Meet Meghan Poynor | Landscape, Travel, Fine Art Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Meghan Poynor and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Meghan, why did you pursue a creative career?
Art always came naturally to me as a way to find calm in the chaos of school or work. I “accidentally” became a photographer when I needed to complete an Art IV class for high school and chose photography as the medium. I was hooked with my first awarded photo my senior year of a statue in an historical cemetery. Many classes later and many, many photos later, I have found that I am happiest when I am capturing a moment that speaks to me. Then, I can’t wait to edit and translate my view into a product that captures the attention of the viewer. I have chosen to make photography my career because it’s what I’m passionate about–I love what I do!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I have learning difficulties involving processing and comprehension that made public school very difficult. My mother homeschooled me from the end of 8th grade through high school, which made all the difference in my life. I went from being sullen and depressed to a more vibrant, open person who embraced the world around me. Once I learned that I could take really good photos, I took more classes that taught me not to just take a picture, but to create my own vision of the image using my eye for detail. O. Rufus Lovett from Kilgore College preached that “every moment is an opportunity. Never go without your camera.” I love experimenting with light, shadows, and editing. I have also discovered that photographing the ranch lives of modern-day cowboys and cowgirls inspires me to have a deeper connection with people in their natural environments. Most recently, I have been discovered by Vivianna Puello from ArtTour International Magazine who reached out to me because she sees a passion in my art that speaks to the viewer. I’m only 22 years old, so I hope to have a very long and evolving career ahead of me!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m an old soul. If I were to take a friend out and about, I would head to places like antique & vintage shops–some place like Jefferson, TX. We would have to browse through all of the vintage photos of people long gone, but fascinating in their still, black & white images. And, of course, we have to hit the local fudge shop and general store!

For a week long trip, I would probably head to Santa Fe, NM. I feel a spiritual connection there that draws me time and again to the city and its surrounding areas, like Ghost Ranch. I love retro shops and restaurants with old-fashioned milkshakes and music.

However, the most fun and interesting things for me to discover with people involve being in the natural world and observing the beauty all around us–large and small.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First, I have to thank my art teacher, Jeannie Davis, for pushing me to go outside of my comfort zone to find my passion. Second, I have to thank my pastor who loaned me his Canon Mark III professional camera as my first learning tool because I was able to truly learn how to use a digital camera that put me on the path of seeing photos as art. Third, I must acknowledge the wonderful heart-felt support I’ve received from Emma Kay Robinson and Susan Tanner of Art World in longview, TX. They have supported me since high school by encouraging me believe in myself and by giving me space in their store to display my work. They have also offered me a wealth of professional advice to help me maneuver the intricacies of the art world. And, finally, I need to thank my parents for pushing me to believe in myself and encouraging me by buying my first camera equipment and allowing me to travel across the United States to learn from masters in the photography world. Without their faith in me, I would not be where I am now as a recoginzed international artist.

Website: www.meghanpoynorphotography.com

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