D. Scott Carruthers is a specialist in capturing visually inspiring objects, from exotic to the most mundane. The Anaheim, California native displayed the talent for painting and drawing at a young age. To sharpen his studious interest, Scott’s parents supported his education and art pursuits. Scott’s initial interest in photography revolved around landscape and portrait photography. His mother bought him a camera that proved very useful in projects. Many of his captivating photos featured in the high school yearbook. Scott pushed his sights beyond the confines of the classroom. He soon turned to fashion photography, in a feat that saw him grace various fashion shows in Anaheim.
Hi works became a common feature on local magazines and newspapers thanks to the modeling agencies, music bands and designers. After graduating from high school, Scott travelled to the West Coast to expand his interest in photography. This time, he concentrated his efforts to capturing photos of hot fashion designers and bands in the area. He immediately expanded his offerings to include wedding and event photography. With celebrity status beckoning, Scott established his own photography studio at age 20. He signed up with an agency to promote his work and this quickly led to call ups to shoot athletes, entertainers and movie stars.
What is your favorite thing about traveling?
Travel photography is fun, you get to experience different climates, meet different people and enjoy fun adventures. I especially like the fact that I am able to realize most of my wishes in the course of work. I have a short list of wishes and I am always pleasantly surprised when I come across something, compelling and completely unexpected.
Is traveling a hobby or a lifestyle for you? How did you get started?
I think it is a bit of both. It is a hobby because it endears the photographer to reach out to the photographic community and helps develop a personal style. The opportunity to travel in different places is a lifestyle in itself. Here, you get the opportunity to capture a variety of architectures, wildlife, landscapes, and people. Since photography takes a while to master, I developed interest while in high school.
Do you have any exciting travel dates planned for the future?
My assignments sometimes force me to travel far and wide, and I always make it a point to document my travels. Part of the reason I do this is to give justice to the many wonderful places I have been to. My upcoming October travel itinerary will include Mexico, where I have several wedding assignments lined up in Cancun and Acapulco.
What are some travel tips you’d give to someone inexperienced?
Any professional photographers willing to work hard and diversify their skills stand a big chance of excelling in travel photography. I would encourage any inexperienced photographers to start by building a portfolio. The next step is licensing your travel photography with an agency for promotion purposes.
Where would you like to go?
Some of the places I plan on visiting outside the US include Piazza San Marco in Venice and Mount Fuji in Tokyo.
Where would you like to revisit?
One of my most memorable photo shoots is in regard to the Grand Canyon in Arizona. I have seen the demand for postcards bearing these images grow exponentially. Along with the Canyon, I look forward to revisiting the Petrified Forest National Park.
Do you travel alone? Why?
I have done this several times. Since I am always connected through the gadgets, traveling alone seems pretty normal to me.
If you could pick the top 3 places every person should go, what would they be?
The places that quickly come to my radar are the Faroe Islands, Grand Canyon and the Amazon.
Do you travel light or do you pack up the house?
I get this question a lot during my travels. I would like to point out that packing largely depend on the demands of the assignment. For some light duties, I only carry two lenses, my prime and zoom lens along with a Kindle containing all my favorite reads and images. To avoid losing or misplacing my luggage, I always tag my carry-on bag along.
