Daily Inspiration: Meet Aaron Curtis

Today we’d like to introduce you to Aaron Curtis.

Hi Aaron, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I didn’t grow up thinking I would become a professional photographer. Long before I knew what aperture or composition meant, my parents would hand me the family digital camera starting around age ten and ask me to take photos of their cosplay projects. I was the one they said had “the eye.” At the time, I didn’t understand why. I just pointed, shot, and trusted instinct.

That instinct resurfaced years later. At nineteen, my older sister owned a DSLR and encouraged me to bring it onto one of the commercial sets we were working on together. I had no idea how to use it, so I left it in full auto and hoped for the best. That day’s shoot included two giraffes, an unforgettable first subject by any standard. I snapped photos whenever I could and somehow walked away with one of my favorite images I have ever taken. That was the moment photography stopped feeling accidental.

My sister let me keep the camera, and I started bringing it everywhere, including my day job at a high end auto detailing shop. Between washes, I photographed exotic cars as they came through the doors. Those images opened doors of their own. Car events, custom shops, build documentation, and new techniques like long exposures and light painting. My love for automotive photography took off quickly, and before long I landed a job photographing inventory for car dealerships. Without realizing it, photography had become my livelihood.

While working on dealer lots, I came across a listing to photograph real estate across Los Angeles County. It sounded like a good side hustle and a chance to learn something new. Despite having no real estate experience, I applied. Out of more than 100 applicants, I was invited to meet the owner of a small, family run company at an open house. We walked the property together, shooting side by side. He saw that I needed very little guidance and hired me on the spot to start taking listings immediately.

As I balanced multiple dealerships and real estate shoots, my brother brought me what felt like a once in a lifetime opportunity. He was working on Top Gear America, and the production was looking for a stills photographer to document the behind the scenes of the show. I could hardly believe I was even being considered. A few days later, the paperwork arrived.

I informed my dealership manager that the job would require three months of travel. He told me plainly that if I took it, my position would not be waiting when I returned. I did not hesitate. I accepted the Top Gear role, knowing I was burning a bridge, but trusting that the risk was worth it. My manager at the real estate photography company encouraged me wholeheartedly and promised I could return when the production wrapped.

For the next three months, I lived the dream. I was on set daily, photographing the hosts, iconic vehicles, and the controlled chaos of production. We traveled through California’s deserts, North Carolina, Ohio, Las Vegas, and Cabo San Lucas. I came back with a portfolio that suddenly felt complete. Cars, people, landscapes, and story all in one body of work.

When filming ended, I returned to real estate photography. A few months later, I came across another listing, this time for a full time in house photographer at a major brokerage. Salary, benefits, equipment, PTO, the whole package. I applied without expecting much and was surprised when I was called in to interview.

As it turned out, the manager of the photography team was deeply passionate about cars and had even worked on a racing video game project himself. Having Top Gear on my resume immediately set the tone. I made it through the interviews and was hired in April of 2018. I went from shooting three or four homes per week to three or four per day.

Over the next five years, I photographed homes daily and truly became a professional. Technically, creatively, and operationally. In early 2023, the company made the decision to dissolve the photography department. I was already deep into interviews with another firm offering higher pay and better benefits, but my former employer offered an alternative. Stay on as an independent contractor.

Instead of stepping into another nine to five, I chose independence. Thus, “Aaron Curtis Photography” was born.

I went all in on myself, and I have never looked back.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. Like most creative careers, the challenges are not always obvious from the outside. Shooting homes for a living can sound like an easy, low stress job, but the reality carries a surprising amount of responsibility. You are tasked with capturing what is often the single largest financial investment of a person’s life. Something as seemingly small as professional photography can influence thousands of dollars in sale price, how long a home sits on the market, and even the reputation of the agent representing it.

Early in my career, I rarely worked directly with people on an emotional level. Photographing cars on dealership lots or shooting behind the scenes stills for television productions had very little to do with personal stories. Real estate photography is completely different. Homes are sold for deeply human reasons. Financial hardship, divorce, loss of a loved one, or major life transitions. These are spaces where babies took their first steps, where families gathered for holidays, and where years of memories were built.

Over time, I found myself stepping into situations far more complex than simply taking photos. I have worked with angry tenants being forced to move because a landlord decided to sell. Military families packing up their lives for a new assignment. Adult children sorting through decades of belongings after a parent passed away, trying to prepare a home for sale while grieving. Each situation carries its own emotional weight.

Learning how to navigate these moments has been one of the greatest challenges and growth points of my career. I have learned to lead with empathy, to read the room, to offer patience and understanding, and when appropriate, a helping hand. While it can be emotionally taxing at times, walking away knowing that I brought calm, professionalism, or even a small sense of ease to someone in a difficult moment is what makes this work meaningful. That human element is something no technical skill alone can teach, and it is what continues to make this career deeply rewarding.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a professional photographer specializing in real estate. I am known for my efficiency, calm presence, and adaptability, understanding that every home has different needs and every situation carries its own context. I am most proud that I chose independence and built my business around both craft and character. What sets me apart is my ability to recognize the emotional weight a real estate listing can carry, while consistently delivering professional imagery that elevates a property and helps it stand out in a competitive market.

What makes you happy?
What makes me happy is peace with purpose. Being present with my daughter, building a life and career that I can stand behind, and having the freedom to create on my own terms. I find happiness in meaningful connection, the love and support from my partner, and in expressing what I cannot always say through music. Whether I am behind a camera, writing a song, or simply spending quiet time with the people who matter most, I feel happiest when my life feels at peace, honest, and grounded.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.aaroncurtisphoto.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/aaroncurtisphoto
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/aaroncurtisphoto
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@aaroncurtisphoto
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/aaron-curtis-photography-los-angeles-3
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4cCigpmYncRLAWPCCODYh3?si=qYrNwCdRTuGLMTHlFxy9UQ

Image Credits
Aaron Curtis