Meet Chris Gardner

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Gardner.

Hi Chris, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Growing up, I always had an interest in the arts. I went to a small K-12 school in Nash County that didn’t offer any art classes, so I wasn’t able to try different things and find my passion. After high school, I got my first camera and fell in love with it. I started taking photos of anything and everything — mostly overprocessed landscapes and cats. I taught myself how to use Photoshop and began experimenting with more abstract concepts of the human experience inspired by artists like Joel Robison, Rosie Hardy, and Alex Stoddard. Most of my early work is conceptual in nature and relies heavily on Photoshop but that changed in 2014 when I The Art Institutes of Raleigh-Durham. I began to travel for photoshoots instead of taking photos of myself at home. I developed an interest in fashion and travel photography during this period and haven’t looked back. I’ve been lucky enough to meet other amazing photographers who have become close friends and have pushed me to become the photographer I am today.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
All things considered, I’d say it has been a pretty smooth road. There have been times where I’ve struggled with my mental health, which impacted my confidence and motivation, but in hindsight, it only made me a better person and a better artist.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
At the moment, and over the past 4 or 5 years, I’ve mainly focused on Lifestyle/Travel photography. I love traveling to beautiful places and photographing people naturally. No studio, no artificial lights, just people enjoying nature. One of the things I’m most proud of is a trip I took with one of my best friends (and amazing photographer) to Grandfather Mountain. We slept in our car for three days on the mountain and were able to get some of my favorite photos to date.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I don’t know if this is surprising to most people, but I’m an identical twin. My brother helped me a lot when I was starting out in photography. He was always willing to pose for me in my homemade studio or lie headfirst in a hole during my conceptual phase. I can honestly say I wouldn’t have a lot of the photos in my portfolio without him.

Contact Info:

• Email: cgardnerphotos@gmail.com
• Website: cgardnerphotos.wixsite.com/portfolio
• Instagram: @cgardnerphoto

Image Credits
Chris Gardner