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

Matthew, appreciate you joining us today. What’s something you believe that most people in your industry (or in general) disagree with?

This is a controversial belief, but I am convinced that the way society sees beauty is all wrong. Beauty is not about being cosmetically flawless. It certainly isn’t about having pride in being or looking a certain way. Beauty exists in all things regardless of our own thoughts or interpretations of them. Condemned buildings contain a sense of wonder and intrigue; newly erected high-rise buildings have a sense of pristine and luxury. Which one is more beautiful? This is what I want people to ask themselves. Does age and weathering disqualify attractiveness? If so, how does that belief hold up when it comes to people? All people and places are beautiful to those whose eyes are open to see it. My final thought: Are you willing to look beyond the standard and see the world as it truly is?

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I have been creating photographs for about 5 years now. Along with each year comes an unexpected series of challenges, which I welcome with open arms. I’ve learned that the creative eye is never fully opened, it just sees a little bit more overtime. I find that I am most inspired to create photographs when I am surrounded by like-minded individuals whose desire is to simply create. This is why I was initially drawn to portrait photography. I thought to myself: “If I take photos of people, I get to be around more people!” It may sound silly, but that was my deciding factor. Through the years I’ve photographed athletes, models, musicians and more, which has been wonderful for me. The more exposure I have to different people’s passions, the wider my creative eye can be opened to see things from their perspective. I believe this ultimately leads to a better result anyway.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

In February of 2020, I lost my job of over 2 years. That particular job allowed me the freedom to exercise my craft on a daily basis. Leading up to that time, I was very active as a portrait photographer, booking several sessions a week in addition to working a full-time job. It wasn’t until after the world seemingly shut down that I realized I needed to pivot what I had been doing for the sake of my family and my craft. A few weeks later, I accepted a new position which included photographing live music and events. This was not an area of photography that I had much experience in, but I accepted the challenge and I’m better for it. Here we are in 2022 and I am confident in my skills both as a portrait and event photographer, which I wouldn’t have been able to say in 2020.

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

To be able to provide a service unlike anybody else, where people feel valued and beautiful, is what I find most rewarding about being a photographer.

Contact Info:

• Website: matthewnortonphotos.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/matthewnortonphotos
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/matthewnortonphotos
• Tiktok: @matthewnortonphotos.