November 12, 2016

Meet Photographer: Evan Jay

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Evan Jay.

Evan, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I started in photography because I had a job that required me to travel to different countries fairly often. Most of these trips required me to go alone, so I decided to get a small camera to document my travels and keep me entertained. I slowly started to learn more and started to crave the art while I was back at home. Because of this, I purchased a higher end DSLR and I started to take pictures of Atlanta. I met other street photographers and they challenged me to take photos of people. That snowballed into me taking a lot of pictures of people, then models, then fashion brands etc.

Has it been a smooth road?
Not even close to smooth. My entire path has been ups and downs, with more downs. I’ve had my equipment stolen, broken, and malfunction. I’ve been blocked from certain jobs for my race, and even sometimes my sex. Money was always tight and it’s hard to get everything you need for the job and still eat. The list can go on.

What are some of the influences that have played the biggest role in your journey so far?
My grandfather. He died 2 years ago from pancreatic cancer. He was one of the most influential people in my life. I can honestly say that he had a huge part in shaping me into the person that I am today. He taught me the value of honesty and what it means to be a man. He instilled an amazing work ethic in me. Above all else, he was one of the few people who didn’t every try to make me into a generic version of success. He told me to do what I loved, and do it to the best of my abilities. One of the last conversations we had together shaped the way I live my life now. He was adamant about living life and being happy with all the decisions that I make.

What kind of work do you look forward to most?
I love all the projects that I work on, so whenever there is something in the pipeline I am always pumped to work on it. I am mainly a fashion/editorial photographer, so I like testing the waters with new concepts. Right now I am putting together a project that examines the way we view love, both externally in the world around us as well as inside our private lives. This is the first time I have put together a visual project that will really force viewers to answer these kinds of questions. This project is going to blend the world of fashion (how we want to present ourselves to the world) with the way that we love each other, and ourselves. I’m extremely nervous to venture into this new territory, but I am also very excited.

What have been some of the most important lessons you’ve learned over the course of your career?
It’s hard for me to answer that question. A part of me feels like if I did anything differently, I might not be the artist that I am today. With that being said, I think the only thing that I really would have changed is the amount of personal projects I worked on. I would have done a lot more of them, with varying themes.

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