Renowned hip-hop photographer Cam Kirk is making waves in Atl's space.
PHOTO COURTESY OF CAM KIRK STUDIOS
Could you tell me about your evolution as a photographer?
I’ve been Atlanta-based for 16 years now, but I picked up the camera for the first time over 10 years ago, around the same time I was attending Morehouse College for Business Marketing. Jeezy was one the first major artists I worked with in my career, but after that, I worked with iconic trap artists such as Gucci Mane, Migos, 21 Savage, Future, Young Thug, Metro Boomin, Mike Will Made It and more, where I have made a name for myself in the hip-hop community, Atlanta and beyond. Over the past few years, I have also worked with some of the largest Fortune 500 companies in the world, including Coca Cola, Nike, Airbnb, Meta, Budweiser, NFLand NBA. Now I currently own and operate two businesses, Cam Kirk Studios and Collective Gallery, and my own nonprofit, Cam Kirk Foundation.
What are some barriers you’ve faced in the industry?
The initial barriers I faced in my career were honestly centered around fighting for respect and my value. In the early parts of my career I worked predominantly in the music industry, and even more specifically, Hip Hop. Long before the days that Hip Hop became America’s #1 genre, a lot of my early work was considered much more niche and urban than art or commercial. I had to push and fight to be taken seriously even inside of my own art form because even photographers did not take Hip Hop photographers seriously. I had to create an unconventional blueprint plan to carve a lane for myself in this industry. When galleries or museums did not want to feature my work, I planned and produced my only art shows. When photography agencies did not think my work was commercially appealing, I created my own agency and catapulted myself into the commercial photography world. And when I found success for myself, I built a community and a pathway for others to find similar success through the start of my studio, Cam Kirk Studios.
PHOTO COURTESY OF CAM KIRK STUDIOS
How do you handle having so many projects?
I am blessed to have a really large team that helps me every day. Across my multiple business entities, I employ close to 20 employees that help me a ton with the projects on my plate. They help me keep my mind sharp and focused and allow me to show up in multiple places at once.
What do you do to stay inspired?
I stay inspired by staying locked in on my work. I actually take very few breaks or vacations, and my consistency keeps me engaged and inspired.
How do you express yourself through your brand?
At the beginning of my career, I spent so much time expressing other people’s vision through my work, and now with Cam Kirk Studios and my Cam Kirk Foundation, I can finally bring my own ideas to life. The aesthetic of my studio is a direct reflection of my personal interest and style, my work in the community is a reflection of my love for helping people, and our marketing is my creativity put on full display.
Why did you decide to create the studio?
Throughout my journey as a photographer, I realized Atlanta was missing something - a safe place for creatives to advance their skills, market themselves and network. In 2017, Cam Kirk Studios was born, a 3,000 sq ft studio for creatives which is used to advance their skills, market themselves, and network. Since its launch, Cam Kirk Studios has become a staple within the Atlanta creative community averaging over 500 appointments a month.
Alongside being a community-forward operation and platform, the studio has developed into a media company—highlighting creatives and spotlighting talent in Atlanta on social media. Covering such a wide variety of creatives, including music artists, models, businesses, and photographers, Cam Kirk Studios is known half as a photography studio but also as a space for musicians and artists to come and create visuals for their music.
What recent accomplishment are you most proud of?
I’m very proud of the launch of CKS, our studio’s official content streaming platform. Built as a haven for creatives, the site will house a diverse range of content and topics, including behind-the-scenes series’, educational videos for burgeoning creatives, in-depth interviews with industry leaders and celebrities, among other exclusive offerings and live streams.
We already have content live on the platform, such as Lil Tjay Behind The Scenes, Boston Richey Behind The Scenes, Night School Course: RGB Twon, Night School Course: Neri, Night School Course: Caleb Seales, and Behind The Cam Season 1, but we have a lot of content that will be airing on the platform soon so stay tuned!
What does the Atlanta community mean to you?
The Atlanta community means the world to me. It’s not only my source of inspiration but also my driving force. This city has made space for me, and my wildest dreams and for that, I feel I owe it so much in return.
Do you have any other hobbies or interests?
I recently took up golfing, but I also enjoy bowling, going to the movies, or trying out new restaurants with my friends. I’m a big sports fan, so my Sundays are dedicated to football during NFL-season, and I spend many nights attending Hawks games when the team is in town.
What advice do you have for young creatives?
My first piece of advice is to study your craft and master the skill set behind your art form. Once you have mastered the skill set, you can manipulate it and make it your own style.
Always be grateful for the opportunities you are given. Never take your talent or skill set for granted, and you owe it to yourself to be the best version of yourself. My advice would also be to not give up. I want people to take away from my work that it’s possible. When I was starting my career as a photographer, I got a lot of “No’s,” and I had a lot of people telling me to “get a real job.” But fast forward to now, I grew up photographing exactly what I wanted to shoot: rap and hip-hop music. I am also a black male entrepreneurial creative living in the South, and I didn’t need to move to New York City or Los Angeles to be successful.
Photography by: Cam Kirk studios
