Meet Josh Sells | Photographer and Visual Content Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Josh Sells and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Josh, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Risk is a necessary action one must take to make significant changes in life. It definitely has had a huge impact on my career.

Growing up in a small town in Tennessee, I had a very small scope on the world and its many opportunities. I had a budding photography business shooting locals in the town, but I wanted more. I wanted to make a career of shooting creative portraits of interesting people. I originally pursued a path in the medical field in college because pursuing a career in the arts was quite taboo. Thankfully, I took a risk and switched to get a degree in Photography. I graduated a year early and moved to New York City without a job or a place to live.

I knew getting out of my comfort zone and coming into a place where the arts thrive would be the best shot I had at succeeding in making my passion into my profession. It was a huge risk starting fresh in a place where no one knew me, but I’m very grateful for where it has led me. Had I never taken the leap, I would not have had all the opportunities to connect and work with the incredible people I met along my journey.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My passion is creating visually stunning images that feature interesting/inspiring people with stories to tell. My work is bold and color focused. Meeting and working with new people always gets me hype, and I love creating something that really showcases that.

I got to where I am today by being myself and choosing to live my life the way I wanted, freeing myself from the opinions of others. It has definitely not been easy, and I am still on this ride of discovering my true self–but I
am so excited to see where this journey will continue to take me, and I’m pumped to create unforgettable images and new relationships along the way.

I am constantly inspired by the people who I have the opportunity to shoot with, and I want the world to see my work and feel the same inspiration.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would definitely take them for a walk around my neighborhood, Astoria, and get drinks at my favorite local bar Sek’end Sun. From there, I love taking the ferry into the city and riding on the top of the boat– the views are unmatched. I would go have dinner and chill at the seaport, then head up to a burlesque show at Bathtub Gin. We would have to have a night in my best friends’ backyard, because what’s better than drinking with great company and sitting around a little fire pit?

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I feel like everyone in my life deserves a shoutout for getting me to where I am today. To name few: My longtime pal and confidant, Morgan Jones, for consistently pushing me to get out of my comfort zone and take risks.
My professor, Jud Davis, for putting up with me in college and believing in me.
Brooke Shaden, a photographer whose work has inspired me to create since I was a kid.
My best friends, for the constant love and support. I have found a home here in NYC because of you guys- thank you with all of my heart.

Website: https://joshsells.myportfolio.com/

Instagram: @joshsells