© Kwaku Alston
Cross-posted from santafeworkshops.com
Kwaku Alston has photographed some of the most famous faces in the world, from Hollywood luminaries like Jamie Lee Curtis and Denzel Washington to sports stars such as LeBron James and Shaquille O’Neal, as well as President Barack Obama. A veteran advertising photographer, Kwaku has worked for clients including Coca-Cola, i.am+ BUTTONS, and the History Channel. His personal lifestyle photography projects include the series “Fatherhood,” inspired by the birth of his first child; “Volkslivin,” comprising photos of vintage Volkswagen buses; and “Venice,” featuring spontaneous portraits of people and places he encountered as a longtime resident of the California beachside neighborhood. This is his second year teaching at The Workshops. His website is www.kwakualston.com.This year Kwaku with be teaching Creating an Iconic Portrait June 30 – July 5, 2019. Log in and view ASMP member discount for Santa Fe Workshops.
We had the opportunity to talk with Kwaku about his approach to photography:
SFPW: Your work clearly has a distinctive style and point-of-view. When did you first start to understand ‘who your were’ as a photographer and what you wanted to do with it?
Kwaku Alston: It wasn’t until I was in my 30s and woke up. I was already creating work that I’m proud of, but knowing who you are comes with time. The process of becoming a photographer is different for everyone. As I move forward in my life and career, how I see the world has changed, which directly affects my artistic vision.
SFPW: The world of editorial and celebrity photography can be fast paced and exhausting. How do you maintain a balanced creative approach with the high demand and volume of the job?