Today we’d like to introduce you to Kris Walker
Hi Kris, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I went to college to be an illustrator and took a photography elective. Something triggered in my brain during that class and discovered a love for the medium. In 1991 I was able to land an apprenticeship with the biggest commercial studio in the area; three photographers, 5000 square foot studio and in-house darkroom and color lab. I spent as many nights and weekends as I could working on learning and improving my photography. That is what started my career as a commercial photographer.
About five years later, I also developed an interest in graphic design. I became self taught and started working for ad agencies as an art director. My time behind the camera became a big advantage as I was able to effectively direct photoshoots along with giving me an edge working in Photoshop to manipulate images. I continued to work as an art director and digital imaging specialist for a couple of decades, including teaching as an adjunct professor at Southwestern Michigan College.
In 2012 while doing work with an architecture and engineering firm, things came together in a way that I ended up doing the photography for all of their projects and that reignited my passion for photography and helped me discover that architectural photography was the direction that I felt the most interest in.
I’ve been operating as a freelance photographer specializing in architecture and interiors since then. My experience as an art director has now done for me in photography what my photo experience did for my design. First, I look at this work as visual storytelling for my clients, collaborating with them to show the personality of a space. Secondly, I shoot my images more like an art director – using design theory to find more interesting compositions.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The path of a creative in our society is never without struggles and obstacles, especially for freelancers. Along with the normal issues that many freelancers face (wearing multiple hats, having to learn and do tasks like marketing and accounting) I’ve had medical challenges. Cancer made it so I was unable to work for a time and I ended up having to rebuild my business almost from scratch again. When I was 50, I was diagnosed with ADHD. That gave perspective to many of the challenges I had faced in my life and helped me to find ways to work around the disorder.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m drawn to architectural and interior photography for many reasons. I love the geometry and lines found in the shapes and details of buildings. And I’m intrigued by how an interior space can showcase different personalities using color, texture and pattern in what is basically a simple box.
And it’s one of the most collaborative areas of commercial photography. I get to work very closely with the designers and architects to compose and tell the visual story. Each of us brings a vision and personality to the shoot that combine to create more compelling and interesting photos.
That leads to what I’m most known for with my clients: being the photographer that can work with them to bounce around ideas and find new solutions to tell their story. The other thing my clients appreciate is my problem solving during a shoot. After more than three decades, I’ve encountered so many different situations on photoshoots that I can work through almost any issue on set or know how to digitally edit the image for the best outcome.
Recently I stepped into the fine art world as well. I began doing a series of abstract digital illustrations that start as architectural photos. I’ve had several solo exhibitions and had the work in juried art shows as well.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
While it sounds unintuitive, I think my ADHD has had the biggest factor in where I am as a photographer now. The challenges of the disorder aside, the way I have been driven to explore a variety of art forms and find unexpected connections because of the way ADHD drives my brain function has led to me having a very diverse perspective that I can draw on in my creative work. Throughout my life, ADHD has taken me on uncharted paths through the world to find weird and unusual destinations. Creativity can’t exist in a vacuum and the wider world a person can explore, the more creative possibilities are opened up to them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kwalker-photo.com
- Other: https://www.kwalker-art.com
