Meet Tracie Davis: Photographer and Art Director

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

Hi Tracie, what is the most important factor behind your success?
For me, it’s hard to say because I still very much feel that I am still evolving as a photographer and creator and I never want to feel as if I’m not. I don’t ever want to get stuck with expectations to do the same thing over and over. That’s kind of the point of being a freelancer – the freedom to work on many different things. So for me, it’s really about relationships and hard work. I bring the same amount of work ethic to the tiniest newest brand that I might with a larger well known company. I see both as an opportunity to create something new and to learn something about myself and how I work. I also think maintaining good relationships with clients and others is super important. In this industry, you want to be someone that people want to be around and want to work with. There are too many talented people out there – what will set you apart? I like to focus on doing great work, but also being someone that people and brands feel good about working with.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m a photographer and art director specializing in still life and interiors. I grew up outside of NYC and so that was the most natural spot to start out in after graduate school. After a few years of trying to figure out what I wanted to do I ended up at an early stage eCommerce startup. I was their first in house photographer and built it out to what it is today. It was the best way for me to figure out what I wanted to do and what I wanted my work to be. There was such a large breadth of subjects for me to work with and I got to work with so many different types of people with different specialities. It was really an amazing education in brand building, business and marketing that I now can take with me in my own business. It’s a skill they don’t teach you in art school, and I think it really has given me an advantage in creating successful work for brands that feels elevated but still conveys their message. My work is very much a product of myself and my own interests in storytelling. I very much like to envision a person or place when posed with a still life challenge. I thrive in a space where I am creating the story rather than a photographer who goes out into the world and finds the story. The ritual and practice of being in the studio is really where I create my best work. There have been an immense amount of challenges I’ve gone through to get here, but at around ten years in, I’m finally feeling as though I’m headed in some kind of direction that I like.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would take them to Sqirl, because unlike most people who will not admit it – I am obsessed with it. I would then take them on a walk that I love to do around Griffith Park with my new puppy, Pinot. We would end the day with the delicious wine that is poured at Bar Covell in Los Feliz. On the weekend I would take them to the Atwater farmers market and get Bread Blok’s incredible herbed focaccia to take to a picnic in the area. Since I’ve been living in LA mostly during pandemic times, I tend to have all of my favorite places within walking distance. So lots of walking, parks with wine and eating outside! Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to the many close female friendships that have supported me through all the many ups and downs of life. That goes for their ups and downs too – perspective is everything!

Website: www.tracie-davis.com

Instagram: @traciedavisphotography

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tdavis05/

Image Credits
Photography by Tracie Davis