About

Although still a student of photography, in the formal sense, Julian Vankim’s relationship with photography began long ago.

“I’d often take my mom’s camera and use it behind her back,” Julian says, remembering his childhood. “She’d get angry because she’d have to pay for the film.”

Angry mother or not, Julian stuck with it, earning his associate’s degree in photography, and now pursuing his bachelor’s. But while his training continues, Julian’s career is already moving at breakneck pace.

The Washington, D.C.-area native regularly shoots the glossy cover of Metro Weekly magazine, the D.C.-area’s most popular LGBT publication. He’s served as the official photographer for the renowned DC Cowboys dance troupe, and as promotional photographer for the high-profile Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington. From action shots to studio poses, Julian’s photography is recognized as among the edgiest today. A first impression of Julian is of a quiet, diminutive young man. His artistry, on the other hand, is explosive.

“I like to envision what I would like to photograph and challenge myself and figure how to incorporate that into a picture,” says the artist. “And I learn something new every time.”

Each of those new lessons translates into artistic expression in a league of its own, constantly evolving, constantly breaking boundaries.

Written by: Will O’ Bryan, Metro Weekly