I had just wrapped up a maternity photoshoot at the Z Lot in Downtown Detroit. This was a unique experience for me because this time I wasn’t the one behind the camera. I was the subject and the photographer was Jason Walker, a Metro Detroit-based photographer who specializes in portrait photography.

I had never had my photographs professionally made for a pregnancy before and I thought it would be a fun idea to document my third trimester of pregnancy. I asked Jason if he would be interested in photographing me and he happily agreed to the project.

After the maternity shoot, we started talking about photography. It was a perfect opportunity for me to interview Jason for a new photography series I had been working on– Detroit Behind the Lens.

Photograph from my maternity photo shoot by the talented photographer Jason Walker.
Detroit Behind the Lens
Walker captured this lovely moment between my younger daughter and I at my maternity photoshoot.

What’s Detroit Behind the Lens?

Detroit Behind the Lens is a new photography blog series featuring interviews with Detroit- and Metro Detroit-based photographers. There are so many talented photographers on Instagram right now, and I really wanted to do something to share their work with others. The new blog series is a work in progress. I am still brainstorming about how to best feature this new photography series, but I am excited to begin the new project!

I am also delighted Jason Walker so graciously agreed to be my first photographer to interview for this series. If you are a photographer and would like to have your work featured on the blog, send me an email so we can discuss it and schedule a time to meet!

*All photographs were used with permission from Jason Walker.

Detroit Behind the Lens
Jason Walker, Metro Detroit-based photographer | Instagram: @thisaintjason | Photo courtesy Jason Walker

Jason Walker, @thisaintjason on Instagram, is a Metro Detroit-based photographer who enjoys car photography, portrait photography, and street photography. Originally from the Detroit area, Jason has been shooting for three years. He first got his start in photography with his current job, shooting with a Canon Rebel xti. He attended art school at College for Creative Studies in Detroit. His background is in graphic design, illustration, and web design.

He has worked with Go Comedy! Improv Theater in Ferndale, Michigan for their Hamilton Fully Loaded show and he photographed headshots of the entire cast. Jason has done headshots for actress Jaime Moyer, who has appeared on Disney’s KC Undercover, Modern Family, 2 Broke Girls, and Parks & Recreation.

A series of Walker’s photographs were also selected by The Guardian for a feature on Slow Roll Detroit entitled “Pimp My Bike: Detroit’s Custom Cycles- in Pictures”

Walker photographed headshots for actress Jaime Moyer. | Photo courtesy Jason Walker
Jason Walker Photography
A series of Walker’s street photography of Slow Roll Detroit was featured in The Guardian. | Photo courtesy Jason Walker

Learning from the Greats

“I’ve been doing a lot of reading lately,” Jason said in regards to his studying the work of other famous photographers. One of his photography goals is to continue learning more about photography and enhance his own artistic style. Jason said he’s trying to “learn from the greats” by studying street photography and applying what he has learned to his photography.

He is currently studying photographers Ernst Haas, William Eggleston, and Richard Avedon. “Ernst Haas is my favorite right now,” Jason told me. “The guys that started out doing color [photography] and nailed it right off the bat, those are the ones I like a lot.”

Detroit Behind the Lens
Beautiful portrait capture of Aviva Helena by Jason Walker.
Detroit Behind the Lens
Walker also enjoys shooting street photography. | Photo courtesy of Jason Walker

Jason explained Ernst Haas is one of his favorite photographers because he loves his abstract color photography. Haas was one of the first color photographers, in the early 60s, to appear in Life magazine and at the Museum of Modern Art New York.

“He did commercial photography and it was kind of controversial whether he was considered good or not,” Jason told me. “Some people, some critics, felt that he wasn’t that good, but there are books that came out a decade ago that showed more of his color work and it was a lot of his stuff he shot personally– the street stuff. And it’s just amazing because it will be abstract stuff of like the cracks in the wall and it’s amazing.”

Jason Walker Photography
Portrait of a couple by Jason Walker. | Photo courtesy Jason Walker

Collaborating with Nick Fancher 

Another photographer Jason is a big fan of is Ohio-based photographer Nick Fancher.  Fancher is currently working as a commercial and portrait photographer. He hosts workshops for photographers who are wanting to enhance their photography skills. According to Nick Fancher’s official website, he specializes in using “minimal gear in unconventional locations.”

A few months ago, Jason took Fancher’s light workshop “Studio Anywhere” in Columbus, Ohio. At the workshop, he learned how to work with minimal light and how to set up a studio look with minimal camera gear. He also assisted Fancher in Pontiac, Michigan with Fancher’s June 25th photography light workshop.

Detroit Behind the Lens
Walker captured this amazing image of model Jared North at the Studio Anywhere light workshop. | Photo courtesy Jason Walker

More About Jason Walker, @thisaintjason

Camera gear of choice: Jason shoots with a Fuji X-T10 and uses a 70-200mm lens.

Favorite photographers on Instagram: @joshkjack, @katetparker, and @photodre

Current photography projects by @thisaintjason: Jason is always working on building his photography portfolio. His current projects are documenting his family members who run various businesses. He is also currently working on photographing Slow Roll Detroit.

Black and white photography or color photography? Jason says it’s a mix of the two art forms. He likes to edit his photographs in both black and white and color photography.

Favorite photograph you have taken? Jason’s favorite photograph he took is a black and white photograph of his daughter on the roof of Z Lot in Downtown Detroit. “It was when I really started taking [photography] seriously when I started out, and that was when I felt like I was getting somewhere.”

Detroit Behind the Lens
Walker’s favortie photograph is one he captured of his daughter in Downtown Detroit on the roof of the Z Lot.

If you would like to view more of Jason Walker’s work or contact him, you can contact him on his Instagram @thisaintjason.

Special thanks to Jason Walker for sharing his photography with Good Life Detroit!

Written by

Jennifer Hamra

Freelance creative Jennifer Hamra created her blog Good Life Detroit in 2015 after relocating from Tennessee to Southeast Michigan.

Inspired by her love for personal blogging and photography, Jennifer likes to share her favorite Detroit things, from cool places to visit (the hidden gems are her favorite!) to the amazing people she has connected with over the years.

When she's not busy juggling family life and her creative projects, you can find her at an art gallery, community event, farmers market, or spending quiet time at home with a good book and cup of tea.

Jennifer lives in the metro Detroit area with her husband Travis and their six children.

Connect with Jennifer on social media @goodlifedetroit on all social media platforms or via email at [email protected].