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

Harlan , looking forward to hearing all of your stories 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?

I hope that when I’m gone I’m remembered as a creative artist who took the chance to be different.I’d like to be remembered as someone who helped others grow in their mission as a creative and hopefully I helped them learn something along the way.

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 started my journey as a Photographer as far back as when I was about 7/8 years old.At that time I wanted to learn all about being a music engineer as my dad has a passion for recording music and producing it.So I learned all about audio equipment old school tape recorders etc.Then I learned all about music and Radio & Mobile DJ personality helping my parents bring gear and play music at weddings or bowling alleys etc back in the 1990s.Meanwhile I was always fascinated by a great portrait or album cover,My mom was a artist who had also been a Photographer in the past.So for my 11th Birthday (1993) After asking about using the camera for years I got to take photos on that day the photos came out pretty good.Shortly after that My parents added Photography & Video into their business for weddings and such so I had the opportunity to learn and assist and be a second shooter on weddings as a kid,I actually got to do my own paid shoots within their business by 1995 when I was 13 and by 14 years old I was active all the time shooting Weddings or family shoots little league portraits etc.By the time I was 18 I already had over 100 shoots under my belt.But I always wanted to be a Fashion/ Art Photographer that’s where my heart is & I would get hired here & there for model portfolio work even by a agency but never as far as I needed or wanted to be because at age 16 my mom unexpectedly died.I then had to take care of my father who was a diabetic with many psychological issues and the family business was destroyed by my biological sister who was 3 years older and involved in the company as I was,She ultimately destroyed everything my parents worked for and I had to save our home and take care of my dad as I did from my moms death in 1998 till my dad’s death in 2012.It was a lot to take on so hopes of getting discovered by famous brands in fashion and being a famous fashion photographer had to go on hold.I rebuilt a business from scratch as a Wedding and corporate Photographer , Videographer,DJ who got occasional Model portfolio shoots here and there and was able to pay the bills and survive as a creative all while taking care of a father with many medical problems as years when on.After my Dads passing in late 2012 I completed my jobs through 2013 and took about a year off of Photography and focused on me for once in my life my best friend now my wife moved in with me we started our life.In the beginning of 2015 I launched my business with my Wife R&R Amore productions and took on weddings and corporate once again but this time focusing on making my art ( my work with models ) as a part of the company and I grew my career as a Fashion Photographer here in AZ and now I can proudly say my main area of Photography is working with models in the fashion world.This year I’m hoping I can make it to New York and other places to grow my network and hope someday be seen by the right eyes to leave my legacy behind.

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

Kinda like in the prior question my story. I wanted to be that Photographer who went for the big time working with the likes of Calvin Klein or Guess or Versace etc. My pivot was to simply being a creative and putting $ in the bank to pay bills and take care of my dad as their was no one else to do so. With that being said I changed my plans to take care of him and now here later in life I’m trying to pursue what I would have pursued in my teen years or 20s but never say it’s too late to live your dream.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I love making Art and I want to world to see it and I truly hope that when I’m gone it is remembered as it is a part of me and I hope to leave a legacy behind.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Randramoreproductions
• Facebook: HF cone

Image Credits
Anna Maynard