Today we’d like to introduce you to Aaron Faircloth.
Hi Aaron, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Fifteen years into my career as a graphic artist working in a cubicle farm and lacking inspiration, I found myself suffering from a serious case of burnout. I was always one for adventures in nature such as surfing, fishing, biking, and hiking — taking photos and videos to capture those moments was always a priority. After an amazing trip to a tiny island in the Bahamas with my wife came the idea to transition into my photography career.
Initially, I found opportunities in real estate photography as a means to escape cubicle life and gain experience in the photography field. This led to taking photography classes, joining a photography club, and taking any opportunity to capture Florida’s wildlife and landscapes through my lens. I quickly realized my passion for creative photography. On a trip to my hometown of Charleston, South Carolina, I happened to take a photo of a black lab jumping off a dock catching a tennis ball. This image perfectly captured the simple joy of being a dog, and I was hooked! From that moment, I’ve sought to capture and create inspiring photography for pets and people. I’ve always been drawn to light, especially a sunset or sunrise. To me, light represents happiness, fulfillment, rejuvenation, and positivity. From capturing the silly expression on a dog’s face, drooling tongue included, to capturing the smiles of a family finding joy in simply being together, my goal is to convey this warm feeling, without words, through my photography. Through this light and warmth — luminosity if you will — Luma Photography was born.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not a smooth road! Suddenly dropping a stable, well-paying career to take on little to no pay and the hope of finding business was terrifying. But like any success story, it’s also about your support group. In this case, my wife Leslie. She tends to know and trust my skill better than me most of the times. Her never-ending support gave me the confidence to make it work, even when I wasn’t making any money. Fortunately, she has a stable career that helped (and still helps), our budget. Starting any business is always hard, but the biggest challenge has really been covid. My business had some decent momentum and I had just started doing art shows for my landscape photography and had even won an award for one of my photos. Then the pandemic worsened and so did new business. I was forced to resort back to my previous career as a 3d artist working part-time. I’m still working part-time as a graphic artist while the economy turns around but still have regular photoshoots (mostly commercial work lately).
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Being a perfectionist requires me to always do more than I really have to. What my eye sees compared to what a client’s eye sees are usually polar opposites. So for me, the editing process is a big part of what sets me apart and takes more time than the actual photoshoots. I spend a great deal of time in Photoshop. From softening skin, enhancing eyes and whitening teeth to saturating sunsets, removing distractions and adjusting colors, I always ensure the finished photos are beyond what my customer is used to seeing. I’m also great at finding solutions on the fly. As a photographer, you have to rely on varying forms of light. When on location, no matter how many times you’ve scouted the area, something always changes! Clouds or the lack thereof, rain, unexpected construction… I’ve learned to manage my expectations beforehand. Nature can be fickle, so I have to be adaptive.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I’ve actually done it all myself. I don’t really know any other photographers other than distant acquaintances. I’ve relied on my previous skill with editing and lots of YouTube for things I can’t figure out!
Contact Info:
- Email: aaron@lumaphotostudio.com
- Website: www.lumaphotostudio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lumaphotostudio
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lumaphotography1
- Other: www.aaronfaircloth.com
Image Credits
Aaron Faircloth of Luma Photography
