Interview with Chris Gray on Photography Trends

Website:
https://chrisgrayphoto.com/

Country: Canada

Photography Genres: Portrait, Creative, Fine Art, Wedding and Surreal Photography

Fave Camera Brand: Fujifilm and Canon

Socials:
Instagram

What’s in your camera bag?

• 2x Canon 6D mark I bodies
• Canon 50mm 1.4 lens
• Canon 85mm 1.8 lens
• Sigma 35mm Art Series lens
• Canon Speedlight
• Wireless flash triggers
• Fun filter rings and a prism

Are there any specific equipment or gear innovations that you believe will have a significant impact on the industry in 2024?

Yes! I know this is still a long way in the future (or maybe not!), but I think VR technology will make its way into the photography industry for sure. Capturing images and video with a headset or something like that.

Where do you get the latest news on new gear? Where do You usually buy new gear?

I’m not much of a gearhead! I really don’t keep up to date with news or look at new gear, as I find this distracts from my creativity. But if I were to buy new gear, I would definitely shop in person rather than online!

How is photography making the world a better place in 2024?

I love that this art form continues to endure and find relevance year after year and cements itself further into our day-to-day lives. We live in an increasingly visual world and are constantly bombarded by imagery on our screens – photography is helping us create captivating imagery, and the need to stand out from the crowd fuels artists and photographers to create better, more meaningful and eye-catching visuals in new and exciting ways.

In wedding and family photography especially, I see how our ability to capture people in ways that surprise them can make the world a better place – to make someone smile or feel great about themselves or to help them relive special moments and memories is incredibly rewarding.

What emerging photography trends do you foresee gaining popularity in 2024?

I’m not much for trends, but I follow them to ensure I’m not doing what everyone else is, haha! I’m enjoying seeing the emergence of more colour in wedding photography trends, and I hope this continues over the coming years. We’ve been stuck for too long in the earth tone/boho/dull look, and I want to see more honest colour and a little more pop!

Also, diversity and inclusivity is a great trend that should continue to gain popularity! Especially in the types of couples we see in the wedding photography industry.

If you could pick a photography mentor in 2024, who would you pick? Why?

Ah! That is such a great question. For wedding photography, I would love to be mentored by Sam Hurd or Jackson Grant – two artists I love right now.

For fine art and conceptual portrait photography, definitely Joel Robison (a wealth of knowledge and wisdom in this industry!). I would also love to learn from Kirsty Mitchell and Holly Rose Stones because I admire their process of creating every element by hand from start to finish for a single image!

The unavoidable question: How do you see the use of artificial intelligence or machine learning impacting photography in 2024?

I’m still a sideliner when it comes to AI. I hate images that are completely generated, but I’ve experimented a little with Photoshop’s new Generative Fill feature, which I think is useful. It helps artists save a lot of time in posts, like expanding a frame or removing distracting elements, etc. I like that it’s still up to the artist to start with their own image and that they are still in control of the final colour grading, etc.

But it’s really up to us how heavily we rely on it, and I think most artists/photographers know what an appropriate use of AI is and what is not. None of us got here by being lazy – we still want to be able to say, “I made that”.

What is your favorite photography-related book or resource that will continue to have a significant impact on your career in 2024? Why?

There are some great podcasts out there, like Great Big Photography World, which I love, and YouTube channels of artists showing their creative process, which have had a great impact. Books like Humans of New York help me remember always to see the humanity of the people I photograph.

What is your go-to method for overcoming creative block and finding inspiration in 2024?

Music and movies are an endless source of inspiration! That’s where I always overcome a block. Since my work is big on colour, I am inspired by Wes Anderson films, Disney movies, and other favourites like La La Land. Some artists I’m currently listening to are Lana Del Rey and Christine & The Queens.

Also, shout out to my wife, Ella, who always motivates me to create and is an endless well of creative ideas!

If you could give one piece of advice to a beginner in photography, what would it be?

Be YOU! Don’t be anyone else. There are a million photographers out there who can do a good job, but none of them can offer what you personally can offer.

• Stay true to your values and your style, and don’t compromise for popularity or viral content.
• Don’t rush. Don’t make content for the sake of it. Art is supposed to be slow, despite what society expects!
• Don’t focus on gear; just work with what you have; often, that’s where the creativity is forced to happen.
• Learn always, don’t assume you know everything, and ask lots of questions.
• Other photographers are your friends, not your competition. There is room for everyone!
• And finally, share your knowledge with others!

Art is supposed to be slow, despite what society expects.

Chris Gray

Can you share a specific tool, technology, or software that has revolutionized your workflow and significantly enhanced your creative process as a photographer?

Photoshop! That’s where I grew up as a young artist, sitting at the computer playing around with Photoshop. Often, it wasn’t perfect, but I figured things out through experimenting to make it work. And then, as an older artist, I learned better methods from smarter people, which also revolutionized my process (hello masking!).

I also remember taking a course by Bella Kotak on colour grading, and that really revolutionized my colour editing and creative process too. I can now build curves like a boss!

What is your biggest strength and your biggest weakness as a photographer in 2024?

I would say my biggest strength in my work is probably my eye for colour, and in the industry, it would be my passion for inclusivity and diversity.

My biggest weakness is motivation and using my time to create – it feels like there’s so much other stuff to do in life, and adulting is hard! I also need to learn to prioritize art today and stop waiting for the “perfect” day.

What is the biggest challenge in your photography genre in 2024? What are the solutions?

Definitely standing out amongst the crowd, especially with the rise of AI. But I know there’s a bunch of us who really want to continue to show the world that there’s value and beauty in creating everything on our own without relying on technology! So the solution would be just to keep going!

What is the most important factor to consider when choosing a photography niche or specialization in 2024?

Is it you? Does it make you happy?