Utah World Fashion Show and the Utah Fashion Show up north. Since I live in St. George, it requires a lot of passion and driving to make it to those events, but I'm just so excited to be a part of it.

ShutterSpire Magazine: Fashion is a notoriously tough, high-stakes industry that requires a lot of hustle. Why choose fashion over standard portraiture?

Courtney Hatch: Aesthetically, it just looks so much more appealing and fits my personal style. I want to stay true to my style because I don't really love blending in; I feel like a lot of typical Utah photography looks exactly the same, and I want to be different. I want people to look at an image and immediately know that I took it. Fashion is definitely the way to lean into that editorial edge.

ShutterSpire Magazine: Your aesthetic is incredibly unique for the runway—warm colors, glowing tones, and an almost nostalgic, dreamy film feel. Where do you draw your artistic inspiration from?

Courtney Hatch: I pull a lot of inspiration from everyday life and clothing. I'm getting my bachelor's in art at Utah Tech, so I try to bring that artistic foundation into my photography. I pay close attention to the color wheel and matching the atmosphere to the vibe of the clothes. For instance, in a recent shoot with my friend Addie, we aimed for an Egyptian dune look using a lot of orange tones to complement the wardrobe. I really strive to keep my dreamy, editorial style consistent.

ShutterSpire Magazine: You're already shooting multiple shows and making a name for yourself. What are your main goals for the upcoming year?

Courtney Hatch: I want to try a little bit of everything. One big goal is transitioning to do more shoots specifically with models, and figuring out how to work directly with brands. If I want to work with a beauty brand, I want to execute a shoot that is tailored specifically for them, making it look like an official campaign. I'm also planning to move to Salt Lake City after I graduate so I can immerse myself more in the scene and expand my fashion and editorial wedding photography.

ShutterSpire Magazine: Do you have any dream creative concepts you are itching to bring to life this year?

Courtney Hatch: I really want to incorporate animals, like doing a shoot with horses in the mountains with a crazy, high-fashion dress and flowers. I'm also really inspired by the contrast you see in magazines like Vogue, where they place gorgeous, high-end outfits in a gritty or abandoned location. Having that contrast gives it a much deeper, artistic, and high-fashion vibe.

ShutterSpire Magazine: What technical skills are you looking to master next to elevate those concepts?

Courtney Hatch: Studio work is definitely next on my list. I have a photography class this semester where we’ll be doing studio work, and I am so excited to play with fun, colorful artificial lighting. I also took a film class last semester which helped immensely. With film, you can't just click away; you have to really sit down and pay attention to every single shot, your composition, and your lighting.

ShutterSpire Magazine: Where has photography taken you so far, and where do you hope it takes you in the future?

Courtney Hatch: Mostly I've shot locally around southern Utah, but I've also shot in California, Hawaii, and Florida. Ultimately, a huge goal of mine is to travel the world—places like Thailand and Italy. I just want to explore everywhere, and photography is a great avenue to help make that a reality.

ShutterSpire Magazine: Traveling to northern Utah for these shows is quite the commitment for a young artist.

Courtney Hatch: It definitely is a huge drive. My family has been incredibly supportive, traveling with me and staying in hotels so I can participate safely, and their support takes a lot of the pressure off. I've only been shooting fashion for about a year, but I'm determined enough that I know I'm going to make it. I just keep going at it, even when opportunities are sparse.

ShutterSpire Magazine: The fashion industry, and specifically the media pit, can be incredibly chaotic and stressful, but you always seem to bring a cheerful attitude to the runway. How do you maintain that positivity when the days are so long?

Courtney Hatch: The designs, venues, and models were all so beautiful that staying cheerful during long days comes naturally- I’m just grateful to be there capturing it. My gratitude to be there keeps me going when things get fast paced or chaotic in the media pit. I really enjoy the overall positive environment, and the networking opportunities presented when I attend fashion shows. Zion Fashion Week, my first show, had such good vibes. It was very scenic by the pool, and everybody was so welcoming.

The Utah World show venue was indoors with exposed pipes throughout the ceiling, which gave an editorial look to the runway. The third show I shot was held in the Utah State Capitol, which was definitely my favorite venue because it was the most visually appealing. It is an honor to get the opportunity to photograph these shows, and continue building my photography career through networking and expanding my portfolio.

ShutterSpire Magazine: Speaking of venues, how do you approach shooting in such diverse spaces?

Courtney Hatch: I deliberately move around the media pit to find angles others might miss; sometimes the most interesting shot comes from simply seeing the runway differently. All three of the shows I attended had stark differences between them. Zion Fashion Week and Utah World Fashion Week had open areas where I could freely stand, crouch, and move around to capture a variety of shots and angles.

At both of these shows, most of the other photographers in the media pits remained seated in their chairs, but I deliberately moved around to find more interesting angles that no one else was capturing. I used lower angles to break away from the standard seated perspective by crouching low to the ground to capture elegant reflections. At the Utah Fashion show located in the Capitol, I stayed seated because photographers were stationed very closely together from multiple angles. If I had moved around, I would be in the way of other professionals, so it wasn’t the right moment to experiment with those more dynamic shots like before.

Even so, I still love the images I captured from my seat. I was able to get a beautiful, symmetrical head-on angle of the entire venue and models walking the runway. I’m just grateful to be there, capturing the creativity, energy, and artistry that make every runway show diverse and unforgettable. Every show is another chance to refine my eye, tell a visual story, and keep growing as a photographer. 

ShutterSpire Magazine: For other aspiring creatives looking at your journey so far, what advice would you give them?

Courtney Hatch: Start humble. Work with your friends, and then gradually start working with models. Volunteering at fashion shows is incredibly important because it's the best place to network with other creatives in this niche. Beyond that, just practice. I try to practice every single week, balancing it with school and work, because practice really is the only way you get better.

ShutterSpire Magazine: Amazing conversation, Courtney! Thanks so much for offering this window into your compelling story. Let us know where we can follow you on your journey?

Courtney Hatch: My Photography Instagram is @CourtneyHatchPhotography. Definitely give me a follow there and watch as I grow!

LINKS

Browse Courtney's portfolio at https://courtneyhatch.mypixieset.com/