Today we’d like to introduce you to Tariq Johnson.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I began my journey with photography in 2018 after losing my passion for painting. Unable to express myself creatively, I was floating in a sort of limbo like state. My then girlfriend had an old Fujifilm camera and somehow, I decided that I should just pick it up and take photos. I began walking around San Diego at night, photographing everything from people to buildings, graffitied walls and empty alleys. I quickly became enthralled by capturing images, I loved the instantaneous rush of creating something at a moment’s glance. I quickly realized that I was passionate about this newfound art form and understood that I needed a specialty within photography. I began dipping my toes in every category, interning with a commercial wedding photographer, photographing real estate and even doing fine art architecture galleries, all within a year. I disliked almost everything I tried, all except capturing people. I knew I had to be a portrait photographer, but that wasn’t enough, I needed to be able to express myself beyond just the human in front of my lens. My sights turned to fashion photography, an industry thriving with people, innovation and exploration. Four years later and here I am, a full-time Fashion Photographer creating work that I love with people that I admire.
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?
Initially, my journey was quite smooth. The first few years was filled with introspection and observance. I mostly was in a state of learning and because of that, I never had much turbulence. Now, my fourth year in I’ve begun to take a bit of bruising as I take on larger projects. One of my most frequent struggles comes with directing sets, which requires me to manage multiple personalities from different individuals to ensure shoots go according to plan. Managing my business and the financial side of things is another thing that required a lot of grit. I’m thankful that I foresaw a lot of these struggles and have been able to navigate them and utilize my failures and shortcomings. I’ve turned these trials into learning experiences which has enabled me to continue to be successful.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a photographer and I specialize in fashion and portraiture. I’m known for my black and white, editorial-style imagery. I create timeless images featuring amazing models, brands and designers. More recently, I’ve been proud of the consistency of my work. Day after day, I’ve managed to increase the quality of my work, all while staying true to my core. I plan on keeping this system for the rest of my days as an image-maker. What sets me apart from others in my field is my work ethic, consistency and creativity but most of all is my high quality of taste. I can recognize what is good and what isn’t and that’s allowed me to sort through my own work and present only the best.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Quality is the most important aspect of my work. I’m consistently searching for ways to increase the quality of my images because I’ve recognized that attention given to the seemingly meaningless details are what ultimately results in high-quality imagery. Those little changes turn into large ones as you produce more work. I feel as though without an attention to quality that myself and my brand loses its essence.
Pricing:
- $300 per hr for Portrait/Test Session
- $1200 Half Day (4 hours max)
- $2000 Full Day (8 hours max)
Contact Info:
- Email: tariqjphotos@gmail.com
- Website: tariqjphotos.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itstariqjohnson/
