The Regulars: An Interview with Cameron MacMasterPhotographer:  Cameron MacMasterStudio / Compa

The Regulars: An Interview with Cameron MacMaster

Photographer:  Cameron MacMaster
Studio / Company: Froz’n Motion Photography

Type of Photos Taken: Wedding, Engagement, Boudoir, Maternity, Newborn, Family, Travel, Cityscapes

Tell us a bit about yourself:

My name is Cameron and I was born and raised in Kamloops, B.C. I’ve been involved in photography pretty much my entire adult life and, as far back as I can remember, I’ve always been making pictures.

My one, single goal in life, growing up as a child, was to get out of Kamloops as quickly as I could and see the world. I did this by involving myself in activities I thought had the potential of achieving my goal. I played rep hockey, studied Judo, Karate and Gung-Fu, was a semi-professional kickboxer for a while before stumbling into the world of dance. And dance, it turned out, was my ticket out. I spent the next 20 years as a professional modern dancer, moving first to Vancouver then all the way across the country to Toronto and Montreal, working with amazing dance companies and touring all over the world performing.

And through all of that, photography has always been the one thread that has woven its way consistently through the entire course of my life. Whatever I’ve done or wherever I’ve gone, I’ve always packed my camera along with me.

What drew you into photography?

When I was around 17, a group of friends decided to take the overnight Greyhound from Kamloops to Vancouver during a particularly hot spell in the B.C. interior, arriving in the great coastal city around 7am. With nothing to do and no place to go until the concert that evening, we did what any teenager from a small town in Canada would do, unsupervised in the big city; we went to the English Bay to look at pretty girls.

For some reason one of my friends wound up with his brother’s SLR film camera, which none of us had a clue how to use, but which, suddenly, became the perfect instrument to overcome our shyness and actually talk to the girls on the beach. Well it worked. We told everyone we clicked that we were working for some famous fashion magazine and no one questioned us or called the police. I remember thinking when it was finally my turn to become the “photographer,”  “Hey, this feels right…” Well, my friends all ended up with pocketfuls of names and phone numbers, but I wound up an unquenchable desire to take photographs. I bought my first film camera, a Canon AE-1, not long after that and I’ve never looked back since.

What is your philosophy regarding photo taking? Any personal rules you stick to?

My philosophy regarding photo taking is just do it. Set your camera to Manual Mode and get out there and shoot the best images you can. Inspire and impress yourself. Challenge yourself to come up with better images. Always carry your camera with you and have it ready to pull out in an instant. Don’t worry about what people around you might think of you, just get in there and shoot. Every place you go, no matter what the time of day or night is an opportunity to find something to shoot and a way to grow as a photographer. As long as you continue to refine your ability to take better images, you are on the right path.

Tell us about a photographic challenge you overcame?

I think the biggest challenge every photographer must overcome is getting it right – whether it’s the exposure or the composition or the timing. Once I figured all of that out, my biggest personal challenge, being a particularly shy person, was coming out of my shell and teaching myself how to interact with, and direct, my subjects – especially large groups, like wedding parties. That was tough.

What is one thing you could not go into a shoot without?

Confidence, and the ability to think fast and improvise. Every shoot you go into is going to challenge you on some level. No situation is going to be perfectly ideal. It could be problems with lighting and location, or physical challenges with the people you are shooting. Whatever the issue is, you need to be able to think on your feet and find a way to make it work. If someone is paying you to shoot their wedding or their engagement, or whatever is you are getting paid to shoot, you’ve got to get in there and create images that not only your clients will fall in love with, but that you are proud of, too, regardless of what is going on all around you.

What gear do you prefer to shoot with?

I’ve always been a Canon user and always will be – until I win LotoMax, then I will become a Hasselblad shooter (My fingers and toes are crossed…) But until then I shoot with a 30D, a 50D and a 5D Mark II.

When did you first come to Downtown Camera? Anyone in particular you remember?

I first came to Downtown Camera in the spring of 2004. The first person who helped me, and helps me to this day, was John (don’t know his last name). He was always knowledgeable and friendly with a deep understanding of the business of photography. And recently, an old friend from way back joined Downtown Camera and I am thrilled that he is there – and that, of course, is the indefatigable Patrick Ng!

Any advice to fresh photographers?

My advice to anyone serious in pursuing a path in photography is to, first off, assess where you are and where you would like to go; are you happy just clicking shots of your family or your pet dog, or do you want to get more serious with it? Do you enjoy travel photography but shelve your camera the minute you get back home and unpack your bags? Or do you think to yourself as you are out there clicking away that, “Yeah, I can do this. This feels right…” And you know in your bones that this is the art form, or the creative outlet, you’ve been waiting for your whole life. If that’s the case, then go for it. Take yourself seriously. Develop a marketing strategy to get your work seen. Constantly check out other people’s work and get inspired. Get on YouTube and watch videos. Take courses. Ask questions and learn whatever you can. Photography is an ongoing learning process. Your task as a photographer is to never stop learning and improving the quality of your work.