Rising Stars: Meet Preston Whelchel

Today we’d like to introduce you to Preston Whelchel.

Hi Preston, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.

Hey guys! I’m Preston and here’s a bit of my story. I gravitated towards photography from a young age because I saw the camera as the ultimate tool, something for the less artistically inclined to use as a medium for expressing themselves. I wanted to portray things the way I saw them, and photography seemed to be best suited for conveying the visions I had. When I first started taking photos around the age of 14, I was less concerned about expressing myself and more concerned about learning how to use my camera properly. I was, and still am, self-taught.

My curriculum consisted mainly of YouTube. I spent hours and hours watching videos to teach myself the basics of photography: lighting, composition, and manual exposure. I started following other photographers and creatives on Instagram, trying to recreate images that caught my attention. By trying to emulate different photographers, I adopted new styles of photography and grew my creative arsenal. Although I wasn’t actually  working underneath anyone, I still consider this period of time to be an apprenticeship of sorts. I would reach out to anyone that I thought could provide me guidance and insight into what problems I would encounter in the future when pursuing photography. At the ages of 16 to 18, I started taking photography more seriously and began investing more time, money, and energy.

With the help of my friend Josh Kahen, I eventually converted my parent’s dining room into a studio and started a freelance photography business. Different clients demanded different work, and this professional development I experienced early on helped to continue expanding my skills and grow my confidence working in other genres of photography. After creating a strong foundation from which I could venture out on, I started focusing more on what I enjoyed shooting, which currently is automotive and travel photography. I say ‘currently’ because I can never stay in one place, and I always try to do everything at once. So next year I might find myself diving into totally different spaces within photography. I’m at a point where I have a good idea of what I like to take photos of, now it’s just a matter of continuing to build connections and relationships with people so I can continue to grow my photography.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

I think the road for any freelance creative is going to be rough. There is no predetermined way to ensure success, no test scores or measurable metrics you can achieve to break though. You are pretty much on your own and the business is up to you to generate. The largest hurdle for me to overcome was my age. When you’re half the age of your competitors, people automatically begin to doubt your capability and skill. That’s why I’m driven to prove myself as a young photographer. I’d rather people judge me based on the work I produce rather than something as superficial as my age. The difficulties I’ve forecasted for the future are all pretty much related to social media.

The unfortunate reality is that whatever app people spend the most time on will be the place photographers are most likely to post their work. The problem with this is that now photographers have to conform to platforms that are better suited for keeping tabs on your friends rather than photography. As a creative, there is no worse feeling than being constrained to the confines of Instagram and Tik Tok. These platforms compress photos and videos down until they look like they were shot with a potato. They promote a form of cheap, ‘fast food’ photography, where users film themselves using increasingly wild and excessive photography/cinematography techniques just to grab attention. I think that social media and its destruction of our attention spans has definitely contributed to a more ‘fanatical’ modern photography.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?

I’m a student, so that means balancing work with academics. I’m currently studying business at Babson College and after I graduate, I’d like to pursue a career within real estate while continuing to take photos. What’s nice about being  a photographer is that you can put it all aside or pick it back up at any time. When I go back to school, I set my camera down and mostly focus on academics. When I’m back home during the breaks, I try to shoot and experiment as much as I can. Photography has been and will always be a big part of my life and I’m excited to see how it will develop in the following years. I’m planning on creating a website where people can view a more organized and interactive portfolio of my work. I’d also like to set up an online shop where people can purchase prints because I’ve always wanted to hang up physical copies of my photos.

What makes you happy?

I’ve always enjoyed trying out new things and experimenting. If I didn’t, there’s no way I would’ve been able to learn how to use a camera. You have to be willing to learn and put yourself out of your comfort zone to keep learning, otherwise the complacency sets in and you stagnate. This is what I am most fearful of, but my enjoyment for personal development and seeing my photography develop keeps my fears far away. Photography is a place where I feel comfortable taking risks and also where risks are well-rewarded. Practicing new techniques, experimenting with new gear, or meeting interesting people are all things I enjoy doing. I’ve learned through shooting action and travel photography that it’s all about risk-taking. The best shots I get are the ones that I never thought would work, and the least successful shoots I’ve done where the shoots that I played it safe. The client may have been happy and got the photos they wanted, but I wouldn’t have felt satisfied. The happiest moments are when those wild ideas come to life and I’m looking at the photos still not believing it actually worked.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/6whel/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/preston.whelchel.5/