We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Alan Mercer a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alan, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.
I learned how to take quality photographs from years of practicing. The only thing that will speed up progress would be to shoot everyday and keep stretching the boundaries of what you already know. Teaching your eye how to SEE is what is most essential. Attention to detail the most important. Once you have a camera, the main obstacle to learning more is not having enough subjects to photograph and not practicing enough.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I have been involved with portraits for over 30 years. I started out as a painter and sketch artist, endorsed by Andy Warhol. In 1997, I decided to concentrate on celebrity photography, and in a move that was pretty cutting edge at the time, launched my web site in the hopes that I would be discovered, and it worked.
It wasn’t long before director, James Moll found my website and hired me to photograph his portrait for the DVD The Last Days. From there, I was tapped for a special project to assemble and photograph Steven Spielberg and six other great directors. After that I was called upon by the biggest names in music, film, and television.
I became the go to photographer for Hollywood veterans like Julie Newmar, Paul Williams, Lalo Schifrin, Ruta Lee, Rona Barrett, Jean Simmons, Linda Gray, Britt Ekland, Jackée Harry, Sean Young, Ruth Buzzi, Carol Channing, Audrey Landers and I became well known for his multiple portraits of people like Mamie Van Doren, Gilles Marini, Danny Trejo, Sally Kellerman, Freda Payne, Leslie Jordan and Jane Lynch.
For as many actors that I have photographed, I have photographed even more legendary musicians that include George Jones, Bebe Buell, Gregg Allman, Thelma Houston, Melba Moore, Arturo Sandoval, Smokey Robinson and Etta James.
Since moving to Texas in 2013, I have stayed busy photographing local actors and musicians.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
I know for a fact that social media did the most to promote and spread the word about my work. I stayed on it many hours when it first started. I have been able to be on slightly less over time since I have a following of around 9,000 followers. Also word of mouth is the very best way for a person like me to get hired for new jobs. People are nervous about being photographed so they want someone who is confident and knows that they are doing.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
I am pivoting right now. There are almost countless photographers these days. I have started to focus more on digital art through photography. It is a sure way to set myself apart from other photographers and artists. I have started using AI more than ever in my finished works. 
Contact Info:
- Website: www.alanmercer.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amphotos11/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alan.mercer.75/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw2DyAA18UNzfFPpETn7BTQ