We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful David Uttley. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with David below.
David, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
It’s a privilege for me to be able to work as a humanitarian photographer, and so most of my projects are meaningful. I get to work with great nonprofit organizations doing life-changing work. Right now, a big part of our projects are with homeless rescue missions. It’s a chance to give vulnerable people a voice, and through sharing their compelling story, be able to help many others in need.
What I love about photography is that it opens the door to new experiences that I might not typically have access to. It allows me to meet new people doing interesting things, to see their passions and hear their stories.
Probably, the most meaningful project that I’ve been involved in was responding to the 7.0 magnitude earthquake which struck Haiti, on January 12, 2010. I had grown up in Haiti, so my heart was there. Speaking Haitian Kreole, I was able to connect with people in a way that most people couldn’t. I spent the better part of the year working with different relief organizations helping the Haitian people get back on their feet. There was no place I would have rather been, during that time.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I have had the privilege to always be involved in the creative industry and do work that I’m passionate about. Thirteen years ago, I sold my design firm to 2 employees to start working as a Humanitarian Photographer. This came about as a way of helping an organization raise money to build wells in Africa. Two weeks after selling my firm, the devastating earthquake happened in Haiti, and I haven’t looked back. From responding to a typhoon in the Philippines to working with young coffee farmers in Guatemala, this work has taken me to over 70 counties. Eventually, Compelling Story was created, with the goal to help nonprofits share their powerful stories.
The goal of each creative venture was to do the best work possible, and to use that as a key to unlock doors to where we wanted to go. We used that goal with the design firm, which specialized in book cover design, to go after the kind of design that we wanted to do in a very specific market. I am most proud of Faceout Studio and the work that they continue to do following after the early vision of the company.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
Compelling Story was started with the goal of helping small nonprofits to tell and share their powerful stories. Our goal is to capture the heart of their purpose-driven mission in a way that gets noticed and inspires action. Through our work, we are allowing the vulnerable to be seen and sharing their story with others wanting to make a difference. We try to find the best clients, doing the best work. We recently partnered with an organization that trains African surgeons to serve in underdeveloped areas and serve the people with the most need. It’s an organization with a sustainable model, making a big impact.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
In addition to making an impact, photography opens doors for creative experience and gives me a unique way of seeing the world. It takes me down paths that I would have never imagined, allowing me to explore my passions. While in Egypt on a recent trip, where my wife was teaching midwifery at a nursing school, we got to help a high end Nile cruise company tell their story. It brought together so many of our passions; people, sailing, archeology, food, and culture. On the same trip we also got to work with a fair trade organization that helps local artisians achieve equitable trade relations and at the same time helps preserve important cultural traditions. 
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.compellingstory.org
- Instagram: compellingstory