Meet Richard Howard | Photographer

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

Hi Richard, why did you pursue a creative career?
I have always had an interest in the arts. I drew quite a bit as a kid, I played music in college, and I painted quite a bit in between. I always had a camera of some sort, be it a disposable film camera or a digital point and shoot. I never really used them a lot, but I had them for when I needed them.

It wasn’t until right after my third deployment in the Marine Corps when I finally picked up a decent camera, a Nikon D3400. It’s not the best or most versatile camera out there, but it was perfect for me at the time. As I’ve heard said before, the best camera is the one you have. Nicer gear won’t make you a better photographer, but learning the basics will, regardless of what kind of camera or lens you have.

In January of 2024, my unit went to the desert in Twentynine Palms, CA for a training exercise; having been to a few of those before, I knew that there would be a significant amount of downtime, and nowhere to go when we weren’t working, so I took the opportunity to learn how to use my camera. A large number of my most popular photos came out of that training exercise.

That first five or six months following that exercise was all about finding my own photography style and learning what I could about how to take and edit the best pictures I could with what I had. That fall, i went on my fourth and final deployment, and picked up a Nikon D850, a professional grade camera from a used camera store in Japan. It was a massive jump, as the D850 weighs significantly more than the D3400, and is much larger as well. That camera, as well as a number of film cameras has been by my side since then.

After that deployment, I made the decision to get out the military and peruse photography full time. It’s been one of the best decisions I’ve made as far as a good work/life balance and maintaining my mental health.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
When I’m out taking photos, I like living in the moment, whether it’s on the street or in the studio. I have never liked posed photos. It feels fake to me. I love to see the real emotions that people express in their day to day lives. When I’m working in my studio, I never tell people which way to face or how they should move. I let them be free, and I love capturing that motion; I have found it lets their natural feelings shine through the photo.

My professionally journey came largely from my friends and coworkers. I was asked to capture numerous promotions, a few headshots for work profiles, and several events. My most recent repeat client is the local animal shelter; they have had an influx of cats and kittens, and nowhere for them to go. I come down during their adoption events and make sure to get the best photos of the kittens that I can in the hopes of finding them a good home. I refuse to take any money from the shelter, all their employees are volunteers, and the least I could do is help make sure the cats and kittens find a good forever home for them.

Overall, the biggest challenge is finding new clients. Many people I’ve spoken to believe that the cost that most photographers charge is too high, or that it’s something they can do themselves. The fact of the matter is that anyone can in fact do it themselves, but a lot of people believe they can get the same quality photos on their phones. I love when people take up photography as a hobby, if it means you can help capture those special moments with your family, then by all means, I won’t get in the way of it.

As far as the cost of it, I am very understanding to that aspect of why people can’t just hire a photographer out of the blue. I have seen people advertising their services for upwards of $200 for a 30-minute session, which for the average family in our current economic climate is unrealistic. That’s a trip to the grocery store or just a day out with the family, gone in 30 minutes. I firmly believe that for families and personal photo sessions to keeps my costs down to a reasonable amount. In a world where everything else is expensive, capturing your family memories shouldn’t be.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Southern California is a great place to visit, especially the greater San Diego area. I grew up in Los Angeles, where the image projected on TV and in the movies feels like a facade to hide what really goes on daily in the city. San Diego may not be as famous, but to me, has much more to offer.

Starting in North County, I would begin at Z-Cafe in Bonsall. Z-Cafe is tucked away in the back corner of small shopping center off the 76 freeway. They have the best breakfast for miles at prices that can’t be beat. There are not many places you can get breakfast for four people for less than $70 nowadays, tip included.

Heading west, the downtown Oceanside and Carlsbad areas have a myriad of food and trinket shops which dot the main strips through each city. The Oceanside Sunset market on Thursdays is probably the largest farmer’s market I have been to in the states, spanning multiple city blocks with vendors, artists, and performers as far as the eye can see.

Heading into our next meal would be Yukiya at the edge of Vista. Yukiya is some of the best and most authentic Okinawan style ramen you can get outside of Japan. Daniel, the owner, is one of the kindest and most down-to-earth people I have ever met. It’s a shame I don’t live closer, otherwise I would be there every weekend,

From there, the trip would head to Balboa Park and Old Town San Diego. Balboa Park is one of my favorite museum complexes in the state, home to the San Diego Museum of Art, the Japanese Friendship Garden, and the San Diego Air and Space Museum. There is something there for everybody.

Old Town San Diego is a beautiful area, with many historic buildings and little hole-in-the shops and restaurants. The immediate outskirts of Old Town San Diego have some amazing food spots for almost any cuisine. If you venture a little further out, into downtown San Diego, you find nearly anything and everything you could want for dinner, from pizza and pasta at the numerous Italian restaurants, to borscht at some of the Russian and Ukrainian establishments.

The possibilities are endless. One of the best dark-sky sanctuaries is in San Diego country at Anza-Borrego state park. Far from the light pollution of the city, it’s one of the few places you could see the various meteor showers with the naked eye without straying too far from civilization.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
It’s very difficult to narrow down who my influences and mentors are, as there’s so many people in the last few years who have made different impacts on my life.

Most importantly wis my wife, Veronica. We have had our struggles like every couple, but she has been by my side through the best and worst that the military threw at me over the eight years I was in. She has supported me every step of the way; when I decided to get out of the military and pursue photography full time, she was supportive as she also runs her own business as a massage therapist.

Although at the time I have no formal photography training, I have a lot of people who have helped me hone my skills as a photographer. Dorian Gardner, a retired Marine Corps Combat Photographer, taught me a lot about composition early on, and encouraged me to keep taking pictures. My friends and former coworkers Sham Hamilton and Mark Oakley introduced me to street photography, which quickly became one of my favorite genres of photography to add to my portfolio.

There are many, many more photographers I can add, but Veronica, Dorian, Sham, and Mark helped establish that solid foundation that has led to what I have today.

Website: https://rhowardphotos.com

Instagram: @r.howard.photos

Other: email: richard@rhwoardphotos.com