Meet William H Morgan | Freelance Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with William H Morgan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi William, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
This is a very relevant question to me, as it’s something I’ve come to appreciate and be more mindful of these days. As a freelancer, I have learnt that work life balance requires both adaptability and discipline, and at this stage of my life, I find that balance needs to be more flexible.

Looking back at my early years after graduation, I realise I didn’t need discipline to work, I needed discipline to stop working. Back then, there was almost no balance. I was fixated on developing my photography practice, often working late into the night editing shoots, researching new projects, and neglecting proper meals and socialising. In hindsight, that lack of balance probably made me less productive, but at the time as a young guy I was happy with my exhaustive and unsustainable approach.

Now, in my early thirties, my priorities have shifted. Simply enjoying the city life and thinking more about marriage and eventually having children of my own have made me value this balance much more. I try to work something closer to a standard nine-to-five schedule when possible, with regular breaks if I am at home. Of course, shoots don’t always allow for that, but having more structure has actually improved both my productivity and creativity. While some creatives feel that structure and routine limits them, I have found that my creative thinking has not changed, in fact, giving myself more time to experience everything life has to offer outside of work fosters ideas even more.

Most importantly, I’ve learned to value free time making the most of weekends and spending time with friends and family. That time away from work recharges me and makes me more focused and productive when I return to the camera. I know that life will probably evolve quite a lot over the next few years, so I am open to adapting my work and practice again as my circumstances change.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have reached a point in my life and career where I no longer shy away from talking about my experience of being diagnosed and treated for Leukaemia twice as a teenager between the ages of twelve and sixteen. While this life experience is not directly visible in my work, it has been a huge driving force. It’s one of the main reasons why I feel such a strong desire to document the world through photographing the built environment and the people that form the rich tapestry of our communities.

Over the years, my work has centred around the built environment and architectural photography, both in commercial contexts and as a visual artist. At the same time, as I am passionate about collaboration and supporting other artists, my practice has expanded into portrait photography. These may seem like two separate fields, but for me they go hand in hand. When I work on a portrait shoot, I pay close attention to the space around my subject. If you were to remove the subject from the frame, I want the interior or exterior space to still speaks volumes of them and their personality. I compose the image as I would an architectural photograph, then placing the subject within the frame in a way that creates a genuine representation of who they are. My architectural background has become a key component in shaping my approach to portrait photography.

Living through this experience has shaped who I am as a photographer. From a very young age it taught me to be empathetic towards others and sparked a deep curiosity into other people’s life stories, qualities I believe are important for the direction and creation of meaningful portraits.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I have actually since moved to South East London, more specifically, Peckham, a vibrant town that never ceases to surprise or excite me. I really like the balance here, its peaceful streets are perfect for quiet walks, yet just around the corner you’ll find the buzzing energy of Peckham Rye Lane, where the smells, sights, and sounds capture the true spirit of the community.

For an easy start to the day, we would have to hit Toad Bakery. Their black sesame and white chocolate suisse pastry is unlike any other pastry, dip it into your coffee and you’re starting the day well! We would also have to add in their famous “everything bagel croissant” just for good measure.

When it comes to dinner, Ganapati, a cozy South Indian restaurant is a must. We would have to order the Thaire Vadai starter. A savoury lentil doughnut served in spiced yogurt with tamarind chutney.

Then to keep the night going, there is one event that I will never disappoint. SDWeekly is an improvised jam session by some of the best local musicians, held in a disused multi-storey car park. Circling around the musicians as they jam together continuously makes it feel immersive and intimate and like you’re part of something special. It’s an experience that captures the creative heart of Peckham.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
What I find great about the creative industry is the diverse and close-knit community, where people are willing to support one another and celebrate our shared passion.
First, I would like to give a shoutout to all the artists I’ve had the pleasure of working with. Collaboration is a major focus of mine moving forward, I find it so rewarding to create something powerful and meaningful alongside like-minded creatives who bring their own ideas and talents to the table.

Over the years, I have been fortunate enough to be mentored by, and assist photographers whose work I deeply admire. Knowing that they value my dedication and chose to invest their own time in supporting me has been hugely motivating, and through them I have gained experiences I would not have had otherwise.

More recently, I was welcomed into the team at Mass Collective, where we created and exhibited the project titled Where The Flow Ends, which was accepted into the Venice Architecture Biennale this year. Thanks to that experience and being a part of Mass Collective, I am now even more driven to pursue larger collaborative projects in the future.

Website: https://www.williamhmorgan.co.uk

Instagram: @w.h.morg

Image Credits
Tom Scales
Phoebe Wingrove
Luke Odonovan