Meet Zach Chambers | Photographer

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

Hi Zach, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Growing up I was always surrounded by art in some form or another, whether it was abstract paintings on the wall in my grandparents house in Houston, summer drawing classes with my sister at Laguna Gloria in Austin, occasional glances into my step-dad’s home darkroom, or my 4th grade teacher Mrs. Harris encouraging us to doodle while she taught us the multiplication tables. Art was a constant presence, almost so much so that I took it for granted. I never made a conscious decision to pursue a creative career when I was younger. The biggest leap towards where I am now was in my junior year of high school, when my mom secretly signed me up for a summer program at the Savannah College of Art and Design. I was a pretty laid back kid so of course I said why not! I of course ended up pursuing my undergrad at SCAD (one of only two colleges I got into…I wasn’t a stellar student), My initial major was graphic design, but by chance I took an Intro to Photography class with Zig Jackson (an incredible photographer and inspiration), and I never looked back. I have always had an innate curiosity about the world, and I learned quickly that I can use the camera to develop that part of my brain. I imagine that even if I hadn’t truly discovered photography for myself, I would still be involved in some aspect of the artistic universe.

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.
The most important challenge that I overcame was to be true to my personal vision. As a freelance photographer, it is easy to try and craft your work to meet some specific genre, style, or client need. It is so important to rely on your own instincts as a creator, and use that to build your portfolio. There are so many photographers out there now, and it is much more imperative to stand out and be unique. My work is constantly evolving, especially now that I am pursuing my MFA, which is really something to strive for. Stay fresh, stay relevant, but stay true to yourself. We all make mistakes along the way, and it’s hard to get a clear answer or direction in our industry. Photography as a career is a continual state of learning, which makes it all the more exciting.

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.
Santa Fe is located in the high desert and surrounded by mountains, so my first activity would have to be something outdoor. A mild hike in Galisteo Basin to help them acclimate to the 7,000′ altitude, unless of course it’s winter time and then we are going straight up to the Santa Fe Ski Basin mountain for a full day of powder. Go shopping for vintage Western wear at Double Take, then maybe a quick walk over to Big Star to check out their fantastic collection of used books. Follow that with some artistic inspiration at the SITE Santa Fe museum and any one of the nearby galleries. Morning coffee at Iconik over on Lena street, afternoon coffee (or even some natural wine) at La Mama on Marcy street. Definitely deserve a visit to the bread shop for their tomato focaccia that we can nibble on for the rest of the week. A mandatory trip to the Frank Ortiz dog park so our two pups (Chavo and Xochi) can get all their pent up energy out for the day. Day trip to Valles Caldera, maybe stop by Bandelier National Monument on the way. We have to eat dinner at some point, so of course we will go to La Choza and order a mezcal margarita followed by blue corn enchiladas. Fancy craft cocktails at the hippest bar in town, La Reina, and if we’re feeling adventurous, some late night shenanigans at the only dive bar in town, Matador.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I really have to thank my parents for not only encouraging me to be creative, but giving me the freedom to do so. They never assumed that I should follow a certain career path, or be a certain way. I was lucky in that regard. Of course there are so many people that inspired me along the way…professors, fellow artists and photographers, my family. I am also currently pursuing a low-residency MFA program at the University of Hartford, and am grateful for the fellow students in my cohort who constantly inspire me and push my practice further.

Website: https://zachchambers.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wzchambers/

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

Image Credits
Photographer: Zach Chambers