He was raised in the suburbs of Chicago, where he found a passion for storytelling early on. After graduating from Southern Illinois University Carbondale with a degree in journalism, Sutphin moved across the country to intern at the Post Register in Idaho Falls. He stayed there for four years before moving to Twin Falls to work for the Times-News. Living and working in Southeast Idaho, Sutphin gets to enjoy the beautiful nature and unique culture of the state while getting paid to document those that inhabit it.