Today we’d like to introduce you to Cooper Graham.
Cooper, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Photography was first introduced to me when I was in the eighth grade. I had a Canon Powershot that I would take to the football games every Friday night and capture all the action. For a while, my plan was to go to college and become a freelance photojournalist and travel covering stories. After Graduating high school, I took a different direction by joining the military. This would be my introduction to the San Diego area and the beginning to learning where I was headed. I thought photography would just be a hobby that would get my attention if I had the time for it. Through the course of my enlistment, I realized how much I truly loved all things creative; from drawing to music, I was always creating something. At the end of my time in the military, I was confident with my decision to leave and pursue a career in anything that allowed me to create with my own freedom. This eventually led me back to Iowa in 2019, where I was enrolled at Hawkeye Community College for digital mass media with an emphasis on sound engineering. Photography 101 was a required class for this academic avenue, and this is where my love for photography was totally reborn. I had lost all focus on sound engineering and could only think about building a career around taking photographs every single day. It allowed me the creative freedom I had always wanted and the ability to have some crazy experiences and meet some amazing people.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Struggles are inevitable when you start chasing your dreams. From financial setbacks to lack of motivation to keep going, there have been plenty of times that I wondered what I had gotten myself into and why. The thing that has gotten me through all the tough parts of going after my goals is knowing that our time here is limited. We have one chance to do and be the things we want to be. At the end of the day, you have to ask yourself if the happiness your pursuits bring are worth the struggle. Every day is a resounding yes.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I was told by so many when I was just starting out to pick a niche and stick to it. I loved so many forms of photography that this was extremely difficult for me, so I shoot a few different genres; portraits, nature&wildlife, music, and even conservation efforts. I’m extremely proud of my work with the non-profit Judith A. Basset Canid Education and Conservation Center, a sanctuary for foxes, wolves, coyotes, and even African singing dogs. Partnering with them, we offer photoshoots with some of the rescues to raise money for the center and help them continue their rescue efforts. My biggest goal through photography is to create real change in our world and bring understanding of how we interact with our environment. I have also been lucky enough to have my images displayed in some amazing galleries around the world, from Stills: Centre for Photography – Edinburg, Scotland to FotoZA Gallery – Johannesburg, South Africa!
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I never actually finished college. I got to a point where I realized I was making more progress by reaching out to the community and having amazing mentors at first it was something I was actually self-conscious about, but soon learned that not every education comes with a degree and learning never ends.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.coopergraham.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coopergrahamphotography
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/CooperGrahamPh3
Image Credits
Cooper Graham Photography LLC
