Ian Kobylanski
Principal Photographer
I’m Ian, a London, UK fashion, street, and lifestyle photographer and director. Originally from Vancouver, Canada, I’ve spent the past decade shooting professionally in the commercial and editorial photography industry.
In 2023, my fiancée and I departed from Canada to travel through Australia and Asia, finally settling in London in the summer of 2024—a goal we’ve had for years to grow our careers and global reach.
I enjoy collaborating with brands and creative individuals in London, capturing elevated still and motion images on location and in my new space, Cloud Theory Studio. With an EU passport arriving in 2025, I’m excited to accept opportunities across Britain, Europe, North America, and beyond.
Throughout my career, I’ve had the pleasure of working with a diverse range of clients, including:
“Ian is an absolute pleasure to work with. He is a partner who is extremely professional, efficient and able to anticipate needs both on set and prior to executing a job.
On set, he is agile with business needs and is able to add value to the environment taking place with such ease. The quality of the work that Ian produces consistently exceeds expectations and he does this all with an amazingly supportive attitude. Really truly, cannot recommend working with Ian enough!”
My Journey
My career and portfolio began with mentorship from my high school photography teacher Anil Sharma. Alongside his teaching role, he was Vancouver’s top editorial concert photographer. He taught me to never compromise on what I want to shoot.
His guidance drew me to fashion photography and inspired me to pursue it professionally. While studying for my Bachelor of Commerce degree, photography became a means to support myself and express my creativity.
After university, I worked in software sales for five years. This experience gave me a deep understanding of the corporate world and the importance of communication, aligning expectations and deadlines. Photography remained my passion, growing from a side hustle during this period to my full-time career.
When taking photography full-time, I understood that my passion for connecting with people – especially directing those who aren’t necessarily models – is what I found most fulfilling. This led to discovering my niche of lifestyle photography in London: creating organic, candid-feeling images built upon a relaxed relationship between photographer and subject.
When not directing photoshoots, documentary-style street photography is how I spend my free time. As the lifeblood of my personal work, it guides my travels and furthers the candid approach I bring to all my sessions.
Before the shoot
I believe personal connection is key to great photography. Meeting face-to-face or over a video call helps us understand our mutual goals and ensures comfort during the shoot. I aim to make sessions engaging and worry-free, guiding subjects through poses, prompts and angles while capturing candid moments. I seek to eliminate any decision-making on set.
I love shooting in new locations, and being new to London, recommendations are warmly welcomed—especially unique areas off the beaten path or only a select few have access to. If not, location scouting is one of my favourite activities, and I'll share my proposed shoot plan in advance to help us prepare.
Gratefully, my space Cloud Theory Studio offers us a jumping-off point for any photo shoot. It’s a space designed to foster a relaxed atmosphere and facilitate any creative portrait or project brief.
In session
When shooting, I focus on communication and direction to ensure subjects feel relaxed and comfortable. My 80:20 rule means 80% of my attention is on interacting with you, and 20% on capturing the perfect shot. This approach results in candid, authentic images.
For commercial projects, I creatively direct and work with a team that includes assistants, videographers, stylists, and more, working together to achieve outstanding results. Collaboration with agency producers and creative directors is always welcome. I love coming together to execute and deliver a shared vision.
