Today we’d like to introduce you to David M. M. Taffet.
Hi David, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I have spent the past 30 years leading businesses, executive coaching, and doing turnarounds for Fortune 500 companies and their subsidiaries. My first career was in law, though I quickly moved on to investment banking, private equity, startups, buy-outs, M&A, commercialization, and business transformations.
Amidst all of that, my passion has always been street and photojournalistic style photography focused on foreign and/or marginalized communities. My goal is to highlight human commonality and promote understanding across cultures. I’ve photographed in all 50 of the United States, in 53 countries over 5 continents, and in hundreds of cities, towns, and territories.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
To put it mildly–no, it has not been a smooth road. Eight years ago, I suffered a devastating bankruptcy that upended my life and the lives of my children. Everyone (aside from a few people) turned their backs on me, leaving me with zero professional prospects in the fields I had become accomplished in. So, I turned to my passion: photography.
I started my career over again by taking portraits of pets. Soon, I moved on to doing some work for nonprofits–documenting their impact in the community through photography. These projects kept me sane as I rehabilitated my reputation. Today, I run two consulting companies (JukeStrat and The Fossicker Group) with my wife, Christie Zwahlen.
JukeStrat is a purpose-driven consulting group focused on eliminating workplace toxicity through data-informed approaches, executive coaching, and socially impactful marketing and communications. The Fossicker Group is a research firm that builds thought leaders and inspires paradigm shifts in diverse industries across the globe.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in immersive street photography and environmental portraiture that highlights human commonality across cultures. I am known for going into an environment that’s foreign to me, establishing relationships in the community, and making people so comfortable that I become invisible (hence, the name of my website: invisibleman.photography).
Though I’m proud of the work I’ve produced, I’m most proud of the relationships I’ve built and the way that my photography has helped people around the world view themselves in a different light. I meet so many people who say that they don’t look good in photos or hate being photographed for one reason or another. I take pride in being able to prove them wrong! Not only do I want people to enjoy the process of being photographed, I also want the end product to show them how beautiful, unique, and strong they are in their own ways. Being able to alter someone’s perspective of themselves for the better is a gift I cherish, and it’s the goal every time I photograph someone.
The extent to which my goal is human connection sets me apart from others. I love to photograph people because I love connecting with people, learning about their histories, and sharing them with the world. When I photograph someone, I feel closer and more connected to them than I would if we sat down and had an hour-long conversation. In that process, I try to produce captivating images that stop people in their tracks (and makes them want to be photographed, as well).
I also incorporate photography as part of the work I do at JukeStrat and The Fossicker Group. This type of photography is more commercial and functions as collateral for websites, reports, and other marketing materials. Whenever possible, I capture photography that communicates the social impact of our clients. For example, I have taken many photographs for The McClendon Center, a Washington, DC-based behavioral health nonprofit that serves the community’s most vulnerable residents–people recovering from a mental illness who are also economically disadvantaged. It’s a privilege to do this work on behalf of such important causes; I welcome it always!
Last but certainly not least, my wife and I have weekly art dates in which we develop a concept or inspiration together and execute on it. My wife, Christie, is my muse! Recently, we have been developing our eye for fashion photography–a very different genre for me that’s opening my mind to new creative possibilities. Christie is a long-time fashionphile, so she teaches me about editorial photography trends as we go. It’s a very fulfilling way to spend time together as a couple.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.invisibleman.photography
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/invisiblemanphotography/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidtaffet/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/DavidMMTaffet
Image Credits
David M. M. Taffet
