Photographer Kevin Hinton on Art, Technology, and Career Advice for Young Creatives
Photographer and digital content creator Kevin Hinton, reflects on his experience in the creative field and offers three crucial pieces of advice for those pursuing a career in photography and content creation.
During this special interview, we talk with Kevin Hinton about his experiences in photography and creating digital content. Hinton's valuable insights provide important advice for photographers and content creators who are just beginning their creative path. From utilizing technology without breaking the bank to exploring various genres and learning from mentors, Hinton's advice is a valuable resource for aspiring creatives. (Not only does Hinton share his own career journey and his goals, spoiler alert —his vision is a fresh idea that could connect creatives in the industry and humanize our own experiences.
Hinton's passion for photography and creating meaningful content shines through in every aspect of this interview, making it a must-read for anyone looking to excel in these fields. Whether you're just starting out or have been pursuing your passion for years, Hinton's wise words will inspire and guide you on your creative journey.
3 Essential Career Tips for Photographers and Content Creators
Tip #1: Embrace technology and leverage it to start your creative journey
Kevin Hinton emphasizes the importance of utilizing technology to kickstart a career in music or photography. He highlights that today's technology, especially smartphones, can provide young creatives with a wealth of resources and tools at their fingertips.
"You have literally what it takes, probably right inside your pocket," advises Hinton. He encourages young creatives to use free programs available on smartphones to make music or take photos. Emphasizing the importance of starting with what you have, he says, "Take whatever you have...and jump in."
Hinton also advises you to leverage the internet, not just for its tools but for its wealth of educational resources.
Here are three ways he says you can use the internet for educational resources today:
Watch tutorials on YouTube
Learn from online platforms like Studio Binder
Reach out to professionals for advice
Tip #2: The more genres and styles you explore, the more you develop your creative 'ear' and 'eye'
Hinton discusses the importance of exploring diverse musical genres and styles to develop one's creative 'ear' and 'eye'. He shared his own experience of learning from different music genres and how that influenced his own creative output in music and photography.
"Your ear follows the music. It's what your taste is...you develop a sense of musical taste, musical appreciation," explains Hinton. He suggests that developing an appreciation for various music genres can help aspiring artists and DJs in their own music creation process.
Similarly, he advised young photographers to explore diverse styles and perspectives to develop their 'eye'. He urged them to experiment with different angles and framing, learn from movies and shows, and create their own unique perspective.
Tip#3: Pursue opportunities to learn from mentors and collaborate with peers
Hinton highlights the significance of mentors and peer collaboration in his journey as a self-taught musician and photographer. He advises young creatives to seek out mentors and collaborate with peers for collective growth and learning.
"I would just say this: repetition and take whatever you have and jump in for the culture," shares Hinton. He stressed the importance of practice, using available resources, and connecting with others to enhance your skills and knowledge.
He further encourages young creatives to learn from others, saying, "Link up with somebody that actually has whatever thing you're doing...and go from there." He believes that such collaborations not only offer an opportunity to learn but also motivate and inspire young creatives to push their boundaries.
Hinton's Career Journey
Kevin's journey in the creative arts started with his exposure to go-go music, which led him to explore other genres and eventually photography and videography.
His creative process often involves using the technology readily available to him, such as his phone, to create music or take photographs.
He emphasizes the importance of learning from others, whether it's through direct mentorship or observing other artists' work.
He believes in the importance of capturing the essence of a moment or event, especially in event photography.
He aspires to establish a space where young creatives can develop their skills and premiere their work.
Our favorite quotes from Hinton's interview:
"Music pretty much saved my life and in later years, video and photography kind of like took my original music underneath of the video."
"Take whatever you have, whatever phone, iPad, camera, I don't care what it is, go out there and shoot and just get that idea out your head, at least you've done it and that's going to just make it grow."
"You have a great microphone in your phone, a great camera in your phone, a great software program in your phone to do what you need to do just to get you started."
"I want to have, not my name on the building, but just something I created to bring anybody that ever had difficulty or wanted to actually be in any of those fields."
"I want a place where you can actually start it, develop it and premiere it and then go on and do your own thing or and still partner up and do things like that."
