Matt Lankes Photography

Matt Lankes, a seventh-generation Texan, grew up in Austin playing soccer and watching his father take pictures for the Austin American-Statesman.

"I grew up around the camera," says Lankes, the fourth of five children, whose father was the first staff photographer hired by the Statesman, in 1969. "My father bought me my first camera, a Nikon. He also encouraged me to shoot as often as possible. I started taking pictures when I was a student at Austin High." By the time Lankes attended St. Edward's University, on a soccer scholarship, he was already assisting several local photographers and building his own photographic portfolio.

Since college, Lankes has made his living through photography, specializing in portraits of people in their environments. "I try to get to the core of the person," says Lankes, who likes to spend time with his subject. "I try to make a portrait that shows who a person really is. I think that one thing that runs through most of my pictures is that the subjects are not posing; they are relaxed, and not putting on a face."

Lankes credits his young daughter, Sinead, with keeping him focused. "She's my inspiration," he says.

Lankes' clients include Lance Armstrong Foundation, Texas Monthly magazine, the New York Times, Interview, Newsweek, GSD&M, Lee Jeans, McDonalds, Random House, Warner Brothers, Time Inc. and Pentagram Design. In his free time, he still plays soccer, loves the outdoors, and loves to travel.