Colin Douglas Gray doesn’t just take photos—he builds connections, freezes stories, and creates images that make you stop scrolling and start feeling. From the surreal energy of Comic Con cosplayers to the raw power of hip-hop icons, Colin’s lens captures more than faces; it captures their essence. Whether he’s shooting Snoop Dogg, Zazie Beetz, or the person who “hates getting their photo taken,” Colin’s work is a mix of heart, hustle, and high art.
Introduction by Hadley Stambaugh, Photographer & CD of Photography, Savannah College of Art & Design
Colin Douglas Gray is a true master of his craft, effortlessly blending artistic vision with technical expertise to create stunning photographs that resonate on a deep, emotional level. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, his work is as diverse as it is compelling, from capturing the charisma of A-list actors and pop stars to documenting raw humanity. I’ve enjoyed working with Colin for several years on various projects, including books, fashion events, and creative endeavors. As a colleague and a dear friend, I can personally attest to his unparalleled talent and dedication to the heart of an image. Working alongside Colin on any project is an experience. He has the ability to make difficult tasks feel effortless, for you to always feel heard, and for the day to be filled with laughter. Colin’s ability to connect with his subjects and capture their true essence is remarkable. His work is not just photography—it’s an art form that resonates deeply, leaving a lasting impression on anyone who experiences it. Colin’s creativity, professionalism, and genuine warmth make him an absolute joy to work with, and I cannot wait to see what brilliance shines from him in the future.
What has inspired or motivated you in your career?
My inspiration comes from constantly keeping my eyes open and scanning the world for something beautiful, intriguing, or captivating. I find these qualities in so many things… a person’s face, a work of art, a grand landscape, a costume, or some other garment. I’ve never stopped being motivated to progress my skills and craft to best capture what inspires me.
What is your work philosophy?
As an artist, I always strive to create iconic images. I want to produce pictures that could easily be magazine covers, book covers, or posters. When photographing people, I always aim to take the best picture that my subjects have ever seen of themselves. This is next to impossible with models or celebrities who have been photographed thousands of times, but I know that I’ve succeeded a couple of times. When photographing someone who hates having their picture taken, it’s always a great feeling when I show them what I’ve got and get the reaction of, “Wow, that’s actually really good! Thank you.”
Who is or was your greatest mentor?
Throughout my life, I’ve been very fortunate to have several mentors or teachers to help me further develop my craft or process. As a kid, my first favorite artist was my cousin John Fellows. He inspired me to get better at drawing. In high school, I had some excellent art teachers, starting with Julia Hoffmann, who nurtured my love of many different types of art and gave me the resources I needed to learn new things. When I first started doing photography in college, I learned a lot from going out and shooting nighttime landscapes with my friend Adam Kuehl. My professor, Catherine Cardarelli, pushed me to get better at shooting portraits, which changed the trajectory of my life. When I first moved to New York, I assisted Victoria Will and learned how to shoot celebrities. A few years later, I met André Leon Talley, who believed in me and opened many doors in the fashion world. I wouldn’t be where I am today without all of them.
What about photography are you most passionate about?
All my favorite photos I’ve shot are of people, whether portraiture or fashion.
What is your favorite type of photography to shoot?
I love shooting portraits and fashion or a combination of the two. The personal work that I’m most passionate about is photographing cosplayers at different conventions, especially the New York Comic Con.
What is the most difficult challenge you’ve overcome to reach your current position?
In my younger years, I was much quieter and more introverted. I had to study and learn good communication techniques and train myself to be more extroverted when necessary. It’s probably not apparent to most people, but I’m still constantly critiquing myself in that regard.
Who have some of your greatest past influences been?
Richard Avedon was the photographer whose work most connected with me as I learned photography and developed my style.
Who among your contemporaries today do you most admire?
Most of my friends are also artists, and they’re the people I admire most. I’ve always loved a little friendly competition and know that it pushes me to improve. However, I try not to spend too much time paying attention to the work coming out of the photography industry because I also know that comparison is the thief of joy and that it’s easy to get caught up in thinking that you’re not doing enough. I would say that out of the more prominent photographers, the one I admire most is Jonathan Mannion, who has been creating iconic images of hip-hop artists for decades.
What would be your dream assignment?
I’ve got a few dream assignments…
– Be the on-set stills and key art photographer on an upcoming Star Wars film!
– Go on tour with Lil Wayne and shoot his next album cover.
