We were lucky to catch up with Taggart Lee recently and have shared our conversation below.

Taggart, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What do you think it takes to be successful?

Passion, curiosity, and tenacity. Technically I’ve been a photographer since I was 13 so the passion has always been there in one form or another. If the business fell apart tomorrow, I wouldn’t see myself putting the camera down even for a second.
I’m a curious guy, I am curious about our world and the people in it. For better or worse, humanity fascinates me and that is the main topic I am drawn toward. If I’m shooting a boat race, I’m less interested in pretty sails at sunset than I am the crew on the boat. When things go wrong on a boat, they go wrong FAST. Those moments to me pique my interest.
In terms of tenacity, I was just getting my commercial business off the ground when Covid hit. It has been a slog and there have been tough days and more money going out than in. But the idea of giving up…is just not an option. I believe in the work and I believe in forward momentum. Always.

Taggart, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My mom was a portrait photographer in Pasadena California where I grew up. My dad was a sailor and so I spent a great deal of time in, on, and under the water. A place I would come back later in life as subject matter for my work. When I was 13 my birthday present was a camera (a Pentax K1000!) and I learned to develop my own stuff. After high school I worked my way into the film business as a motion picture camera assistant, and over time (with eventual college and grad school thrown in) I moved up the ladder to operator and cinematographer. At the time I was living in Virginia with a new family when we made the decision to move back to the west. My timing was less than perfect because when we arrived in Los Angeles in 2000, everything was headed north to Canada for the substantial breaks Canadas was giving productions. I took a job teaching part time that eventually turned into teaching photography/filmmaking complete with a full studio. While I still teach, in 2018 I shifted my focus from editorial/sports photography (B toC ) to commercial/advertising (B to B) after I won the APA National Award for lifestyle with the encouragement from a couple of photographers who’s
work I admire.
Taggart Lee Photography provides lifestyle, travel, maritime, sports, and environmental portraiture to clients looking for photography that finds the humanity in poignant moments and active lifestyles. I think my popularity comes from my ability to create something different, something removed from the boilerplate “look of the week”.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Dan Winters, The Road to Seeing has had a big impact on me. In the book Dan shares his journey into photography from Southern California farm living, through New York Times photographer to the well-known portrait photographer he is today. It inspires me to look back and to remember, that for photographers, our journey starts early, and is rich.

I’m an active member of the American Photographic Artists community. There may have been a time in the past, when photographers were seen as stilted, and unapproachable. Since being a member of APA, I have found a community that believes that supporting other artists should be paramount. This support and mentorship has helped me tremendously in my growth as a photographer and as a company.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My mother Sally was a portrait photographer in Pasadena, California before I was born, and for many years after. I can remember a drawer in her dresser filled with magical camera gear. It was my favorite place to play.

Other than the Rolleiflex she used for work, I can remember my mother always carrying a Kodak Instamatic camera in her purse. On my thirteenth birthday, Sally took me to our local camera store and bought me my first camera – a Pentax K1000.

Like most photographers, my mission is curiosity, which can change daily. But once I have settled on a project – personal or otherwise – it is difficult to tear me away from it. The best part of my job is the journey and the people I meet along the way. I possess an ever-present sense of wonder at what drives other people to do the things they do. I love watching and capturing people at play, in their industry, and what keeps them going.

I just returned home from the Texas Hill Country, where my curiosity led me to small-town rodeos and town squares steeped in tradition. It seemed that around every corner was an opportunity for a visual story.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.taggartlee.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taggleephotography/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taggart-lee-99ba938/

Image Credits
©Taggart Lee Photography