Today we’d like to introduce you to Sean Fitzgerald.
Sean, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I have lived two lives, basically. I spent 10 years practicing law in Dallas at several great firms but realized that I had a creative itch that I needed to scratch and an urge to create things that were positive and tangible.
I really loved hiking and camping and one day I bought a camera to take with me on a hiking trip. I was enthralled with the challenge of making something artistic out of the natural scenes and wildlife I was seeing out in the wild. I was hooked and have had a great “second” career as a photographer.
I am lucky in that I love the art of photography and I love what I photograph. It never bores me and I love it when I take an image that moves people somehow. That is especially gratifying on conservation-related issues where the challenge is often to get someone to care about the well-being of a creature or an ecosystem.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Smooth? Ha! Photography is a cut-throat business, and nature photography is especially brutal. You either adapt or die. When I started, I used slide film, which is very hard to shoot, scan and print, and it took a lot of skill and practice to master both. If you were good enough, you could make a living.
Two things really changed the game. One was the rise of digital cameras and how much easier it became to take decent photos. The second was the rise of online distribution and social media. The result was a flood of images into the market and massive devaluation of image value for many kinds of photos.
As new photographers rush in and are willing to give away their photos for free or for cheap, it has made it much harder to make a living. The survivors have to adapt to the current realities and find ways to innovate and provide something unique.
Sean Fitzgerald Photography – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I think I have shot almost everything, from corporate work to weddings to everything in between. That helped give me an ability to shoot a really wide range of subjects and techniques, and helped me be a better photographer.
Nowadays I primarily work in nature/wildlife/conservation, with some work in travel and architecture. I would describe my style as a documentary with an artistic vision. I do my best to find subjects and shoot them creatively. I especially love creating images that tell stories and that have a graphic, surreal or abstract quality.
I can usually get good images out of just about any situation. Not everyone can do that. I also am a fine art printer and have my own large format printer. My prints are found around the country in both private and commercial art collections.
I also teach and give digital presentations. I frequently lead photo workshops in locations around the world. I also am known for developing photo tourism on privately owned ranches and locations. I currently work with Ted Turner Expeditions leading and developing photo workshops on over 1 million acres of incredible land in New Mexico.
I have also refurbished a home/studio in an old warehouse in Deep Ellum that is available for location shoots for film and video.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I have won plenty of contests and had a lots highlights, I suppose. My images have been used in many magazines, newspaper, books, and even on television, I have entire hospitals and convention center wings that use my artwork.
I have even had one image used by Barbara Streisand as part of her concert. That was nice since it was focused on highlighting a conservation issue related to the monarch butterfly.
At the end of the day, though, I really love it when someone tells me how much one of my images means to them. That makes everything worth it and never fails to make my day.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2814 Canton St. Dallas, TX 75226
- Website: www.seanfitzgerald.com
- Phone: 214-213-4193
- Email: sean@seanfitzgerald.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sean.fitzgerald/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seanfitzgeraldphotography
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