We recently connected with David Harris and have shared our conversation below.

David, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

Success in photography, like any other creative field, requires a combination of skill, dedication, and the right mindset. I really feel strongly one needs to be authentic and have the ability to make a personal connection with your subject. Whether you’re pursuing photography as a hobby or a profession.

First and foremost, everything starts with building a strong foundation, so you really need to be able to understand and master your equipment. Understanding your camera, and settings like aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and how they affect your images is imperative to developing your style.

Study composition rules like the rule of thirds, leading lines, and framing. These principles can help you create visually appealing images. Experiment with different angles, perspectives, and focal lengths to develop your unique style. At the end of the day, know the rules but be afraid to break the rules.

Learning about exposure, lighting, and post-processing techniques will also help you develop your style. Mastering the technical aspects is crucial for creating the images you desire. I am not a big fan of editing but realize the importance of it. I try to do very little editing but practicing editing and becoming familiar with software like Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop will open more doors for you depending on your actual goals in photography.

As I mentioned, defining your style is key. I feel it’s important to look for influence but try to define your own self. Identify your passion within photography. Are you interested in landscapes, portraits, wildlife, fashion, or something else? Specializing can help you stand out.

As I stated, look to those who you admire and use their work for inspiration. Analyze their compositions, use of light, and storytelling techniques. I really admire photographer Greg Williams who I met years ago and have remained friends with. He is a master of story telling, using leading lines and capturing the pure essence of a particular moment. Find you inspirations.

The more you practice, the better you become and the more confidence you’ll gain. Take your camera with you everywhere and photograph regularly. Challenge yourself with different subjects and conditions to expand your skills.

It’s important to create a portfolio showcasing your work. A strong portfolio as well as networking is essential for attracting clients or getting noticed in the photography community.

I’d recommend connecting with other photographers, both online and in-person. Join photography forums, social media groups, and attend local photography meetups. Use social media platforms and a personal website to showcase your work and reach a wider audience.

Success in photography often takes time but ask yourself what is success? Don’t get discouraged by initial setbacks or slow progress. Keep learning, evolving, and refining your skills over time.

If you plan to turn your photography into a business, customer service is crucial. Be responsive, reliable, and professional in your interactions with clients. Most importantly be genuine.

Remember that success in photography is a journey, and it means different things to different people. It may involve becoming a recognized professional, creating compelling personal art, or simply finding joy and fulfillment in capturing moments and telling stories through your images. Define your own path to success and stay dedicated to your passion for photography.

David, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’ve always been intrigued by photography for as long as I can remember. As a kid, I was always interested in the design and creative process which came from my mother who was a fashion designer in NYC and Miami. I remember just playing around in her sewing room and I would design my own jeans and other clothing.

My mother bought me my first camera when I was around 7 or 8 years old. It was an old 35 mm film camera from Sears, which I still have somewhere. I would always take photos, whether it was nature, portraits, and animals, etc. At that time, when you finished a roll of film, you would mail it in to be developed and wait to see whether the photo came out or not. It was unlike digital photography today where you immediately see your results and have the opportunity to adjust your settings. I also took some photography in high school and always enjoyed the whole process.

When I was 10 years old, my father passed away in a car accident. I didn’t grow up wealthy, but when he passed away it definitely changed things from a financial perspective. I was on the free lunch program at school; my mother didn’t drive so I would either have to ask parents for rides or walk everywhere. Ultimately, my brother and I were responsible for paying for our education.

Growing up, I loved music and still do to this day. I originally went to college for music business as I wanted to be an A&R representative. After the first year of college, my music business program was dropped and it forced me to choose another major. Since I was responsible for paying for my school, I ended up choosing a degree that would allow me to graduate on time.

I graduated with a degree in Sociology and Law and then a Master’s in Social Work and Healthcare Policy. So, my educational background eventually made its way into healthcare and away from formalized training in photography and music.

I’ve learned to take my passions for music, fashion and photography and intertwine them. I’ve really become obsessed with photography. My mind is constantly framing and composing throughout the whole day. When I am speaking with someone, my internal dialog would be like, I don’t like the light at this angle or the background, etc. and I would be thinking, how can I recompose or reframe the situation. I used to be so self-conscious of what people would think as I was likely coming off as distracted or not paying attention. It wasn’t until a few years ago, I realized that’s just how my creative brain works and I’ve become comfortable with it.

I consider myself a contemporary lifestyle photographer with a focus on music, entertainment, and fashion. I’ve been fortunate to work with some fantastic entertainers, artists, make-up artists, brands and other photographers. I love to photograph in black and white, but I certainly shoot in color as well. I feel black and white photography is so timeless and draws one’s attention directly to the subject in a different way than color.

I also support artists and photographers through Sound Rebel Magazine, an online digital publication and on Instagram @soundreblemag, which is dedicated to all thing’s music. This is a really nice platform that supports the work of artists and entertainers whether they are up-and-coming or already established. The intent of the platform is to support the work of contributing photographers just as much as the artists.

My ultimate goal is to understand the person I’m photographing and tell their story in the most authentic way I can.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

Networking and word of mouth has been invaluable for growing my photography and reputation. I’m very outgoing and tend to strike up conversations with almost anyone. So for me, building a strong network and fostering positive relationships within the photography community can lead to a steady stream of clients and opportunities in your photography career.

I’ve met people in random circumstances and the next thing you know, I may be enjoying a conversation, having dinner with the person their family. It’s a real genuine moment with no intention except enjoying the persons company. All of a sudden, time goes by and you receive a call or text from the same person who is now asking for your services. This is special because you know the person felt a genuine connection and trusts you to deliver a product they now need.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I feel strongly being genuine, caring and patient has helped build my reputation. There have been situations where I’m looking forward to working with someone and vice versa but from a scheduling standpoint it may take time to coordinate. This happened with someone I was initially introduced to and who has now become a dear friend, her name is Shani James. Shani and I were dawn to one another from the start. She is such a creative inspiration and one of the most caring people I’ve met. Shani is a fashion stylist and vintage clothing collector who has an incredible collection of one of a kind pieces. In fact, many of her pieces can be viewed on her site, Knowstylegia Vintage Collection, and many of the pieces are available for sale or rent. Shani and I kept in contact and eventually after a couple years we were able to connect and capture some of the most beautiful photos. So having a genuine interest and caring about someone is extremely important to me. When you’re patient, truly care and have a vision eventually time and schedules come together.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://davidharrisphotos.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/davidharrisphotos?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
• Other: Sound Rebel Magazine Website: https://www.soundrebelmagazine.com/ Instagram: @soundrebelmag

Image Credits
Profile Photo: Caleb Harris All Other Photos: David Harris – David Harris Photos, LLC