Jacob Webster has photographed Chloe Bailey, Lori Harvey, Winnie Harlow, Diddy, and Michael B. Jordan – and the list goes on. Still, the Silver Spring, Maryland native who identifies as Black American with an exceptionally blended heritage didn’t start with such a high-profile job. Truthfully, he didn’t start as a photographer at all. Like most teenagers, he began with a typical part-time job that afforded him random nights out with friends or that outfit from the mall he didn’t want to tell his parents about. He spent his weekends and summers working as a lifeguard at a pool. Anyone else envisioning the beginning of the “The Sandlot” movie? Jacob was a 14-year old freshman in high school when he received his first camera from a sibling though, at the time, he was more interested in becoming a model and only took pictures of his friends until all the rejection kicked in. Following high school, he attended Towson University in Baltimore, Maryland, where he pledged Phi Beta Sigma and obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration to outfit himself with some skill behind his talent.

At Towson during his sophomore year, he started looking at photography from a professional standpoint though his mother really wanted him to focus on the corporate world. His father on the other hand has a comparable interest in photography and lent all support. So, in 2020, the self-taught photographer and photoshop pro relocated from the East Coast to California, now living in Downtown Los Angeles. Today, and much to his mother’s respect and support, we get the story of Jacob, the photographer living out his dream and the dreams of many who are afraid that they won’t make it in the business without formal training and a platinum Amex.

How did you go from being an aspiring photographer to a published photographer with placements in American Vogue, Essence, Ebony, and Harper’s Bazaar?

My time at Townson University, my degree, and all the marketing classes they made us take prepared me for this transition. I spent six years working part-time as a lifeguard at a pool to make money on the side while I focused on my photography. Unfortunately, my boss wasn’t supportive and seemed to constantly schedule me to work on days I had shoots planned. April 2nd, 2019, was my last day as a lifeguard at that pool. Once I quit and started focusing solely on photography, my business and clientele grew tremendously. It allowed me the freedom to travel more and be in different cities when various events are happening. Quitting a job that had no relevance to what I wanted to do in life has allowed me to fund my life, pay my rent, buy new equipment, and reach milestones. For example, I shot Diddy’s 50th birthday party!!

Which photographers influenced you, and how did they influence your thinking, photography, and career path?

I only knew staple photography names Bruce Weber, Annie Leibovitz, and Steven Klein when I first started. I’m not sure if I can say how they influenced me other than the fact that I would see the first three in Vogue and other big-name magazines all the time and have been using that as motivation to get to where they are one day. Now, Grace Jones photographer Jean-Paul Goude, Art Streiber, and Pol Kurucz are some of my favorites. Jean-Paul Goude is my absolute inspiration in my artistry. His work is timeless and doesn’t require a lot to make it stand out from the rest. I love how Art Streiber shares the behind-the-scenes to every shoot he does and doesn’t gatekeep any knowledge that he has. Finally, Pol Kurucz inspires me to push the envelope with my artistry, and I enjoy how conceptual all his work is.

What technology/software/camera gear do you use to capture your images?

When I started out, I was shooting with this cheap camera that cost me $100 on Amazon. Today, I shoot with a Canon 5D Mark IV, which is quite an investment but is highly recommended as many photographers use the same camera.

Among your works, which one is your favorite? Why?

There’s this one image of Lori Harvey that I captured in direct sunlight that I’m in love with. It wasn’t my typical style of photography because I usually use strobe lights or am shooting in a studio. However, Lori requested that we just shoot naturally, and it came out perfectly. The beauty of working with high-profile individuals is that they will sometimes push you out of your comfort zone and unknowingly help mold you into the type of artist you want to be because of their specific wants and demands.

What is the one thing you wish you knew when you first started working in your industry?

Whew! I wish I knew that people don’t give an f#$K about you! I really wish I knew that from the beginning. Nobody! Especially in this industry, nobody cares who you are and will replace you in a second. Even if you have a family emergency, people look past that, ask you if you can still do the job, and if you can’t, they will replace you the next day. I suppose you can’t take it personally because it’s a business, but it’s one of the things I wish I knew as a newbie.

Now that you’ve shot several celebrities at various events, would you consider yourself a celebrity photographer, or is that title a bit far off?

I’ve noticed lately that there are people who’ve been interested in meeting me, and my name seems to carry some weight in a sense. Going to events and people knowing who I am and being told that they know my work is becoming a thing, so I believe I can say I exist in that space now. If this was last year, I would say no, but now I think I can. I wasn’t aiming for that, though. I want to be known as “that” fashion photographer and for people to know me for my ideas and the concepts that I come up with.

I’ve seen you photograph Lori Harvey and Michael B. Jordan quite a lot. How did this relationship come about?

It started back when I was still in undergrad. Lori was looking for a photographer for an event she was hosting at Howard University during homecoming. I routinely traveled from city to city and university to university, and I remember skipping all my classes on this day to get to DC to shoot and build a possible relationship with her. Luckily, I did meet her. After that, I would just hit her up anytime, I visited LA before I finally moved here, and it just became an ongoing relationship.

Who are you hoping you get the opportunity to work with?

Zendaya! Zendaya! Zendaya! She’s on her way to becoming a legend, and I love the way she carries herself. The transition she’s made from a Disney star to Hollywood is one for the books. Interestingly, I remember watching her on television when I was growing up and to see her today and being in the same room sometimes with the people you watched is surreal. I met her months ago at the BET Awards, and I told her we would be working together one day.

What would you say is the hardest part about being a photographer?

Staying focused and being creative. Sometimes I feel like I’ve run out of ideas, and then I start comparing myself to other photographers, and that’s not something I should do. But, still, it’s an inevitable feeling sometimes where you see your peers succeeding and landing covers that you aren’t or haven’t yet. Also, I sometimes deal with imposter syndrome because I’m not formally trained and didn’t attend anyone’s photography school. So, when I’m around some of those people who are and hear them speak to all these super technical terms, I sometimes doubt myself.

What advice would you pass on to those who have an interest in the field of photography?

I would tell them to not let a camera define them. Instead, get your hands on whatever you can afford and utilize it to the best of your ability until you save up enough money to get you a good Canon or Nikon. I would also like to pass on that you should constantly research, read old books, and search for inspiration to stay inspired.

Lastly, three creative’s you think we should interview next.

Celebrity stylist Sankara Xasha Turé, who’s been killing it for over 10 years. Celebrity hairstylist and serial entrepreneur Kira Dior and Creative Makeup artist Kenya Rucker.

IG: @jpwphoto