Today we’d like to introduce you to Mark Bowers.
Hi Mark, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Might as well start from the beginning! I attended the University of Texas @ Austin from 2002 to 2007, earning a degree in Finance. Upon graduating, I was hired by a company called International Paper to perform audit work at various manufacturing facilities they operate around the US. It was an incredible offer straight out of school including a covered apartment, moving expenses, and a sign-on bonus…with just one catch. They were HQ’ed in Memphis, TN so I had to relocate.
Stepping back for a moment: During my last semester I worked at a restaurant where, unbeknownst to me at the time, I met my future wife. Despite the impending move, we maintained a long-distance relationship for two years and later reunited in Houston once she finished her undergrad degree. I took another finance position; she began her social work career; and over the next five years (2010-2015), we climbed the ladder, married, and built a comfortable life together.
At some point however, I started to feel trapped. Every day was mind-numbing—nine hours in an office for work that paid well but felt meaningless. Two weeks of vacation a year wasn’t enough to offset the monotony. When my wife was accepted into a master’s program @ Texas State – with a 12-month wait before it began – we seized the opportunity to travel. As a failsafe, I decided to take on the CPA exam, which my employer funded – so long as I passed, and somehow managed to pass all four parts in nine months. I gave notice immediately after and we booked airline tickets, stored our belongings, and spent five months backpacking Southeast Asia – the trip of a lifetime with a story all its own.
Upon returning, the optimism quickly faded. My wife dove into graduate school while I landed at a tech startup in Austin – the second-worst job I’ve ever held (the worst was a post-college university role which came next). Long hours for less pay than I’d made out of college, repetitive tasks, terrible management, and a sense that I’d ended up back at square which left me feeling desperate. I applied everywhere for anything other than finance or accounting – even at pest control company which turned me down for not having “enough experience.” I feared I’d never find my way and was miserable to say the least.
One afternoon, driving through East Austin, I spotted a banner for “photography classes”. I admired all the oversized DSLR cameras in Asia but never owned one. I needed some form of an outlet so I enrolled on a whim. The six-week course covered all the basics such as exposure, lighting, and composition, primarily from a “fine-art” perspective which was the instructor’s background. I bought a used Rebel T3i for the course and was hooked. I found myself leaving early for work so I could stop and shoot sunrises, spending my lunch break exploring areas nearby to photograph, weekends, and basically any free time I could find. I photographef anything and everything almost to a fault.
My wife completed her masters program and I finally left finance for good. I enrolled in photography/video production classes at the local community college and spent a year learning as much as possible. We had saved some money in advance but were scraping by at this point so I found part-time work shooting youth sports. It was a bit embarrassing as I was 31 then, and my co-workers in their early 20’s; but it was still more freeing than the desk. After my year at school ended, I caught a break working as a production assistant on film sets for a large production house in Austin. The work was incredibly tough-10 hours days which were often outdoors, hauling around heavy lighting with someone always looking over my shoulder. You would only be shown how to do something once and better not forget the next time. However, if you paid attention, kept your mouth shut, and watched how things were done, you were exposed to a world that few get to see. It taught me essential skills I’ve carried with me ever since including lighting types and various setups, camera rigging and operation, and solving problems on set which inevitably came up no matter how much planning was done in advance.
My turning point came randomly one night watching tutorials online by a commercial photographer named Rob Grimm’. His precision and planning resonated with my analytical background and his images were simply incredible. Until that point, I assumed the only way to be successful as a photographer was shooting weddings, headshots, or portraits. I decided to commit six months to produce a self-directed portfolio – 25 concepts – then launched a website and social media campaign. Within half a year, I’d booked paid gigs with three companies and started to understand the business mechanics of a photographer. Responding to inquiries, estimating projects, how to successfully pitch and execute projects. Since then, I’ve steadily grown my business, creating images for brands I admire and finally doing work that challenges and fulfills me.
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?
Absolutely not. My journey has spanned almost two decades now and it’s shaped by a series of pivotal turning points.
The thing I struggled with the most was my identity and confidence. In high school I was outgoing and well-connected, but college felt like an entirely new world – few friends, demanding coursework, and pressure to perform. I channeled everything into grades, which paid off with a solid job after graduation. Yet despite the paycheck, I realized I’d been following a script—do well, get hired, repeat – without asking what truly motivated me.
