Today we’d like to introduce you to Carter Damaska.
Hi Carter, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Like many others in this field, my career started as a hobby. I enjoyed taking photos of my siblings along the sandy beach during golden hour by Lake Michigan. As I taught myself more about cameras and how to use them, more people came to me asking to go on a little photoshoot. From there, my hobby quickly became a business! After 4 years of photography, I expanded into video, which I have found to be my favorite of the two! Classmates in college would ask for wedding videos, headshots for work, family photos, and so much more. I learned how to run a business and have been growing in my craft ever since!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road was neither smooth nor bumpy. I have definitely had my struggles and feelings of being lost (like any artist), but eventually find my way. I have found my best work is when my personal life is slower or has more bumps in the road. As my business grew, I have always had an internal battle of who I am as an artist, is this just a hobby, how do I compare to others, are they hiring me just out of pity, etc, but these are things everyone thinks about, no matter what career path they are in!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am truly a jack of all trades. I have found myself doing photos, videos, marketing, building websites, running social media, and so much more.
I am mainly known for my photography and videography, shining best in weddings, small business stories, and stories of transformation.
I am currently most proud of a documentary I helped film called First Voice Generation. Admittedly, I only helped at a few filming events, but I love to film things that are bigger than just me, and this film is definitely that (you should check it out!)
What sets me apart is my ability to uncover the story that needs to be told. Many clients know they need a video, but aren’t sure how to articulate their message. I specialize in identifying what truly drives them and translating that into a compelling narrative that resonates on screen.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Right now, everyone is dazzled by the novelty of AI. It’s fast, it’s cheap, it’s impressive… but it’s also homogeneous. It smooths edges, rounds off quirks, and polishes things until they don’t feel lived-in anymore. And as soon as the novelty wears off, audiences are going to crave the one thing AI cannot convincingly replicate:
Human texture. Human presence. Human perspective.
(I wrote this section with AI – see, it does not feel the same!)
Pricing:
- Wedding Photo – $2,300
- Wedding Video – $3,000
- Video (non-wedding) – $100/hour
- Photo (non-wedding) – $75/hour
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.carterdamaska.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carter-damaska-4ab7ba175/
