Today we’d like to introduce you to Edward Carter.
Edward, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I have been a visual artist pretty much my entire life. I started drawing in elementary school then went to a creative and performing arts middle school and high school in Memphis TN. After graduating high school in 1997. I spent a year at Memphis College of Art and then went on to Virginia Commonwealth University to complete my B.F.A. with a concentration in Medical Illustration and a minor in African American Studies. My passion for photography began in the summer of 1997 prior to going to college when a friend allowed me to use her camera to take reference photos at the zoo. I loved how I was able to capture the essence of the animals and all their movements through this medium. I didn’t pursue photography in college because it was to financially taxing.
But I grabbed a decently priced second hand 35mm film camera when I first arrived to Virginia and started shooting any free moment I had. Upon graduating I couldn’t find work in the field of the arts so I took a job in corporate America to cover myself financially. In 2006 I decided to move to Atlanta to get closer to family and back to the south. After moving to Atlanta, I soon found the woman of my dreams in my wife who loved taking pictures as much as I did. We even took pictures on our first date, which wasn’t as common a thing to do back then as it is now. She helps me to rekindle my creative spirit. We married in 2011 and now have two beautiful children EJ & Camille. My photography journey started off as most passions do taking pictures of each other and family members as a hobby, it then moved into taking pictures at parties for close friends and then them offering to pay me to take pictures that led to other referrals which eventually led to starting a full-fledged business with my wife. I now have been a working photographer for eight and a half years with a primary focus on wedding and family photography. I have been full time for the last three years.
My wife still works in corporate America as an accountant but does event planning as one of the arms of our business. There have certainly highs and lows in running my own business but I couldn’t imagine my life any different than it is now.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I am a photographer with a focus on wedding and family photography. I consider what I do creating art. I use my eyes and mind to create artwork in the form of a photograph that will hopefully live on well beyond my years. I create art using photography as the medium for my audience to be able to revisit a moment in their lives over and over again.
Specifically, when it comes to wedding photography, I enjoy expressing to clients that after the planning and execution of the big day is done and the cake has been eaten and the dresses and suits have been worn and put away. What’s left to remember one of the most important days of their lives are the images captured. My hope is that the images will live with these families for generations and they will look back on them as a part of their legacy.
Any advice for aspiring or new artists?
I have two pieces of advice for other artists;
1.) Keep putting one foot in front of the other. I’ve found that creative energy is very kinetic. The more energy you put into it the bigger that energy becomes. Be very mindful of where you put your energy
2.) Becoming a professional at anything in life takes time. Your journey is your own, don’t get into the game of comparison. The only way to get to your best life is by being the best version of yourself. Not to say you can’t look to others for inspiration or motivation. But you’ll never win at trying to be a better version of someone else.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
I am always interested in meeting new clients in hopes that we will be a good fit for each other. I can be contacted through my website or any of my social media channels. My website is www.visualrenaissance.net and on Instagram: @visualrenaissancephotography & Facebook: www.facebook.com/visualrenaissancephotography.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.visualrenaissance.net
- Email: info@visualrenaissance.net
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/visualrenaissancephotography
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/visualrenaissancephotography
Image Credit:
Visual Renaissance Photography LLC
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