Christopher Mortenson

@speedygbmx and I had chatted about making this photograph for almost a year, happy to get it done awhile back. #bmx #LBC

I always wanted to make photographs in an elevator like this. It took a some tries and few trips up and down the building, but I think it came out pretty dope. The @fuccuuwant twins doing there in #DTLA. Photographed for @ladowntownnews

I found myself at the #SantaMonica Pier awhile back hella early in the morning. There was a heavy rain that eased up as I made my down to the boardwalk. I was waiting to start an assignment for the newspaper and realized that there was almost no one on the pier. I knew this was a rare opportunity to explore the quieter side of photography and had to seize the day. #LosAngeles #tourist #LA P.S. all my friends are very much alive 🫶

In this episode of The P.H.Y.S Podcast, I sit down with @mortyvision , better known as Morty, an editorial and commercial photographer based in the creative heart of Long Beach, California. Morty’s journey began in the small rural town of Silver City, New Mexico, where his passion for photography first took shape at home. His mother was a Navy photographer, and seeing the stories she captured through the lens opened his eyes to the power of visual storytelling. After earning his BFA in Photography from New Mexico State University, Morty moved to Los Angeles and stepped into the fast-paced creative world of streetwear and action sports. As an Art Director for the streetwear brand Quintin Co., he gained the opportunity to photograph some of the top athletes in BMX and skateboarding, experiences that helped shape his visual style and creative instincts. Over the past decade, Morty has continued refining his craft, focusing on the balance between technical precision and emotional connection. His approach echoes the famous words of Henri Cartier-Bresson: to make a photograph is to align the head, the eye, and the heart. Today Morty works as a staff photographer for several Los Angeles publications including LA Downtown News, Pasadena Weekly, and The Argonaut, documenting artists, entrepreneurs, and everyday Angelenos whose stories deserve to be seen and heard. Beyond editorial photography, he also runs his wedding and event photography brand, Wedding Crashers Worldwide, known for capturing authentic, candid moments with warmth and personality. When he is not on assignment, Morty continues exploring new creative territory through large-scale collage work, pushing the boundaries of how photography and visual storytelling can evolve. In this conversation we dive deep into the evolution of creative vision, the lessons learned from working in skate and BMX culture, and what it really means to find purpose behind the camera. Because for Morty and for many of us creativity is not just what we do. It is who we are. Listen now to The P.H.Y.S Podcast. Photography heals your soul.

Last Sunday I had the pleasure of documenting some #LosAngeles history. These photographs were made while @therobertvargas finished up the fifth and final mural in his #WEAreHuman series. The mural is titled “Walking Into History” and features a portrait of the legendary Civil Rights Leader Dolores Huerta. When I got the assignment it just said to make some photographs of a mural in #DTLA. I was pleasantly surprised to see it was Robert finishing this piece. In the words of @icecube “It was a good day”

The homie @maytwotimes produced this zine before he went out to Japan. It’s hot off the press and includes art from @maymadepieces @smokedsignals and myself. It was a fun one to design and I’m stoked to see it in the flesh. We’re selling them for $10 (shipping included) and the proceeds are going to help make some bigger and better ones. S/o to @alco_printing for some top tier work. If you want to snag a copy and support shoot me a dm 🙏

What does it take for a photographer to align the head, the eye, and the heart and turn storytelling into a way of life? Today’s guest on The Life of PHYS Podcast is Christopher Mortenson, though most people simply know him as Morty (@mortyvision ), an editorial and commercial photographer based in the creative heart of Long Beach, California. Morty’s journey began in the small rural town of Silver City, New Mexico, where his passion for photography first took root at home. Inspired by his mother, a Navy photographer, he learned early that powerful storytelling begins with how you choose to see the world. After earning his BFA in Photography from New Mexico State University, Morty moved to Los Angeles and stepped into the role of Art Director for Quintin Co. That opportunity gave him creative freedom and opened doors to photographing top BMX and skateboarding athletes. Working in that fast moving environment helped shape his visual style and sharpen his instincts behind the camera. Over the last decade, Morty has refined every part of his craft from lighting to connection, from technical precision to emotional truth. Today he is known for storytelling that balances intellect, instinct, and heart, echoing the words of Henri Cartier Bresson, who said that making a photograph is about aligning the head, the eye, and the heart. Morty is now a staff photographer for LA Downtown News, Pasadena Weekly, and The Argonaut, documenting the stories of artists, entrepreneurs, and everyday Angelenos. Beyond editorial work, he runs his wedding and event brand Wedding Crashers Worldwide, known for its warmth, authenticity, and candid storytelling. When he is not on assignment he explores large scale collage projects, constantly pushing creative boundaries and expanding what storytelling can look like. This conversation dives deep into the evolution of vision, creative freedom, and what it truly means to find purpose behind the lens. Because for Morty, and for many creatives, photography is not just something you do. It is part of who you are.

😮A Photographer’s Incredible Street Performance 🎶 SING ON STREET @singonstreet 🎤 Christopher Mortenson @mortyvision 🎶 The Beatles - Come Together #cometogether #thebeatles #singonstreet #streetmusic #losangeles #randomsinger #cover

A little horror film inspired commercial while working my first job in California. #shortfilm #streetwear #horror

“FOMO vol.1” I’ve been working on these digital zines I can send out to future clients. “FOMO vol.1” is a collection of photographs from events I have been shooting recently. I honestly love the name and the open ended concept, so I might have to turn this series into a print zine. #LA #FOMO #LosAngeles

Laid up our eyes meet no sympathetic gaze Only the limelight’s tripped up haze ————————— Performing our new single Romanticism @superchiefgalleryla @midnightmarauders.la 💜 📸: @mortyvision thank you for catching the moment 😵

This morning my gf and I saw these parrots cuddling outside our window. Not a bad reminder to tell someone you love them 🙏