About Tim Courtney

Tim Courtney was born and raised in the blue-grass state of Kentucky, under the astrological sign of Pisces.  A high school graduate of Dixie Heights and a vocal performance major at Azusa Pacific University in Southern California. Tim's first interest with photography began in 1997, with artistic black and white nudes.

One year after acquiring his first camera, his work was recognized by an art director of a New York magazine, who offered Courtney his first Hollywood celebrity with a magazine cover featuring TV and Broadway actress, Bea Arthur. One month later he was called to photograph British actor Sir Ian McKellen and a long list of celebrities followed.

Upon release of these images, Courtney received a phone call and letter from LIFE Magazines, Neal Bulton.
 "You have Bea Arthur looking like a little girl and Ian McKellen, looks like he could actually be someones father.  We seldom see this intimate side of celebrities.  We love your images here at LIFE Magazine.”

Like the famous Herb Ritts, Courtney, too, is a self-taught photographer.  "I was inspired and motivated by Herb Ritts' black and white images and his story of success."

Legendary photographer Herb Ritts was chair of LA’s famous Out Auction in 1999, where Courtney’s popular barefoot photo of Bea Arthur, was chosen to promote the event.

Courtney is a special guest lecturer for a "hands-on" photography lighting class taught each semester at the prestigious Laguna College of Art and Design.

Oscars 2000, Courtney was the exclusive photographer with full access to the Beverly Hills home of Italian filmmaker Dino de Laurentiis, to photograph the celebrities and Italian Oscar nominees for multi-publishings in Italy’s entertainment magazines.

Associations: Voting member of NARAS, (National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences)

Tim Courtney is the founder of a non profit organization called Picture Me Happy...creating a better life for chronically and terminally ill children in hospitals and hospices across America.  To find out how you can make a better life for these seriously ill children, go to PictureMeHappy.org.