December 2, 2016

Meet Mableton Photographer: Jeremiah Cowan

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeremiah Cowan.

Jeremiah, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My story with art began about four years ago when I decided to download an Instagram. I was not a photographer at the time, as most people who have Instagram’s see themselves, but I did see Instagram as more than just a social media platform— I saw it as a creative outlet. I started following photographers and creative who had hundreds of thousands of people following them and told myself, “I want to be like that”. So over the course of the next six months, I honed in on my craft. I taught myself about lighting, composition, and post-production, coupled with traveling to really photogenic locations in Atlanta. I also decided to engage my community by meeting up with local artists and photographers. I even at one point helped local, nonprofit organization weloveatl plan an instameet (where Instagram photographers come together to explore and take photos) in downtown Atlanta. It all paid off. One day I opened my email account and saw I had an email from Instagram saying that I had been chosen to be a ‘suggested user’ and that I embodied Instagram’s community goals. I immediately went to open Instagram and saw that Instagram started following me and that I had gained almost a 1,000 followers in a few hours. Over the course of the next two weeks, I gained tens of thousands of followers. Not too long after this, I landed my first freelance photography job: shooting GAP’s fall line of clothing. Not too long after that I was honored to be chosen as one of seventy-six photographers to be a part of Apple’s World Gallery/Shot on iPhone 6 campaign, in which two of my photos were selected to be on Apple’s website home page, in Apple stores all over the world, and on billboards and streamers in Tokyo, London, New York City, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Mexico City, and more. I was humbled to be a part of this project, thus giving myself the confidence to finally call myself a photographer. However, not too long after this success, I was robbed. Someone decided to smash in my rear window and steal my backpack which contained my laptop, my camera, and all my lenses/camera accessories. All the money I had saved up from my freelance work for this camera, was instantly taken from me. I had no tools to create, to work, to fulfill my passions. I decided to forgive this person that wronged me and move on. Luckily, I had a community of close friends who secretly started a GoFundMe for me and raised nearly $1,000 dollars to put towards all my stolen devices. Over these past years I have learned a lot about photography, but if I have learned one thing that is the most important— photography would be nothing without the beautiful people in this world that support it, create it, and are its subjects.

Has it been a smooth road?
Being young and taken advantage of because of my age has definitely been a struggle. All my gear getting stolen last year was a huge setback also.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and career?
Luck is definitely a big part. Good and bad. Both happen often in this career (getting robbed, equipment failure, getting a gig that you never thought you’d get, etc.), but I am a firm believer that if you work hard at something, you will reap the benefits and I do my best to work my hardest.

Do you feel like there are certain traits that increase the likelihood of success?
Being able to talk to people. And not just one type of person, a photographer has to be able to facilitate conversations and relationships on all of the social spectrum. I have friends and people I photograph from the homeless to millionaires.

Tell us about your favorite and least favorites things about our city.
I like (actually love) the people in this city. I believe community is such an important aspect of life and Atlanta has the unique identity of being a big and growing city but retaining its community and focus on people. I do not like some of the urban planning of this city, I think Atlanta could rival Chicago or New York City one day if it starts building up instead of outwards, improves and extends MARTA, and becomes more of a pedestrian friendly city.

Pricing: