We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dr. David Stewart a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. David, thanks for joining us today. What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?

Legacy is something I didn’t take seriously til Covid. Specifically for two reasons. One, early in Covid, my father passed away (June 2020). Two, I almost died due to diabetes in November of 2020. From that point, it was a paradigm shift internally. Laying on a hospital bed or watching the man whom you share a name with dying in a bed does something to you in terms of legacy.

I have been blessed to do many things, including model, become highly educated, (4 degrees, including a Doctorate completed in 2022), establish a solid career as a music artist (under the name, NIZM), and become an accomplished photographer with a studio, and roots in Chicago, Miami, Houston and Los Angeles. Yet the humbling moment is realizing when you leave the planet, the accomplishments are only accoutrements. The main course is how you impact others.
After realizing this, I really began to dig into understanding why it’s important to impact others. Often, we want the “flowers” while we are alive. I realized that is not how this thing called life works. From that I began to adopt the mantra of the “quiet professional” which is utilized by the Navy Seals. Going about doing the work and being in the shadows and learning that it takes individuals who realize that it’s not about them but working to make the world better. I want the legacy of Dr. L. David Stewart to be known for helping mankind through the gifts, tools, and resources given to me.

In terms of what people will say about me? I chuckle at the thought. I think people will realize my impact in many facets, circles, dimensions and influence on many. Some will say I was arrogant, too cocky, and deserve to be gone and should have been removed from Earth earlier. I accept that. Some will grieve, and will laugh at the memories made, and some will be pleasantly surprised to find out about the things I have done to help others and make communities better that I swore others to keep to themselves.

Lastly, I hope to be remembered not just for intelligence and being smart, but for being compassionate, caring, and really loving mankind and wanting to truly make this rock called Earth a little bit better. Passionate about hip-hop, architecture, skating, fraternity, photography, love, and all these about Black people

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 am the owner and operator of Year 60 Photography. Founded officially in Miami in 2016, the practice has expanded to Chicago, Miami, Houston, and Los Angeles. We offer expertise in portraiture, event photography, fine art photography, commissioned works and consulting.

The problems I solve are developing imagery that is needed for individuals, brands, organizations and much more. Adapting from a corporate approach to fine art and back at will as needed.

What sets me apart is the deep mixture of photography (25 years) and business acumen, that is married together. Having a Doctorate in business as well as 25 years of experience in the architecture/construction field gives me a depth of art and composition that is very different than most photographers.

I am most proud of maintaining a business for seven years and making it through the honeymoon phase and not quitting. Additionally, I am proud of learning to humble my ego and being willing to learn to be better.

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

For me, it is the motto of Year 60 Photography: Quality! Quickly!! People are always amazed at the speed of how I output work and at the quality given in the speed. Many clients are amazed wonder how I do it. It’s just diligence and intensity. Minimal marketing just delivering quality work. Simple as that.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Pivots have been a part of my life. Pivoting from architecture to higher education was intense. It was the first time I had to realize that I was walking away from something I was chasing since a child. It was humbling. My ego was wearing on me and feeling like I was a quitter. I felt my professional peers would look at me as less than. That pivot worked well and brought me back towards the building industry. I work now parallel to the architecture community and that informs not only my photography and my life perspectives.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.y60r.com
• Instagram: @year60photog
• Other: www.drldstewart.com