The straightforward synthesis and photophysical properties of a new series of heteroleptic iridium(III) bis(2-arylimidazole) picolinate complexes are reported. Each complex has been characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance, UV-vis, cyclic voltammetry, and photoluminescent angle dependency, and the emissive properties of each are described. The preferred orientation of transition dipoles in emitter/host thin films indicated more preferred orientation than homoleptic complex Ir(ppy).