Travis Teate moved to Charleston not long ago. With a background in oil painting, he considers his recent move into shooting photography for a living a natural development in his career, particularly since he has a love of fashion.

What is the “Travis T” brand? My work is usually very cinematic and has a story-telling quality to it. There’s a lot of emotional tension behind the work and intensive planning for a shoot. I feel like a director more than a photographer. I shoot mainly with medium format 6X7 cameras, so it has a very different look than most.

When did you start photography? I started seriously shooting about three years ago.

What inspired you to shoot? I knew the basics of light and color theory because I did oil paintings for a living. I was working on my art, which was just as cinematic as my photography, but it took months to complete a painting. I also had a real passion for fashion. It just made sense to put two and two together.

What inspires you now? I think my creative inspiration comes from relationships I have had or imagine to have. My work is really a romantic interpretation of my surroundings. I always love the irony and power that accompanies the danger of a beautiful woman. I’m convinced that I have an appreciation and respect for women that I feel has long been lost…even by women themselves.

Do you have any photographers that inspire you? Annie Leibovitz, Mert Alas, Marcus Piggott, and Steven Meisel. I can’t help but find elements of painters in my work like Rembrandt, Edward Hopper, and Jack Vettriano.

When and what made you move to Charleston? Camille Key, an event planner and owner of CHS 365, was the first to see my work. She commissioned me to do “The Red Collection” to display at the Luxe party for 2011 Charleston Fashion week. This was back in February. I fell in love with Charleston and just ended up staying.

What current projects are you working on? By the time this issue of Charleston Style & Design comes out, I will have my first book published. It is basically a “best of” book that will be used to solicit the big agencies. It has commentary, so it is actually pretty interesting. It also has behind-the-scenes images and captions that show how I was thinking at the time. It’s truly a reflection of my life as a photographer. I plan soon to move to New York to pursue my career.

Is there any advice you’d give up and coming photographers? For new photographers, I’d advise them to learn the rules in the beginning to hone their skills. Once they feel competent, throw the rules away and shoot from the heart. For professionals, focus on one thing really well. Photography is one of the most cutthroat competitive industries. No one cares how talented you are or how many different types of shooting you can do, just that you can deliver for a specific client. So master one or two things, and you’ll always have a job.

Travis Teate Photography
www.travistphotography.com
www.facebook.com/travisTphotohraphy