“Feed the soul, starve the ego.”
DJ AM
The Basics
I’m Joel Harris, Las Vegas-based professional photographer at large, helping people see the beauty in themselves and the world around them. I’m a veteran of the photography industry for nearly 10 years. I’ve photographed portraits, headshots, weddings, lifestyle, fashion, photojournalism, and commercial projects for most of that tenure. I’ve worked in many markets including Seattle, Denver, and now Las Vegas.
An Eclectic Background
Originally from Boulder, Colorado, I got my start in graphic design and visual communication. Having studied commercial art and paste-up under my father in high school, I learned both an appreciation and a knack for visual design rules. I helped with and eventually ran photo shoots and worked directly with pro photographers, models and locations. I went on to Visual Art programs at both Colorado State University and the University of Northern Colorado.
Later, I spent a number of years working for graphic design firms and ad agencies before honing my craft in corporate America, most notably at StairMaster, Nintendo and Fiserv. During the latter, my work and interest shifted to include, and then later to be solely based upon, video production. It wasn’t long before I left Corporate America to pursue doing my own thing. I formed Matter + Form, a small boutique video production firm in Seattle, WA.
With the advent of HDSLR cameras and the crossover in hardware between video and still photography, I was re-introduced to still photography and threw myself into learning as much as I could about it. I was captivated.
I closed M+F, moved home to Denver and opened Joel Harris Sports and Concert Photography. For several years, I focused on sports and music photography while at the same time educating myself and practicing all other aspects and genres of photography. I was a sponge.
In 2019, I moved my whole operation Las Vegas and opened my doors as Joel Harris Photographer, focusing on all avenues of photography and photographic production.
My Philosophy
My photographic philosophy is pretty simple. It all comes down to people, memories, and shared experiences.
There’s a great quote by an anonymous writer that says, “Take a picture today, and 20 years from now you’ll be thankful you did.” And that’s all I try to do. I tend to focus more on people and the experiences that they have rather than still subjects like landscapes. A landscape can always be returned to at a later time but, for the most part, a memory or experience that is shared by people will probably never ever happen again, at least not in the same way.
Therefore, if you can capture that moment in time and be able to return to the memory through photography, then you’ve succeeded. That’s what it’s all about for me.
Photographing sports, music, weddings, portraits or families is just an offshoot of this philosophy. A touchdown, a performance, a kiss, a dance, a pose… They’re all just shared moments in time for all of us and if I can capture a memory or a moment for posterity then I’ve succeeded. Hopefully my work shows this.
Personal
When, I’m not working, I can usually be found photographing personal projects, playing hockey, exploring the Southwest or relaxing with my wife, Heidi, and my dog, Winston.
Thanks for your interest and your time. Hope you enjoy the photos! Also, keep an eye out for blog posts on some of personal projects.