Interview with Josh Dehonney
I recently had the incredible opportunity to sit down with my mentor, the talented photographer Josh Dehonney, for a deep-dive interview. It was an amazing chat, covering his journey, the grind of building a photography career, and the passion that fuels his art. I learned so much from him when I was starting out, and getting to recap his story for you all is a real treat.
Josh's passion for visuals started early in Toronto, captivated by his mom's National Geographic magazines and finding his artistic spark around ninth grade (about 14) through graffiti writing. This hands-on experience in a Collegiate Vocational Institute cemented his love for photography. He always knew he wanted to be an artist, driven by a desire to "create visually," inspired by Hunter S. Thompson's "just shoot it, just do it and then figure it out later" philosophy.
His move to New York City around age 20 or 21 was a deliberate step, made possible by a two-year citizenship process through his American father. The hustle was real early on: he interned for free at Fast Ashley's while working at a rib restaurant. A pivotal moment happened there when Sean McCulla saw his hard work and introduced him to Pier 59, a major photography studio.
I remember so many of the stories he'd tell me about his time at Pier 59, where he worked for about nine to ten years, starting on the night shift. He talked about the "big jobs" and incredible energy, like a memorable Rolling Stones shoot. A foundational lesson came from his mentor there, Josh Moore, who stressed the importance of mastering even the most basic tasks, like setting up C-stands correctly, teaching him that attention to detail "meant everything" even when not getting paid much.
Mentorship has been huge for Josh, and he’s been that for me too. He worked with another mentor, Kip Meyer, for six years as a freelance photo assistant, learning the critical lesson of connecting with the subject and being truly present. He always says the camera should be "an extension of your arm," a quote he attributes to Dorothea Lange.
Josh is a huge believer in "community over competition," feeling that teaching others helps him learn too. He prefers personal, one-on-one mentorship, emphasizing, "it needs to be more of on a personal note." His advice to new photographers echoes his own journey: "don't go in there with your cameras a blazing, go in there with your mouth blazing, go talk, learn, laugh, and then start shooting." He saw that I wasn't looking for quick fame but was committed to building something authentic. He always pushes the idea of developing a "thumbprint" – a recognizable, signature style that makes your work uniquely yours.
The business side of art is something Josh talks about a lot. While art comes from the heart, artists must "figure out a way to make to get money out of people's bank accounts and put it in yours." His early philosophy was to "say yes and figure it out later," taking on any opportunity, even if he wasn't always good at it. (He jokes he'll photograph "just about anything but babies and baskets" now!)
A significant pivot happened about 15 years ago (around 2007-2008), during the financial crisis, when assisting jobs slowed. He needed to plan for a family, so he transitioned into wedding photography. He found his first wedding opportunity on Craigslist, shooting a 10-hour wedding for $500 in Delaware – an experience he says felt like "a million bucks." He quickly learned the importance of carrying multiple camera bodies after one died mid-wedding! The mental shift from high-fashion to weddings was big; he realized wedding photography is "for the family," and his "ego" had to break down – the focus was on creating art specifically for them. By 2019, he had shot over 700 weddings.
Currently, Josh is taking a break from weddings as his primary client base aged out. He's now pivoting his focus towards portraits, sports, and still life, particularly within the polymer industry.
Josh also shared his candid experience of moving away from New York City in 2009. He admitted to having that "New York State of Mind" that opportunities only existed there. However, he learned that "out of sight is out of mind" in the industry, and it’s essential to "find new opportunities and make new things happen" outside the city. This also means being meticulously prepared for shoots without the luxury of instant messenger services for forgotten gear.
For anyone aspiring in photography, or even in the middle of their career, Josh's advice is simple yet profound: "Keep at it... it's a long journey." He stresses that "likes don't count or matter for anything" and that "sticking with what you love and can being dedicated to it is the is the path to success." Ultimately, for Josh, photography is a "trade" and an "art," and the commercial work provides the invaluable opportunity to create his own personal art, leaving a lasting "thumbprint" on the world.
It was an inspiring conversation, and I hope hearing some of Josh's journey helps you as much as it's helped me!