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

Hi Courtney, why did you pursue a creative career?
I have always been drawn to visual storytelling and emotional expression. I grew up with an urge to express the feelings I found hard to talk about. I found that a poem or a picture could describe how I felt stronger than words ever could. The summer after graduation I went with a friend over to their uncle’s home who was a painter. And his home was covered in paint all over the walls and floor. And the image of a person’s artistic nature expressed all over the room stuck with me. So after college and some time working in operations at a music label, I decided to pursue an artistic career full time and focus on expressing myself to become that same person.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have been working with photo and video projects since about 2015. My first job was standing in a corner and holding a light. That may sound like a small moment but that little push was all I needed to confirm this was the world I was meant to be in. Just two years later I co-founded a small production company shooting music videos in Atlanta. I never went to film school or worked under professional gaffers and DPs. So I came up by trusting my natural eye and experimenting with different looks to find the best shots. And naturally I guide myself by feels the strongest and not the “textbook way”. And now that I’ve studied the textbook and worked with some amazing professionals, I still hold on to that piece I started with. And that sets me apart more than anything. I’m a creative who is lead by strong emotion first and foremost. I love frames that are visually striking or so simple, natural and raw the emotion comes out flows freely from the image to the viewer. Getting to this point is not easy since there’s always people who don’t trust my natural eye like I do. But that self belief is paramount. I have a strong sense of what style I like in the moment and I find myself constantly pushing through other people’s doubt to achieve it. But that makes it all the more special when I get the final product.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Although I can be reclusive, I still love walking around Glenwood park to the best Ice Cream shop in the area called Jeni’s. I also really love visiting many of the natural rivers in georgia and taking pictures along the trails.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Quality Control Music for getting me started into the major entertainment industry and showing me how I would want to operate at the highest levels. I would also like to thank local director Ryan Butler and Roger Alexander for bringing me on countless sets and putting me in places to study the best technicians up close.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/courtney.harris_portfolio/

Image Credits
Anthony Tolen (1)

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