23 Jonathan Harper - Building a career and authentic connections within the car community in LA and New York

The Creative Journey of Automotive Photographer Jonathan HarperDiscover how Jonathan Harper’s childhood fascination with cars grew into a thriving career in automotive photography, blending film and digital work to capture the essence of car culture. In this episode, he shares his insights on shooting techniques, building a personal brand, and the stories behind his upcoming Porsche-centric book.Key Topics:The origins of Jonathan’s passion for cars and photography, starting with toy vehicles and family rootsTransition from shooting on Blackberry to professional automotive photographyThe influence of light painting and his techniques for creating unique car imagesHow freelance work with Bonhams helped launch his careerInsights into shooting film vs. digital, including analog workflows and recent projectsBuilding authentic connections within the car community in LA and New YorkBehind-the-scenes of creating a car photography book focused on Porsche modelsPractical advice for beginners: photographing everyday cars and controlling the narrativeThe importance of storytelling and capturing candid moments in automotive contentFuture projects: aiming for iconic cars like the Carrera GT and 918Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction and Jonathan’s background in cars and photography02:20 - How light painting and creative techniques shape Jonathan’s style03:46 - The pivotal moment that made freelance automotive photography viable04:57 - From ad agency to car culture: Jonathan’s career evolution06:23 - Lessons learned in social media content creation for BMW USA08:46 - The journey into film photography and using the Hasselblad XPan10:17 - Developing a Porsche-focused photo book — challenges and progress12:52 - Navigating car culture in LA versus New York13:52 - The inclusive nature of the car community and meeting new enthusiasts15:49 - Using behind-the-scenes excerpts to connect with followers18:23 - Balancing driving, filming, and comfort in capturing dynamic car footage20:26 - The decision-making behind shooting in film versus digital21:50 - Creating authentic content with analog for brands and social media23:37 - Why Porsches resonate deeply with Jonathan and his book plans25:06 - The logistics and challenges of self-publishing a photo book26:53 - Approaches to shooting cars in motion, studio, and environment28:43 - Tips for studio shooting and styling cars effectively31:10 - Collaboration with partners and managing a dedicated car studio space33:55 - The sentimental ties to family tractors and their rare presence in photography34:06 - What the car culture reveals about community, freedom, and nostalgia36:24 - Comparing LA and New York car scenes and community dynamics38:02 - Practical advice for aspiring car photographers: mastering the basics41:50 - Dream cars for future projects: Carrera GT, 918, and classic Porsches43:37 - The upcoming Porsche book: content, medium format focus, and dreams44:19 - Final thoughts and the significance of a physical car photo book as a personal branding tool