Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, Phelps has built an impressive career despite having no formal art training, lending his talents to Italian Vogue, French Marie Claire, Conde Nast Traveller UK, The New York Times Magazine, Fortune and Interview, and picking up both an IPA Lucie Award and the Grand Prize of Portraits for the World Press. Phelps is also the co-designer, builder and owner of Cafe Moto in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.