Profiled Photographers – Morgan Phillips

Professional US adventure and lifestyle photographer Morgan Phillips got into photography after he took a class with a friend. He was introduced to film photography and once he purchased a digital camera he didn’t look back. For Morgan, the journey really took off when Instagram gave him an easy platform to share his photos with the world. He doesn’t know how he got to this point and says “I honestly don’t know how I got here, I just liked taking photos and things kind of worked themselves out.”

Morgan’s passion is in the outdoors, and his images convey his life on the road. Whether that is snowboarding through Wyoming or hiking in the remote parts of the Canadian Rockies, the one thing that remains constant is his passion and skill for capturing the environment around him in a unique way. Every photo tells a story which is why, over the years, Morgan has worked with the likes of Lincoln Motor Co, LG, Canada Tourism, Twitter, Ebay and much more.

So Morgan, where are you from and where do you currently live?

I’m a native of Birmingham, Alabama, but I live in Seattle.

What genre of photography do you specialise in?

My speciality is adventure and lifestyle, as well as commercial photography.

Describe your style of photography?

My focus tends to be on adventure oriented landscapes.

What are you working on at the moment?



My next big project is that I am about to climb Mount Baker (in the North Cascades of Washington). I’m looking to get into mountaineering and taking photos of that.

Are there any photographers whose work/style you admire?

I like the work of Alex Strohl (a Madrid born, French photographer who specializes in outdoor and adventure photography). I also admire Dan Tom and Cody Cobb.

What is your favorite memory from your experiences?

I once camped on a frozen lake with friends. It was 0 degrees Fahrenheit but so much fun, and an amazing experience.

What is the biggest photographic challenge you overcame?

That would have to be understanding that I will take bad photos and accepting that it’s OK.

What’s in your camera bag?

My kit comprises of: Nikon D810, Nikon 24-70 2.8e, Nikon 24 mm, Nikon 50 mm, Batteries, memory cards, a tripod and other accessories.

What photographic equipment would you never leave home without?

Being an outdoor person, that would be a good pair of hiking boots.

What advice you would give anyone who is starting out?

The biggest advice I can give someone is to just keep shooting and find their own style.

Any pitfalls they should avoid?

Not to try and compare themselves to other people.

Lastly… if you weren’t a photographer, what would you be doing?

Probably selling pizza

To view more of Morgan’s work or get in contact with him visit www.MorganPhillips.co or follow him on Instagram or Twitter.

Images by Morgan Phillips. All rights reserved. No usage without permission.

Interview by Kav Dadfar.