Story & Lesson Highlights with Christian Powell

We recently had the chance to connect with Christian Powell and have shared our conversation below.

Christian, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
My most recent accomplishment and accolade in my career, is when i got accepted into an art show/gallery in the November coming up. Its been something I have been aiming for and surprised it happened so soon in my career. Mainly because I always want my photography to seen and thought of as ART first.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Christian Powell and owner of Christian Powell Photography. Atlanta, GA based photographer that specializes in outdoor portrait photography. I have been shooting professionally since 2019, but I’ve had the passion of creating since childhood. People are mainly my subjects, and I shoot almost all genre types. I have been published and featured in over 50+ magazine and counting. and received more than 50+ front cover features. I also work with all types of creatives from models, designers, stylists, MUAs, singers, rappers, dancers, etc.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
My relationship that shaped me mostly how I see myself today. Would have to be my first mentor for soccer, Coach Tom Paschal. When I first started to play soccer I was not an any way shape or form a confident player. One I was overweight, two I was freshly new to the sport and starting in high school, and three I was the only African American player on the team. Learning the fundamentals came about 50/50 , but honestly the most brutal part of learning this new sport was the endurance. Throughout the year while at practice a teammate in a grade above me dad’s frequently came to practice for moral and fundamental support. Him being an phenomenal coach himself, but always respectful to others. He would come and give me pointers when he saw I needed them. Gave me the best pointers and advice that made me to the athlete still to this day. When I moved away in the summer he organized a summer training session for me. Gave me my own off-season training and practice. We had weekly after practice training. Yes, we would training right after my team’s practice. Even my senior year was my full blown manager to get me a schlolarship for college. He was the president of our community soccer league, and that team gave me some the most best childhood memories to this day. In college I became a coach for a PSA soccer league as a tribute to him and took one of my teams to state and won. Coach Tom is no longer with us but his memory is so instilled into me and I make amazing tributes and accolades to this man everyday of my life. Which I know from above he’s watching proudly. Also still thank him for giving me my soccer brother Ethan.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
To the younger Christian, worrying to much of what everyone thinks about you will put to much on you. All the outside opinions on how you should be as a person, look as person, or even act. Living a life of comparison to your sibling was never your fault or something you asked for. Yes you’re an amazing athlete and even accomplished levels you did not think you would. But when you get to actually explore your true passion, photography. Baby boy the journey to the dream is unforgettable and everything you wanted it to be. Also that self-love journey is going to a key point in to who and how yo view yourself today. Do not worry about that shy, unconfident, over-weight young man. The man you will grow to see and love in older year will still shock you and others that have known you 15+ years until this day.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
Who you get in person, social media, work atmosphere, or OUTSIDE is always going to be Christian Powell. I have learned along time ago that first you always want people to love your true self. And building and living in relationships of lies never work out and anyone’s favor. Being in the public eye has been part of majority of my journey and career. I was a collegiate athlete, worked all customer service field jobs, and I specialize in outdoor portraits and photography, So even my personal photography is majority of the time in the public. I even have one profile per social media platform. Because I want my friends and supporters, but I do not say fans, to know and love Christian Powell first. Which I’m never going dim or shy away from my amazing photography skills. It is just not the only thing I bring to the table.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Yes, because of my true reason behind my passion. I love creating ART and see myself as an artist first. Which i feel a lot of creatives in my field are battling. Some people only create for money or even got into the business aspect for photography. I still have to this day people asking me I feel as if you do not charge enough. But truly I only added the business part into my photography, is because in college people kept asking me how much do I charge. I never knew really even wanted to say a price because I just wanted to create those everlasting memories for them. I just honestly feel so in my true natural element with a camera in my hand and subject to create with. To this day I have conversations with creatives and friends about how I just instantly feel mentally and physically better and accomplished after a photoshoot. Also one thing I preach forever is, I do not CREATE FOR SOCIAL MEDIA!!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://christian-powell.kavyar.site/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/watchmyambition/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-powell-459b04143/

Image Credits
Julian Morris
Keke McNiell
DeEric Garnell
Cordae Omari