We recently had the chance to connect with Cortland Hunter and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Cortland, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: Are you walking a path—or wandering?
A little of both. There were times when I was doing well, and times when I wasn’t. The path that I am on hasn’t been direct. I have wandered off my creative and professional path numerous times. Each time I find a new way to bring myself back. I center myself mentally and emotionally in order to be my best self.
I turned thirty early this year. Five years ago, I thought my life was over. This new decade has taught me that life is just beginning. I was told that life becomes more consistent in your thirties, and it has. I feel like I’m finding the right fit. I’m comfortable in my own skin. No longer am I the stereotypical “Tortured Artist,” but a thriving one. I’m happier than ever. I look forward to where this path will lead next.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a freelance photographer and writer based in North Carolina. My photography lives somewhere between the timelessness of film and the precision of digital. I love moving between the two worlds to tell stories. This has been a lifelong passion for me. Social media has given me a platform to share my creations, and engage with the art community. Just recently, I fell in love with traveling, which has opened new opportunities.
Portraits are what I enjoy most. Photography meetups and community building events are where I draw energy. I don’t just snap pictures. I want to get to know the person, and what they are trying to achieve from their session. My reward is connecting emotionally through the camera.
When I’m not behind the camera, I’m holding a pen- exploring the same themes of light, memory, and emotion. I’ve had some short pieces published, and that too has built community for me. My writing is just as emotionally charged as my photography.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
That would be several people. One in particular passed away early this year. An English professor from college. She also taught my high school English instructor, and they were both part of the reason why I chose that college. It was a small, private school in a small town. I had gone from being a small fish in a big pond to being surrounded by people who were big fish in a small pond. From the beginning, it was hard to find my place. My English professor was very good at nurturing a misfit like me. Her influence deeply affected my world view. When she died, some old wounds reopened. Yet I’m thankful for the time that I did have, and the acquaintances I met through her. She and a couple of other professors were a shining light over a dark stage of my life. They nurtured my love of photography, films, and books. Their offices were a safe place for me to be myself. Sometimes all it takes is a certain interaction to ignite a spark in you.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
In 2020 when I was at my lowest. I had been hospitalized for mental health. I was learning how to love myself. I had some scars and bruises, but I didn’t fall apart. After being silenced for too long, I found my voice. I turned my pain into purpose. Telling my story is part of my healing. My experience equipped me to advocate for myself and others. Being in control of how one’s story is told is so powerful. Writing about what I went through is how I made myself free. I learned how to write myself whole, as a mentor put it. I love the version of myself I am at now. My story isn’t over.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
To have at least one book published. Whether it be fiction, essays, or a photography collection. The seed has been in me since I wrote my first novel as a teenager. It’s literally been sitting on a shelf ever since. Just recently, I began re-writing it. There is a friend I meet with regularly to critique each other’s work. Whatever it takes is the mantra. My influences, such as James Baldwin and Earnest Hemmingway, wrote their greatest works in exile in foreign countries. That’s not attainable now, but it will be. Where or when is the question. I’m tending my garden and creating my own escape right where I am now.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
My family has always cultivated my creative side, which is a benefit. I attended school with hopes of launching a career in humanities or the arts. The dream job didn’t fall into my lap right out of the gate. I am finally at peace with that. I earned a degree like I was expected to. I am more well-rounded because of it. As I said, the path hasn’t been direct. I’ve had a lot of help. That’s why I reach back and pull other people up with me. I can’t hold onto missed opportunities, because something better is always in store. When spaces didn’t open for me, I created my own. I am doing what I was meant to do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cortlandhunterphotography.mypixieset.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cortlandh/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cortland-hunter-a0855b15b/
- Other: Email: [email protected]
Writing Portfolio: https://www.clippings.me/users/cortlandhunter
Image Credits
Micheal Kushner
Matan Dubnikov
Sarah Blenis
Elias Pittman
