This expert round up features photographers of all kinds who inspire me on the daily with their Instagram feeds. Diverse styles and different technology, these photographers answered 5 questions including giving their best advice, editing choices, and even braving the question of a photographers current place in society.
If you are looking for inspiration in your own work or just to freshen up your feed I hope these photographers resonate with you as much as they have with me.
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Rich Rollins
Primary Cameras: Canon 5D Mark II and iPhone5 
What do you find yourself shooting over and over again? Why?
Light as it falls in the world. It transforms the already spectacular and can make the mundane special and interesting.
What is something you always notice in photos?
Two things: Light and the photographers relationship to their subject.
In one sentence, what is the role that photographers have in todays society?
To pay attention and so encourage others to do the same.
In regards to creative pursuit, what is the best piece of advice you have ever been given or read?
Trust yourself.
What is your favorite editing system/app right now?
Lightroom/Photoshop/Nik Software
Rich’s mission is to become a better perceiver of the world. To see more of his work you can go to his Instagram listed above or his artist’s website linked here.
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Joshua White
Primary Cameras: iPhone 7 Plus
What do you find yourself shooting over and over again? Why?
I love photographing cicadas. I love their cycles, the sounds they make, the singularity of their existence, and their beautiful wings.
What is something you always notice in photos?
I always notice passion. The photographer is asking me to fall in love with their subject, and I want to feel like they are deeply engaged as well.
In one sentence, what is the role that photographers have in todays society?
Same as Szarkowski said all those years ago: to provide windows for mental escape and exploration, and to provide mirrors that reflect society back to itself and begin conversations.
In regards to creative pursuit, what is the best piece of advice you have ever been given or read?
“One should not only photograph things for what they are but for what else they are.” – Minor White
What is your favorite editing system/app right now?
Snapseed!
Joshua photographs the plants, animals, and insects he encounters in day to day life in an effort to remind viewers of a sense of wonder and environmental responsibility. To find more of his work go to his Instagram linked above. If you are interested in ordering prints see his artists website here.
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Christa Taylor
Primary Camera: Nikon D700 
What do you find yourself shooting over and over again? Why?
Food 😀 The colors, texture and variety always inspires me and is so beautiful on camera.
What is something you always notice in photos?
Exposure. I strongly dislike under-exposed images or overly edited images.
In one sentence, what is the role that photographers have in todays society?
Photographers create a meaningful visual for people’s memories, relationships, branding and more.
In regards to creative pursuit, what is the best piece of advice you have ever been given or read?
Don’t try to be another photographer, follow your own creative vision.
What is your favorite editing system/app right now?
UNUM hands down. Allows you to schedule out your Instagram posts free of charge!
Christa creates fashion inspired wedding and portrait photography. To see more of her work go to her Instagram linked above or her website here.
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Camilla Jørvad
Primary Camera: Canon 5D Mark III
What do you find yourself shooting over and over again? Why?
Oh, there are several things that keep attracting me, but number one must be the sea. Living on a small island the sea is an ever present force. I always feel like it cleanses and soothes me to sit and listen to the waves and watch the incredible colors depending on weather and season. In summer it is a daily joy to take the kids for an afternoon or evening swim and in winter nothing refreshes me more than a walk by the beach. Also the passage across the water just to get here is something rather special.
What is something you always notice in photos?
Light!!
In one sentence, what is the role that photographers have in todays society?
The ability to tell visual stories and the feelings we can evoke in others just by them looking at our work is a gift and an art form, and art is exceptionally personal and cannot be rationalized. It just is. And we need it 🙂
In regards to creative pursuit, what is the best piece of advice you have ever been given or read?
That you will never “arrive”. You will never be finished or perfect or done. And you have to accept that as part of the creative journey.
What is your favorite editing system/app right now?
I only ever use Lightroom. Always have.
Camilla strives to live a quiet, simple, and sustainable life in tune with the changing season with her camera in hand or her hands deeply buried in the soil. Camilla hopes to share the beauty she finds in that way of living with as many people as possible. To see more of her work go to her Instagram linked above or her website linked here.
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Unintended Art
Primary Camera: iPhone 5 
What do you find yourself shooting over and over again? Why?
Shadows, reflections, people, objects, places. Why? I’m addicted I guess
What is something you always notice in photos?
Subject a lot of times… and depth
In one sentence, what is the role that photographers have in todays society?
I think photographers have so many roles and still the main one will always be to capture a moment. Our society and technology have made us mass producers of images and mass consumers of them too. We are visual beings.
In regards to creative pursuit, what is the best piece of advice you have ever been given or read?
None really, I started taking photos just to document the things that made me feel something during the day, documenting my trips from home to work and my days at work, it became my story and so I keep telling that story. I’m not a photographer, I’m just a lucky person.
What is your favorite editing system/app right now?
I use the editing program embedded on the iPhone, mainly in b&w and play a bit with the light settings.
Adrian’s purpose is to create the unintended and often features the commute, blurred figures and a passage of time. While not considering himself a photographer, his work inspired me non the less. To see more of Adrians work go to his Instagram page linked above.
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Take the time see their feed and be inspired like I was. Also, don’t forget to share the love and head over to @bethanymccamish if you haven’t already. Keep shooting my friends.
My sincere thank you to the artists who took the time to share their thoughts. Who inspires you on Instagram? Let me know in the comments and link their account.
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