That realization came to a head after a few years, when work alone couldn’t sustain my sense of purpose. I’d never put much thought into a “direction” for life. I was simply going through the motions to eventually get a job because that’s what you were “supposed” to do. Eventually it broke me and if it weren’t for having an amazing wife and partner in life, things could have gone sideways quickly. She supported me when I needed it, both financially and emotionally, as did I; and we exchanged these roles at least twice before getting to where we are now. If not for her, I might never have paused to ask the tough questions: What are my real strengths – and weaknesses? What brings me joy? Letting go of expectations and “going with the flow” opened the door to photography. I’ll never forget the thrill of buying my first camera, diving into classes, and finally feeling excited about something that was entirely my own.
I still have bad days and moments of doubt, but I’ve learned that work shouldn’t define my worth. Finding direction meant understanding myself first—and that’s been the most rewarding struggle of all.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
This is another topic, closely related to the previous, that took me a long time to answer truthfully:
Friend: “What do you do?”
Me: “I’m a Director of Photography.”
Friend: “Great! Do you shoot weddings, portraits, families?”
Me: “No—I specialize in product photography. If you’ve ever seen an ad for sunglasses or gadgets, that would be the kind of work I provide.”
That response usually piques interest so if asked, I elaborate by stating that I provide commercial photography and video-production services focused on product marketing. Nearly all my still-image work centers on products, while my video projects range from CEO interviews and music-festival coverage to online ads and company training videos. I’ve always viewed video as a natural extension of photography, however, it demands greater precision, more gear, and a thorough understanding of story form and workflow from creating a mood board through post-production.
Product photography accounts for about three-quarters of my business. What sets me apart is my ability to connect positively with clients at every level – no matter their title, age, or status. On the personal side, I pursue photography as an artistic passion, but when it comes to my clients’ and their work, I never let personal preferences affect the outcomes. Feedback – positive or negative- is never taken personally; it’s all part of refining the final product and ensuring the Client’s needs are met or exceeded. In my experience, many photographers struggle to separate their art from paying work – sometimes even turning down assignments because the subject matter doesn’t interest them. I see potential in every inquiry and approach each shoot with equal dedication.
What I’m most proud of, though, are the images I’ve taken of friends, family, and pets in the years since I started down this path. I love printing images and find it a bit depressing that most are left sitting idle and eventually forgotten in the digital ether. At the end of each year, I compile every image my wife and I have taken the last 12 months into a single album. Our cell phones, my mirrorless camera, 35mm film, you name it… I’ll sort through them, make comments, and eventually create an annual album for us to revisit years down the road as a reminder and source of inspiration. 2024 was my fifth consecutive year doing so and something I’m proud of.
What were you like growing up?
I was an “interesting” kid in my pre-adolescent years—quiet and shy for the most part. I absolutely loved Legos, if that tells you anything lol. I was raised by my grandparents in a suburb just outside of Houston. My relationship with my parents was distant; they were rarely involved in my life. My grandparents had already raised three kids of their own, and taking on the responsibility of my sister and I was certainly taxing.
The neighborhood I grew up in was one big loop, and all the kids went to the same elementary school. I met a group of friends early on who, remarkably, I still keep in touch with today. We spent most of our time riding bikes and building racetracks wherever we could find dirt that wasn’t taken. I was definitely the more reserved one in the group. I spent several years in Boy Scouts – something I resisted at the time but now look back on with appreciation. I was fascinated by science, especially dinosaurs and space. We were members of Houston’s natural science museum, and I could easily spend an entire day exploring their exhibits. I also played football and basketball through my first two years of high school which was a turning point for me in many ways. I know it’s a mixed experience for most people, but in my case, I genuinely had a great time. I stayed close with that same group of friends and gradually started to come out of my shell. We made the most of those years—and somehow made it out in one piece.
At that time, I wasn’t thinking about a “direction” in life and unfortunately, no one prompted me to consider one. There weren’t strong role models guiding me toward a particular path, but I had good friends around me and that made all the difference. Moving to Austin for college was the next major shift. I’d never really left my hometown, so stepping into a new city pushed me outside my comfort zone and turned me inward once again. Those early years didn’t necessarily define my career, but they absolutely shaped how I approach life today.
Pricing:
- I do have standard “rates” as part of my business structure however, they are tied to the various aspects of production and specifically, the amount of time required to complete each objective. Every job requires a customized estimate and will include a fee for production services (providing an estimate, creating a concept board or shotlist, taking the image, etc…) & post-production services (i.e. editing) at a minimum. My production services are assessed @ a day-rate where a full-day = 10 hours and a half-day = 5 hours. Post-production services are assessed on an hourly basis.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://markbowersphotography.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markbowersphoto/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markallenbowers/
Image Credits
ALL IMAGES ©MARK ALLEN BOWERS JR
