I’ve always struggled to answer this question, I think part of me was afraid to because I didn’t really have one until recently. There are so many reasons why I love photography but none ever feel like the definitive answer. I label my photos as “nostalgic” and “dreamy”, which they are, but I’ve never liked confining them to that small bubble. I often switch between multiple different styles based on what’s inspiring me at the time, so conforming to a singular type of photography doesn’t really work for me.

When I began taking photos, I used to see that as a weakness in my work. I wanted my photos to have an identity, and I thought only shooting specific subjects or sticking to one style of editing would accomplish that. I quickly learned that this just caused me to burn out much faster and I lost inspiration to take the photos I wanted to.

Recently I’ve learned that I just have to shoot what makes me feel the most, and my style will naturally form around that. When I say “feel” the most, I don’t mean one specific emotion. I want my photos to make people feel something strong, weather that be nostalgia, sadness, hope, inspiration, or any other emotion, all that matters to me is that I made you feel something. I think this is more important now than ever. We consume so much mindless content on a daily basis, I want to contrast that by creating things that feel soulful and real. I want to create art that people can resonate with on a deeper level than just looking pretty.

It took me three years of photography to begin to have a real idea of why I started this. Even now, I still question if that’s the true reason. I think that’s what’s going to make these next few years so special. I want to take this journey and explore every reason that drives me to create this art. Even if I don’t ever find a simple answer, I know that this is what I’m meant to do.

- Colin