We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jack Morris a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jack thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I am by no means a master of my craft, but I work really hard to consistently improve my approach to photography every time I pick up my camera. I was very lucky, as a teen, to have a photography teacher who really took the time to challenge me creatively, and to drive home the necessary fundamentals that have become the foundation of my work. I also have had the real privilege of growing up with a dad who has worked as a photographer for many years, and who I continue to learn from.

I think as I continue to grow artistically and professionally, I return again and again to the idea that you have to eliminate ego. Finding the security to ask questions of people who know more than you and the vulnerability to seek out and accept critique from artists you respect are such necessary aspects to learning. No matter what you do, you will hold yourself back if you grow defensive of your art.

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

I am a portrait photographer based in Los Angeles, and I work primarily in music and editorial portraits. I’ve been working professionally for about 6 years now, having started working with close friends during my time at UCLA.

Photography drew me in initially with its ability to capture authenticity, and I continue to love it for the ways in which it can manipulate the real world without losing that authenticity. I work with subjects to build a world through my photographs, using light and color to remove someone from their environment and build a new one. An aspect of my art that sets it apart is my openness to experiment and work with tools and places with which I’m not comfortable. It’s outside of that comfort zone where real authentic art is made.

I have seen some growing notoriety for my work with Olly Sholotan. We’ve been collaborating since our time at UCLA, and have always found something special in our sessions. Our first real work of note was “Creation of Adam”, which I was surprised to see garnering a lot of attention and support online after he posted it. As we both grow and develop in our fields, I’m excited to see how our relationship and the work we create evolves as well.

When I look at my growing body of work, I’m most proud of the ways in which it continues to change, the new styles I incorporate and the techniques I have learned from others. I also have begun to see the ways in which my voice really shines through, and the through-lines that have become my style of sorts. It’s a really important aspect of any art, looking back with a critical eye and appreciating your own journey.

Ultimately in my work, I really enjoy the play between the sitter and the lens in my work. I am a sucker for a bold subject, set apart form their environment, yet visually in conversation with the elements around them. I want the viewer to sit with my work when they see it, and to feel that they can know the subject through the photograph. I want to communicate life in the image.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

The biggest lesson I’ve learned about social media is that you can’t give it too much power over what art you make. It’s so easy to tailor your work to what you think will be popular or get more likes, as opposed to working on art that you feel is meaningful. If you create work that is important to you, and are able to really focus your technique, people will notice.

That’s not to say that social media isn’t important. It’s still the main way that the average person consumes what I create, and I work to make sure that I’m only sharing the best of what I have to offer. Establishing a brand on social media relies more on consistency than predictability, in that you should have an objective view of what your social media presence is and how you are using it to get in front of the right people.

It’s a tricky line to draw, between focusing your content and letting your followers change what work you feel you should make, but as you grow artistically you have to know where you personally set that boundary.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Buy art. It sounds simple, but you’d be surprised at the number of people who still reach out asking for work for free. They’re not evil or greedy, they just have an expectation that art–and primarily photography–shouldn’t cost money. The best way for you to support your friend that is taking up a new art form, or a family member that has opened a studio is to pay them for their work. Buy a print. Sit for a portrait. Show them that you value their work and you will see that it makes for a world with more art.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jackmorris.photo
• Instagram: instagram.com/jhenry_morris
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/jack-morris-520575156/

Image Credits
Jack Morris Photography