Today we’d like to introduce you to Davis Gerber.
Davis, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I would focus on the abridged story of where I am now, as a travel and adventure photographer, working for properties like Cuixmala and Hacienda de San Antonio; I got my start here by taking a massive risk, actually setting my cameras down professionally to come here initially as an activity guide. I knew if I just kept taking photos for my own enjoyment, being in such beautiful places, the work would eventually land me where I wanted to go. Now, almost 6 years later, I’ve rebuilt both the websites from the ground up, exponentially grown their social media presences, and assembled a portfolio of work at age 30 I could never have dreamed up.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Life always throws curveballs, but I will say with a mentality of gratitude that it’s been smooth overall; however, in a field like photography and working at such a high level of tourism in such a remote place, it has taken constant attention or awareness and setting clear goals, definitions and boundaries for yourself, constantly asking- ‘What am *I* here to do?’, in order to remain effective and see the continued success like I have over all this time. I would say to any young (or old) creative, it can always scary to ask for an increase in pay, or perhaps to say no, but if you always put in the work and you can back up your actions or requests with irrefutable reasoning, then there is nothing to worry about, and more importantly nothing you can’t do!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m admittedly all over the map, and I’ll just say I particularly love that. My favorite quote is from Picasso – “Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist”.
I try to apply that not only in my work but even in how I display it. In today’s world of social media and all those necessary evils, it seems like it has become somewhat taboo to be anything other than one thing as a photographer/videographer… an account full of horses, or purely snowy white interiors, or just film photography… the list goes on, and I think it is just ultimately really limiting and can make a body of work very uninteresting after a while.
For me, my work is a representation of my constant curiosity and working with whatever is around to tell any sort of interesting story. I may be working for 3 days editing interiors and decide to share one, then the next day, I might be going out after work and shooting a photo study of a taco stand simply because I love it and the people that run it. While I have an inclination toward all things western/cowboy, I do also love capturing an interior incredibly well, and I love surfing, and portraits, and so much more… it’s all to say, I like to think I specialize in being able to capture almost anything in its best light, or even slightly and consciously romanticizing what I’m seeing, all in an effort to share beautiful and uplifting moments. I will say I loathe social media for the pit of negativity and conflict it has seemingly become, so I do everything I can to remain consistent only in one thing- sharing beautiful work and meaningful moments that I hope everyone might enjoy.
What does success mean to you?
Simple, doing what you love as job that sustains you or enables you to live comfortably at whatever level of luxury that is to you. I’ll be ‘successful’ when I live in a simple house on top of mountain, with a beautiful view, and can afford to own a horse. That’s about it for me.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davisgerber/
Image Credits
Davis Gerber
