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

Wendy, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you tell us a bit about who your hero is and the influence they’ve had on you?

I think what’s really cool about working in the creative industry in this day in age is how we are able to see literally anybody’s work online and come together as a community because of that. Before social media, it was much easier to look up to one or maybe a few people in your field that were lucky enough to receive the big spotlight. Nowadays, I find myself being inspired by countless other photographers that I come across on Twitter, Instagram, whatever it may be. Creative talent is so much more discoverable nowadays that it’s hard for me to just look up to one singular person – if anything it’s more inspiring to see so many people doing the same thing from completely different creative angles. It shows me I can really do whatever I want to do, not necessarily follow in the footsteps of one person.

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?

My name is Wendy Davis, I’m a freelance photographer here in Chicago! Like many other photographers, I first picked up a camera at a very young age, taking pictures of random things in my backyard in the early 2000’s. I would argue it took most of my adolescence to become remotely good at what I do, since I didn’t start taking photography seriously until the very beginning of my college years. While studying film at DePaul University, I found ways to interlace my equal love for film and photography. Through working on productions as a unit stills photographer, shooting events, and traveling, I realized how much I enjoy shooting candid moments through my own artistic lens. I love capturing movement and emotion, making my work almost seem like a screen grab from a movie. Nowadays, as hard as it is to not compare myself to those who are farther ahead in their careers, I am very proud of how far I’ve come at my age! I’m grateful to say within the last year I was able to shoot for some larger names like IKEA, X-Golf, C2E2, and Soldier Field. I’ve recently committed to doing my creative work full-time and I’m hopeful that the only way from here is up!

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

Luckily today, I feel people are getting a lot better at understanding just how much work creatives actually put into this world. Sometimes, I’ll meet somebody and I’ll still detect an undertone of “Oh you take pictures! That’s cute!” when I tell them what I do for a living. Or I’ll show someone my photos and they’ll say “Wow you’re actually really good!” or “Wow, your camera is so nice” – both things you never want to say to a photographer. I think what some people need to remember is that creatives are not people to be looked down upon. Creative jobs are still “real” jobs. Our rates are justified by how much love, talent, (and money) is put into our crafts that other people aren’t able to do. Without us, there would be no advertising, no art, no entertainment, etc. The world would be flavorless. It definitely takes some courage to be a full-time creative.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

As a successful photographer, not only do you have to be talented, but you also need great people skills. I really make an effort to make my photo sessions just feel like we’re hanging out and casually taking pictures, rather than creating a staged, rigid environment. I often get clients that have little to no experience in front of a camera, to which I prioritize getting to know them and finding things in common, so they are as comfortable as possible from the get-go. This way, I actually get to build meaningful relationships with my clients, which is very important to me. I don’t like when my work just feels like a business exchange. Additionally, having a unique style is a key part of setting myself apart from others. Capturing candid, genuine emotion while focusing on movement and colors is what I try to really hone in on as an artist. I notice other photographers sometimes slipping into the trending editing styles, whereas I just try to stick to whatever I think looks best.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://wdavisphoto.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wdavisphoto/

Image Credits
Ethan Uphouse