– Shoot a Vogue cover with Zazie Beetz, Natalie Portman, or Yara Shahidi!
– Create a cover for André 3000 when he decides to bless us with one more rap album.
Who have been some of your favorite colleagues or clients?
Many of my best friends are either former or current colleagues, so that list would be far too long if I named everyone. My favorite job was being on staff at MTV. I got to shoot hundreds of celebrities and musicians, including some of my favorites of all time, like Snoop Dogg and Kendrick Lamar. That job was terrific because there were no rules, and my only directive was to be creative and do what I do best! I currently have a great job working at the Savannah College of Art & Design, and my favorite part is photographing the guests and exhibitions at SCAD FASH, the college’s museum for fashion and film.
What are the top things you need from a client to do successful work for them?
The most important things for me to do my best work are trust, a great team, and creative freedom.
You shoot a variety of people, ranging from big-time celebrities to everyday folk. Is the shooting process the same for everyone? How do you work with all these different types of people?
No matter who I photograph, I try to treat them the same way. I try to stay friendly, humble, and complimentary, making everyone feel like superstars. Many people think that photographing celebrities must be challenging, but honestly, I think it’s the easiest thing because they’re so used to being in front of the camera and know their best angles, how to pose, and how to take direction. As long as I’ve got my equipment set and concept ready, it’s hard to get a bad shot.
In your opinion, who is the most famous person you’ve shot so far?
Snoop Dogg or Arnold Schwarzenegger.
You also do motion work. How did you get into doing motion, and how did it influence your photography?
Long before I started doing photography, I shot and edited videos and loved it so much. In college, my focus changed to stills, and I’ve made a career of that since, but I’ve never stopped shooting motion and would love to start doing that more professionally.
What do you consider your greatest professional achievement so far?
In 2012, I got to photograph fashion icon André Leon Talley for South magazine, and he loved the portrait so much that he hired me for several jobs afterward, from fashion editorials to documenting New York Fashion Week with him. He trusted me enough to photograph his mother’s funeral service; it meant so much to me to be asked to shoot such an emotional event for him. When it was time for his memoir to come out, he chose my image out of thousands of options, and I thought that was the biggest honor, especially now that he has passed on.
According to your website, you pride yourself on being able to “connect with a subject within moments and reflecting that connection back through the final image.” How do you think you achieve that?
You generally get what you give, so I try to be as genuine as possible, smile, give honest compliments, and be enthusiastic about wanting to get the best photograph of my subject that I can.
What about your work gives you the greatest satisfaction?
As an artist, my four favorite days of the year are shooting at the New York Comic Con in October. I’ve been shooting portraits of the incredible cosplayers there for over a decade. The first few years, it was assignments for MTV. Years later, in 2017, I was hired by ReedPop, the company that puts on the event, to produce their posters for their marketing campaign. However, for most years, I shoot it for fun because I love it so much. Thanks to Dallas Raines and Mike Abrego of AgX Brooklyn, I’m lucky to have an amazing team that volunteers each year to help capture incredible images. I wouldn’t be able to do it without them. I hope to publish a book of all the best photos we have shot within the next year or two.
What advice do you have for students starting out today?
As a student, it’s obviously essential to use all of the resources and teachings you can to learn and develop your craft, but even more important than that is to work on your interpersonal skills, make friends, and learn how to work as part of a team. Almost every job I’ve ever gotten has been through a friend or past client who knows they can trust that I’ll be easy to work with and do my best to deliver an excellent product. If there is a job that I’m not able to take on for one reason or another, I will always try to pass that on to a friend of mine.
Another important thing is to find what you are most passionate about shooting, but also learn how to shoot as much other stuff as you can because to make it as a professional, you will often have to shoot things that may not be your ideal assignment. It’s extremely rare that somebody will graduate and immediately get to start shooting for their dream clients. It could take years or decades.
Lastly, on any job, the number one priority is delivering what your clients want, but if you have the time, it’s always great to shoot something exactly as you personally would like to do it. Ideally, your client would love those even more and hire you to shoot more like them. If not, you at least have new work for your portfolio.
Colin Douglas Gray is an artist and photographer based in Atlanta, Georgia. His diverse body of work includes images of A-list actors, pop stars, fashion icons, religious leaders, cosplayers, and the homeless. Colin’s work captures the essence of his subject, and he prides himself on being able to connect with a subject within moments and reflecting that connection back through the final image.
