Meet Keenan Hairston | Photographer

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

Hi Keenan, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
In the beginning of my photography journey, I was 100% on the gas. I think that’s the way it should be. I was taking just about every opportunity, no matter the budget or scope. I was very young and very inexperienced. Now, thankfully, my situation is a bit different. Even though there’s always some form of work I could always be doing, I try to really take time to myself to just relax and just do nothing. I’m very blessed to be in a position where I can say no to some jobs and free myself, my mind, and my anxiety (ha-ha) – so I try to remember that. I truly believe in working smarter not harder when it makes sense. I put forth efforts to take time off for myself, do car things with my friends, play basketball, etc. One of the best things about freelancing in general is that you can make your own schedule so-to-speak, and I definitely try to take advantage of that.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a photographer of all sorts, but more specifically an event photographer. I shoot a lot of live events, such as music shows and festivals, college basketball, etc. I try to stay in the realm of events because I can be a fly on the wall and capture the raw action of what is going on, from the participants to the patrons. I’m definitely an introvert, so that type of photography I really do enjoy. I do shoot other things as well – such as portraits, engagements, branding spots, etc. – and find enjoyment in those as well, but nothing really hits me the way a live event does. I really find happiness in shooting music and basketball, partly because I think those 2 things I can relate to a lot. I listen to music nonstop just about and am always trying to find undiscovered tunes, and have since I was young. I’ve also played basketball pretty much my entire life and still do. Being able to work in both of those fields and stay connected to them both sometimes feels surreal. It’s definitely not something I take for granted.

While I have a long road to go, getting to the point I have definitely was not easy. I had to take the lessons as they came – both good and bad. Luckily, the hard lessons didn’t set me back too far. Even the good experiences have been learning lessons. As far as what sets my work apart from others, I try to let other people decide that. I create images that make me happy, that stand out to me. I go with what feels right to me and it hasn’t failed me yet.

I want people to know that if you go 100% at what you are trying to do, and really make strong efforts to learn the craft and the ins-and-outs of it all, then you will succeed. It’s just a matter of time. As cliche as it sounds, that hard work really does pay off.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I have a few little secret spots around town that I like to go to to just sit out and chill and maybe do a little photoshoot. Peaceful, smaller spaces that are great when the sun starts to go down. RTP area, North Raleigh, downtown all have great spots for both photo shoots. Dorothea Dix Park, a huge 300+ acre park near downtown, also has cool little hideout spaces. As far as food, oh we’d have to go to Frank’s Pizza, Dame’s Chicken & Waffles, and maybe even Cook Out if they’ve never been. I’m not really a drinker so I don’t frequent the bars, but there are a lot of nice places downtown like Whiskey Kitchen as well.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’m a Christian, so I definitely have to start by saying God has blessed me tremendously throughout this journey in so many ways. My mother and father have also been undeniably great, and have always given me the tools needed in life to be able to become successful. I truly believe I have the best parents in the world and I’m glad that I was able to show them that I can do this. I have other amazing people in my life as well that I have met along the way that have helped me with all kinds of knowledge and support that would be way too many to name!

Website: http://keenanhairston.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keenanhairston

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keenanhairston