Meet Annie Harris

We were lucky to catch up with Annie Harris recently and have shared our conversation below.

Annie , so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

Imposter syndrome seems to be a common denominator for any artist, or any person really. I don’t think there’s a definitive solution to overcoming it. I’ve had my fair share of thinking the worst about my identity and what that means for my work. But, as I’ve gotten older, and more confident in my abilities when those feelings come about, I feel them. Simply put, I let the thoughts and feelings wash over me like a mist. By acknowledging the falsehoods of what my brain thinks in that moment, I am able to process them more effectively instead of simply ignoring them. I’ve noticed when I am not creating just for the pure joy of creating I am diminishing the part of myself that has no expectations. As artists, we hold high standards for our finished projects that we can end up neglecting the process entirely. For me, that leads to feeling insecure about my skill. So in times of self doubt – I create, just to get out of my head and that’s usually when the magic happens. I don’t think I’ll ever beat imposter syndrome, but learning how to gain new perspectives in times where I doubt myself pushes my photography forward in a new way.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

Hey! I’m Annie, I’m 21 years old and I am a photographer. I am currently attending Columbus College of Art and Design. However, I moved here from a small town in Northeast Ohio, so moving to Columbus was definitely a shift in my environment. Growing up, I was always taking photographs, eager to keep each moment as a keepsake to look back on. I think I’ve always been a creative, but it wasn’t until covid that I really embraced that side of me. Coming to Columbus and being amongst other passionate creatives has encouraged me to continue to better my knowledge and my practice while also building beautiful friendships.
A big part of my work is photographing my subject that is representative of their spirit. I mostly focus on portraiture, but I’ve always had a special place in my heart for landscape photography. The most important part of what I do is making a connection, especially in my portraits. I want the person I work with to feel comfortable being their truest self – meaning dropping our masks and letting the person just be. I am photographing them yes, but sometimes the best photographs are when the model acts as if I’m not pointing a camera at them. A lot of my images, currently, are focused on representing the female gaze and showing an existence that is absent of societal standards and judgement. They are my version of protest that I have felt as a woman. I’m optimistic about the future, and hope to impact and connect with anyone open to listening.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

As I’m still on my creative journey currently the qualities that I think have impacted my work and myself the most were letting go of expectations, being open minded to opportunities, and being authentic. I’ve learned that it’s okay to try something and fail instead of never trying and regretting it. I think a lot of my work has become a trial and error until something clicks. I used to feel unsure about if what I was doing was correct I limited myself from experimenting at all. Being open minded continues to change my perspective and allows me to accept and learn from criticism or difficult questions. I think having these conversations can allow me to look at something differently that I may not have thought about before. By being my most authentic self I am able to connect with others beyond the surface. It allows me to work with people to share an experience and create something beautiful together. I think my biggest takeaway for photographers early in their journey is to get out there and soak up everything you can. Experience is key, my practice is still evolving every day.

Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?

The people who have been most helpful in helping me overcome challenges and develop my qualities have been my parents and my friends I’ve met along the way. I used to be hyper independent and take on everything at once but in the last two years I have learned that community is most important. I am eternally grateful to the people who have shared time with me over the years. Each interaction as important as the last, I would not be who I am without each and every one of them. I am especially grateful for my Mom who has guided me and shown me what it means to be a good human being, it has not only benefitted my personal life but it has made an incredible impact in my practice as well.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: beautifultrash2

Image Credits

Photo of Me: Clarissa Brown

Models: Amelia Smith, Aya King, Clarissa Brown, Isaac White, Riley Hricik,