We were lucky to catch up with Zach McCormick recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Zach thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.
I am self-taught as a photographer, which meant working through my own mistakes until I finally became happy with my own work. I tend to look more towards film cinematography than toward other photographers. I suppose if I could go back, would go down more of a movie-making route than a still photo one – but I just try to apply that aesthetic to my photo work.
I learned to trust my own eye and creative process for my work. Sometimes things don’t always work out as you wish, but you need that level of danger to make interesting art. I don’t think it should ever just be “phoned in.”
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 grew up in a small town in West Virginia, but I was always more into the things I saw in movies and on TV. I also a musician, as well as photographer, so I gravitated toward working with music and themes that got me as excited as music does.
I got into photography from a slightly different angle. I have always enjoyed local urban legends and exploring forgotten places. I would bring a cheap point and shoot digital camera with me, and eventually I started taking some photos that my friends thought looked pretty cool. I was later gifted my parents’ 1970s Pentax 35mm film camera, and knowing that I had 36 chances to make something good seemed to pressure me into getting better with composition and style. I still shoot a good bit of film to this day. It feels really satisfying to make an actual photo happen on film.
I have been a professional since 2010, and that means more standard fare, like weddings, and family portraits, and whatnot, but my favorite things to shoot are bands. I have gotten to work with some of my favorite artists, and I since I don’t live in a city where bands come through, I do have to drive about 90 minutes to shoot touring bands, and you have to make that count.
My proudest moments would be bringing joy to other people through meaningful work, and the rush of being in a photo pit when a band you love plays a song that you love, and you get to capture it the way you really can only dream of.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
My end goal would be to create art which doesn’t bore me. That seems to be the drive for me. I don’t shoot as much as some people, so I just want to be happy with the work that I do.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
I would say it would be to see your work enjoyed and respected. Also, respecting and liking your own work is a very difficult place to get to.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://tzmphoto.com
- Instagram: @burninghouseoflove
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tzmphoto
Image Credits
all photos, copyright TZM Photo