Today we’d like to introduce you to David Sudduth.
Hi David, I’m so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, how can you bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always been creative most of my life. When I began writing, I also started drawing. So, art has always been my thing. It’s always been a part of my life, and I’ve pursued it in many ways. Around my mid-20s, I searched for a creative outlet when I found myself no longer creating as much. In 2015, I bought a Nikon D 3200 and began shooting a lot of nature and concerts. I did that for a while before taking my photography seriously. That’s when I started to get into studio photography. Since then, I have been working on perfecting my craft and style.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
It has been challenging, but I have learned to maneuver and deal with certain things. The thing I struggle the most with is consistent confidence in myself. It encompasses a lot for me because it can determine a lot for me as an artist in my opinion. Self-doubt is often a hard-fought battle. I look at my Instagram page at times and notice only a few likes on really good photos, and although I shouldn’t let it, there are times it gets to me. I can’t help but wonder if I’m doing something wrong. But then I keep creating, and opportunities like this find their way to me. Sometimes I wonder if I am just wildly underestimating my talent.
Thanks – What else should our readers know about your work and your current focus?
I haven’t reached the status or clientele yet to pursue photography full-time. So, I do have a career I pursue as well. I am Clone Supervisor for Illicit Gardens. Essentially, I supervise the process of creating more plants to grow and produce our product. I also hope to open my own grocery store one day, so I garden vegetables indoors and outdoors as well. One day, I would like to incorporate my photography into my passion for gardening!
Regarding my photography, I wouldn’t necessarily say that I specialize in anything quite yet. I usually pick something I would like to try or a type of photography I would like to try and do it. But if I had to choose, I would probably say that I specialize in street and portrait photography. Some of my favorite photography is any kind I can do in natural lighting. Photography at Golden Hour is worth every minute of being up early! I think how I approach each shot makes my photography unique. For the most part, I come taking pictures much like I do when I am drawing from my head. I also take many mental pictures and notes about my shooting environment. I tend to look back on that to help when I edit tones and colors.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you, and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share?
Take more photos. I say this from an artistic aspect as well as a personal aspect. I lost three extraordinary people to me after 2020, and I regret not having more photos with them. It would have helped me hone my skills better, and I would’ve had more memories to look back on. So take more photos while the ones you love are still physically with you.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Photographer: 2Infinity photography, Models: Kiva Schulze, Alisa Coats, Alex Johnson, Alex Taylor, Morgana Elizabeth, Christopher Allen, Glen Robinson
