Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Charles Harris. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Charles thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us 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.

In the beginning I was self taught, referring to a beginners book by Kodak. This book was actually inspiring, as it had a ton of excellent photographs from the color masters of that era (late 70’s). One of the first things I set out to understand was exposure. Since I started on Kodachrome, precise exposure was a must or the image was useless.

After a few years as a photo enthusiast while pursuing other interests, I decided to go to an art school in Colorado with a dedicated photography program. This was a great experience. It was a well rounded program in both technical and the artistic. I also mastered the art of the darkroom. I finished school with a pretty solid student portfolio that I was proud of at the time.

Portfolio in hand, I moved to Dallas and entered the freelance assistant market. Since there were a whole lot of commercial photographers in town, I started working right away as a photo assistant. The great thing was that I was exposed to a multitude of facets of the industry. One day I might be working on a fashion shoot, the next a car shoot. Or jewelry, lifestyle, catalog, industrial, corporate, editorial, etc. It told me more about what I didn’t want to do vs what I did want to do, which was a gift. After about 1.5 years of that, I made the move to North Carolina to continue my pursuits, which is where I live today.

In NC, I did a brief stint in a commercial lab where I printed Cibachromes, prints from slides. Then after a bit of freelancing I was offered a full time assistant position with a well known photographer on the rise. This is where the fun started. Working out of 10,000 sq ft studio, plus scores of location jobs, I gained as much experience as one could want. We did everything and I was non stop busy for 7 years. The amount and variety of shoots I was on is staggering. We had graduated to shooting national campaigns for the likes of Nike, Royal Caribbean, Bahamas Tourism and so much more. In the last couple of years there, I was also second shooting on major shoots with big brands and solo shooting smaller jobs. It was time to move on.

I started a commercial studio business with a few of my associates, Stone Soup Productions. Now I was on my own yet had the support of the studio. We stayed together for 11 years. During that time, I built both a client base and a reputation. My experience with the previous studio gave me a certain clout right from the beginning, but I still had to earn it. Every day is a new day and every shoot is different. I had all the muscle memory of technique and equipment, but now had to run the show and make the tough calls. I’d say the most important thing I learned during that time was how to deal with people. You have to know when to step in and take charge or when to lay back and let things evolve. I’m a big fan of letting things evolve, though you often to not have the luxury of time so it’s a balance. It’s also a juggling act, you may have to wear three hats to deal with the client, your crew, and the talent. After 11 years both the industry and technology had evolved as well. Since I was never much of a studio photographer, I let go of the studio and moved home, which is where I work today. I continue to learn today, the process never ends.

While I could have trimmed a few years off of my assisting experience, I’m glad I did it for as long as I did because once I stepped out on my own, I went not it with the highest level of confidence in myself.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

In general, I’m a people photographer. I do lifestyle, corporate and editorial. Almost exclusively on location. It’s always hard to describe the work, you have to see it. My vast experience means that I’m just as comfortable with a large crew with a client or two using talent as I am working solo on an editorial assignment. And all in between. I’m probably set apart from many others locally for my versatility. I understand branding and the power of the still image. I know how to translate an idea, offer insight, and form a plan to execute. I’m passionate about my work and am proud of years of repeat clients. I’m also proud to have been recognized by some of the most prestigious publications in my industry.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Independence. I’ve essentially been my own boss since 1995.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

Probably the same thing that is most rewarding, independence. Many people do not have the discipline to be self employed. It also takes patience and the ability to manage a cashflow during slower periods.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.charlesharris.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charles_harris_photo/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-harris-81a78214/
• Other: http://galleries.chasharris.com/comm_arts/commarts_harris.pdf

Image Credits

all photos © Charles L Harris