Today we’d like to introduce you to David Williams.
Hi David, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I spent 34 years in banking, and during weekends and vacations I would escape with my camera to see what images I could create. Over time, photography shifted from a casual interest to a true passion. I experimented with stock photography—showing my work through online portals and licensing images for calendars, publications, and web use—while focusing heavily on the extraordinary landscapes of Utah and the surrounding states. As I found myself about seven years from retirement, I began building a fine art collection, launched a website, and started printing and framing my work using fully archival materials.
Around that same time, a friend from my camera club invited me to join him on a trip to Africa, and that experience changed everything. Seeing the majesty of African wildlife firsthand was transformative. I returned home, made the decision to retire early, and within two years I wrapped up my projects at the bank and shifted into photography full-time. Since then, I’ve traveled through eight African countries and trekked into both Uganda and Rwanda to photograph Silverback Gorillas. I’ll be returning to Rwanda again in February 2026. While Africa holds a special place in my heart, I still hold a deep love for landscape photography and feel fortunate to live so close to some of America’s most beautiful places, including Yellowstone, Glacier National Park, the Tetons, and the red rock landscapes of Southern Utah.
Today, much of my focus is on improving the Google rankings for my website as I teach myself SEO—a challenging but rewarding journey. My main site is davidwilliamsphotography.com, and I also operate a companion portal at davidwilliams.photoshelter.com. Between the two, I offer thousands of images ranging from wildlife to landscapes to African cultural storytelling. Print prices start at $26 including shipping, and each piece is produced on archival papers with archival inks and signed. I also license my images for editorial use, including websites, books, blogs, and other media.
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?
One of the biggest challenges has been mastering the ever-evolving technology behind modern digital cameras and learning how to translate those technical tools into a creative vision. Programs like Lightroom and Photoshop are essential today, yet both—especially Photoshop—come with steep learning curves. Staying current with new gear, software, and trends is a constant effort. But honestly, the hardest part has been building a website and trying to get it to rank on Google. The technical side of SEO is a whole different world, and learning it has been both challenging and eye-opening.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My creative vision centers on selling and licensing images, and I’m deeply passionate about producing work that continually raises the bar. Each photograph demands extensive dedication—not just in capturing the moment, but in the editing, printing, and final presentation. There’s something incredibly rewarding about seeing an animal in Kenya through the lens, then watching that moment come to life again as a finished, archival print in a frame.
One of my proudest moments so far was winning the People’s Choice Award at an art show hosted by the Utah Art Guild. Following the show, I was invited to display my submitted images in the City and County Building for a month. Shortly after that exhibit, I was asked to bring in 25 framed pieces for a two-month showing, which ultimately led to many sales. It was a meaningful affirmation of the work I’ve committed myself to.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
My best advice is:
Learn light and lines
Learn every button on your camera and all menu items
Learn Lightroom and later learn Photoshop
Practice daily, do something with photography everyday.
Shoot what you are passionate about, not what you think people want to see
Pricing:
- Fully archival signed prints start at $26.00 with free shipping
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.davidwilliamsphotography.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/david_williams_photography_
- Other: https://davidwilliams.photoshelter.com/
