Today we’d like to introduce you to Joseph Walker.
Hi Joseph, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My story of becoming a photographer begins with me modeling as a senior in high school. I dated someone at the time so was very interested in photography, and I would pose for her as she experimented with different shooting styles. I ended up taking a photography class, found it interesting, and for graduation, my mom bought me my first DSLR: a Nikon D3200.
After high school, I attended college at DePaul University in Chicago, studying Game Programming. Beginning of college, I didn’t use my camera very much until junior year. I didn’t like the idea of sitting behind a desk all day just programming away, so I decided to pick up a hobby. I found out that one of my friends was an avid portrait photographer and he invited me to a meetup in Millennium Park, Chicago. I decided to go along with my camera and immediately fell in love with the community and getting creative with new faces! From there, I became very invested in photography, taking every chance I could to get out there and shoot. I explored everywhere from Landscape to Boudoir/Lingerie photography. All of it was amazing to me! Meetups became a huge part of helping me learn. I got to the point in the community where I was able to host a meetup in NYC with a couple of friends from Chicago. We ended up having a huge turnout and made friends that we continue to work with to this day.
For those who don’t know, Chicago is extremely cold in the winter and this would stop me from shooting for a few months at a time. I decided to set up a studio, making small investments in equipment at a time. I started of simply hanging a bedsheet from my window and having shot in my bedroom. As I progressed to new living situations, I upgraded my setup to have backdrops and constant lights to learn about lighting. I eventually invested in my current camera, the Nikon D850, as well as strobe lights to really hone my skills. Through shoot more, I found myself focusing on portraits both in-studio and on location, as well as boudoir/lingerie work!
After college, I landed a job as a software engineer in Orlando and moved down in 2019. It felt like a completely new start for me. Nobody knew me as a photographer in the area. I had no network of clients or other artists/stylists (makeup, hair, clothing) to work with. I began to meet some people through Instagram and other forms of social media and hung out at a coffee shop (Create) where a diverse group of creatives would come to grab a coffee, hang out, and shoot!
My goal as a photographer now is to continue to build a community of creatives in Orlando and surrounding areas, teaching what I’ve learned to photographers and models alike. I have a huge focus on body positivity, safety, and active learning!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My photography career has faced plenty of challenges along the way, and many of them are still ongoing. There were plenty of days of self-doubt, feeling like I wasn’t a good enough photographer to charge certain rates or complete certain jobs. There were many times that I felt like I wasn’t creative enough. I have also struggled with feeling like my work has plateaued, and I don’t always know how to improve what I create or where to even begin with finding something new. At the same time, these struggles are what help me to achieve the most growth. I find ways to inspire myself again, looking for inspiration in dream photography jobs, teachers in the field, and sometimes even tech can get me excited enough to create something new! These struggles helped me to focus my skills as a studio photographer, taking the uncomfortable leap to learn lighting, editing techniques, and more.
One of the largest obstacles that I deal with daily is understanding that my photography has transformed from a hobby into a business. I have had to completely change my mindset, which has affected everything from client and model interactions, consistency with business management practices to even proper time and mental management. Every day, I have to train myself more in how to run a successful business.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in studio portraiture and boudoir/lingerie. My studio work includes anything from professional headshots to personal brand development, and my boudoir/lingerie work includes anything from a simple body positivity shoot to delivery for a significant other. One thing that sets me apart is that I love to experiment and generate a new look for each client. We work together on inspiration, and from there, we customize the shoot. I’ve become a huge fan of dynamic movement instead of awkward posing, so my models and clients feel more comfortable in front of the camera!
I would say that I’m known for being a studio photographer with attention to detail, and in addition, I’m very well known for my laid-back personality. I am very much a go-with-the-flow photographer, and I clearly have fun with my work!
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I, along with every other modern photographer, love to use YouTube University! No seriously! I have learned so much from YouTube, everything from lighting setups to editing tips and tricks. And I share these as well on my Instagram @josephwalkerstudio.
The key to learning how to shoot is action. You can sit all day on YouTube watching videos, but if you don’t get out there and shoot, then you won’t develop your skills into anything tangible. So the best advice I could offer is to shoot, shoot, shoot!
For inspiration, I follow blogs, classes, and social media of studio and boudoir photographers such as Lindsay Adler, Lara Jade, Michael Sasser, and so many more!
Pricing:
- Mini Sessions starting at just $100
- Quick Headshots starting at $150
- Portrait Session starting at $300
Contact Info:
- Email: info@josephwalkerphotos.com
- Website: josephwalkerstudio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josephwalkerstudio/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JosephWalkerStudio/
- Other: https://www.twitch.tv/josephwalkerphotos
