My 5 Favorite Portrait Photographers

Alright, I know it is a little odd to talk about other photographers. It's supposed to be all about me, right? Nah. Over the years, I have been motivated and inspired by so many other artists. I believe everyone has something to teach you, and these individuals are who I aspire to be. Many of then have become friends and mentors, even. In this post, I'm going to talk about five of my favorite photographers (in no particular order) and why I love them so much!

Anderson Gonzales - Denver, CO, USA Anderson is probably the person I credit most for my love of photography. He has taught me so much of what I know and continually inspires me to grow as an artist. I especially love the way that Anderson is so creative! He is not only a photographer but an incredible makeup artist and designer. Anderson specializes in creating phenomenal, almost other-worldly images. He draws from fashion and fantasy to create incredible, modern looks with timeless photography. Another fantastic aspect of Anderson is his kindness and his voice. Being originally from Venezuela, Anderson makes sure that everyone, especially those in the Latin community, has a platform on which to express themselves. He finds so much beauty in the uniqueness of others and showcases this in the most beautiful way. He is an incredible friend and someone I aspire to be more like. You will never meet someone more kind, generous, and willing to take others under their wing.

Tamara Williams - Germany

Although Tamara is one of those photographers I have never met, I am so incredibly inspired by her work. Tamara has found her niche is creating haunting, crisp portraits that really focus on the emotion and eyes of her subjects. She has a distinct aesthetic, and if you follow photography accounts on Instagram, you have likely seen her work. Her work has been featured in publications and for brands such as Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Marie Claire, Elle, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, and many others. I love the way this photographer shows consistency and thrives within her area of expertise. She has such a defines aesthetic that is easily identifiable. Her work is clean, elegant, and haunting to me. Another thing I love about this photographer is her attitude. Check out one of her YouTube videos sometime. Tamara proves that women can be strong, badass, and successful. She shows that women can be aggressive and cuss and have a personality without it drawing away from their professionalism. Just because a woman swears does not mean she's pushy, power-hungry, mean. No, this lady is strong, confident, and many other things I aspire to be.

Dax Kuehn - Missoula, MT, USA Okay, first off, Dax is one of those photographers that is incredible at absolutely everything, and I am incredibly envious of his skill. He is wicked knowledgeable about what he does and is more than willing to share his knowledge with others. Dax is one of those people that thrive off of making others smile, whether that's taking incredible photos of people or mentoring and encouraging them. I love how Dax is bold and thinks out of the box with his shoots. When shooting with him, he brings so much energy to his environment! I have yet ever to see him in a bad mood, and have yet to see him ever produce anything other than fantastic work. He puts so much heart into his work and makes sure to make every one of his subjects feel like family. As I also mentioned, Dax is always willing to mentor and encourage others. I learned so much of what I know about studio lighting from this guy. My first day ever shooting in a studio, he allowed me to use his set up. He gave me a 15-minute crash course using his incredible wife, Jen, as my model, then left me to shoot a 15 person modeling workshop by myself. I know this sounds harsh and terrifying, but his belief in me helped me to believe in myself. He believed in me so much that he gave me my first set of studio lights, a gesture I will never be able to repay.

Mia Griggs - Denver, Colorado, USA

The next gush-worthy portrait fiend that I would like to take a moment to recognize is miss Mia. Mia is the definition of a bad b*tch. I met her how I meet all the best people - via the internet. When you shoot with Mia, she helps you to exude confidence. She makes you find a loud, amazonian voice inside you that you never knew was there. She is spunky, and goofy, and makes you feel you.

My favorite thing about Mia is that she shoots with everyone, and makes them look like a queen. Your gender identity, sexual orientation, age, and experience are entirely irrelevant. What you create if an incredible work of art. These pieces of art are done in such a unique way. They show a level of depth, emotion, and darkness that is haunting and incredible.

Mia is also an incredible advocate for photographers and women in general. She knows her self-worth and the worth of artists and doesn't allow others to walk on either. She stands up for herself and others and calls people out for acting wrongly (copyright infringement, expecting free work, and just being plain rude). I wish more people had her kind of resolve.

Lindsay Adler - New York City, New York, USA

Lindsay is an incredible teacher when it comes to photography. I had the pleasure of modeling for a class she taught that was hosted by Rocky Mountain School of Photography. Although I didn't get the chance to test out her methods in the class, getting to observe from the seat of a model taught me more about studio lighting than I can describe.

If you ever want to learn more about studio lighting, I highly recommend you look this talented photographer up. Her skills are incredible.

Well, now ya know a few of the names that inspire me most. I would love it if you would share the names of those who inspire you below, whether a photographer, model, musician, or just someone who you appreciate! I think it is so important for us to uplift each other, and this is just one place to do just that!

Hope you enjoyed getting to learn about the talented people I love and why I love them!

Until next time, friends!

Yours Always, Katherine