Nathan Parker isn’t your typical fashion photographer. He got hooked taking photos on his iPhone and posting them on Instagram. Over time, he gained a following—including Express. This summer, the clothing line featured the St. Louisan on its “People We Love” blog alongside the likes of Karlie Kloss, Gwen Stefani, and Kourtney Kardashian. Since then, he’s done commercial work, weddings, portraits… His photography career appears to be on the verge of big things.
You don’t have any traditional training? Correct. I did take several design classes in college, which trained my eye as far as compositions and the fundamentals…but I didn’t really connect the dots until a couple of years after graduating.
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What’s your favorite subject to photograph? I really like shooting people and curating the person—what they’re wearing, where they’re shot—to create a specific image. It has to be envisioned beforehand, or you’re going to get something that’s kind of a mess. [Laughs.]
Which photographers inspire you? I really like Bill Cunningham’s work—everything is spontaneous. Fashion photographer Peter Lindbergh is another inspiration. There are also a few Instagram photographers, but I’m trying to have more of an eye for people and fashion—creating a scene, essentially.
What does the future hold? I’d like to create some type of photography workshop where young or inexperienced photographers can learn for free or at a very low cost…I’d also like to collaborate with other people and businesses.
So do you wear Express? I’m 6-foot-8, and Express has stylish taller sizes, which are hard to find. The big-and-tall stores don’t really have what I’m looking for.
