Today we’d like to introduce you to Ben Hayer
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I would say my interest in photography began in my early 20s. At the time, I didn’t fully understand what photography was—I simply pointed my camera and clicked the shutter button on a 4MP Kodak point-and-shoot. I had no knowledge of composition, colors, or the emotions a moment could capture. All I knew was that the ability to freeze a fleeting moment brought me tremendous joy.
At the time, I was deeply involved with the kids in my local Sangat (Sikh congregation), and as a token of appreciation, their parents gifted me a birthday gift card. With that money, I purchased my first professional camera, which opened the doors to an entirely new world of photography. It was their kindness and appreciation that nudged me into this journey. What once was mindless clicking of the shutter gradually transformed into an understanding of what makes one photo stand out while another is discarded.
To move forward, I had to look back into history. I was introduced to the BBC documentary Master Photographers, which made me pause, reflect, and truly appreciate the power of a captured moment. The emotions I once couldn’t perceive began to express themselves, the colors I had overlooked started to manifest, and compositions naturally revealed themselves. A fleeting moment had so much to say, so much to express, and in the right hands, a camera had the potential to capture what the eyes saw—allowing others to see, feel and relive that moment again and again.
So, I stopped merely clicking the shutter and started seeing the world—the emotions not just in people but in nature, the compositions, and the expressive colors all around us.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No road is without its potholes, just as no life is without its ups and downs. Thankfully, photography wasn’t my primary source of income, which allowed me to take pictures without the added stress of “working to pay bills” However, this is a double-edged sword. On one hand, there’s no pressure to constantly seek out clients, but on the other, it’s easy to fall into complacency. Without that pressure, one may not push themselves as much as they would if more were at stake in creating photographs.
I find myself on the latter side of this double-edged sword—the challenge of staying motivated to continuously improve, to see the world with fresh eyes, and to capture the fleeting moments we will never get back, so work in progress to see more and when the moment presents itself, to capture it.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Photography, for me, has always been a journey of discovery rather than a profession. It started as a simple joy—capturing fleeting moments without much thought—but evolved into a deeper understanding of composition, color, and emotion. I wouldn’t say I specialize in one particular style, but rather in the ability to see and preserve the beauty of a moment, whether in people, nature, or everyday life.
What sets me apart is that my work I strive to capture moments that are raw, expressive, and irreplaceable—images that tell a story and evoke emotion. I don’t over complicate my work, I keep it simple and if I cannot capture these moments with simplicity then I am doing it wrong. It is less about what camera I’m using, but am I able to see the moment, am I able to be present so that fleeting moment can reveal itself.
One of the things I’m most proud of is the journey itself. Looking back at where I started, mindlessly clicking a shutter, to now truly seeing the world through a lens, appreciating the nuances of light, emotion, and timing, is incredibly fulfilling. Photography has taught me not just how to take pictures but how to see—to find meaning in the ordinary and preserve moments that we’ll never get back.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Most of my work can be found on my Instagram page. I would absolutely love to collaborate on any type of project—whether non-profit or professional. What matters most to me is alignment in vision because that’s when we can truly bring out the best in each other. Once that connection is made, creativity takes on a life of its own, and that’s when the magic happens.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/benhayer
Image Credits
Ben Hayer Photography
