INTERVIEW | A Conversation With Cam Hicks On His Visual Study 'For The Porch'
Cam Hicks has taken on life with a constant aspiration towards truth and understanding, utilizing his craft as a sole weapon. Having worked with labels such as Engineered Garments and Louis Vuitton, the photographer, stylist, and creative director debuts ‘For The Porch’ as a visual study of his work and an extension of his existence. The creative approaches territories of intimacy, artistic reference, and opens new dialogues for anyone attempting to achieve the attainable.
In a relaxed conversation, we sat down with Cam Hicks to discuss his vision for the project.
What’s the story behind ‘For the Porch’..
‘For The Porch’ is a look at my journey towards becoming a player in the creative industry. It takes a look at the past 4 years of my life without trying to sugar coat things. While highlighting my work chronologically, it also includes the vulnerable moments and mistakes that came along the way, and my reflection on my experiences so far in terms to what I want my future to look like and my advice for readers who are attempting to go a similar route.
In the imagery you display a portfolio of work with labels such as Engineered Garments, Louis Vuitton, Nike, The North Face, etc. How has working on projects to that degree impacted you?
I’d say mainly my knowledge of the business side of the industry, the dynamic of working with clients, and experiencing working on projects with bigger budgets. Back in Virginia, I was hungry and passionate about creating, even when getting paid for it wasn’t in the cards. But I was also naïve and ignorant to how things really operated. I had to take time to learn how to stand my ground and support myself when it came to finances and business practice, to sometimes create to make the client happy even if it didn’t coincide with my vision, and the caliber of work I had to come to the table with to really make freelance content creation a full time job. And when it got to the point where I got to witness and be a part of high level productions, like the LV shows I’ve been a part of, It really opened my eyes to how far and how big I could really go with my ideas.
At the same time, I learned the type of projects, no matter the name, that I want to be a part of. I want to shy away from all the work that pertains to social numbers, utilizing me for social media eyes, and all that. I want to be a part of productions strictly based off my ideas and craft, and if any company that wants me to be a part of their creation process, is reaching out for my vision and they don’t try to repurpose that to look like their typical work.
“I want to shy away from all the work that pertains to social numbers, utilizing me for social media eyes, and all that.”
You display several mediums of expression in your book, how do these outlets define you as a creative?
I started all this coming into the game being known for my fashion sense, and my photography. But personally, I know I can offer more than that. I want to be a story teller and creative director, in the traditional definition of the title. So using the different mediums was my way of telling the story in a way for it to have the best flow, bringing different visual elements to the table, while also showing people I can create beyond the title I’ve been under until now.
Aside from highlighting fashion milestones, the book also documents mementos with close peers. What role does that play into the publication?
My homies are family. I’ve been fortunate over the years to gain a lot of strong friendships from all the work I’ve been a part of and moving to NY, that have all played a huge role in the person I am now. It’s lifetime bond type shit with the folks documented in the book and even some I just didn’t have pictures of/with but I just wanted the readers to know that this wasn’t a solo mission. Even when it comes to ‘For The Porch’ coming to life, it probably wouldn’t have happened without all of them.
The book also appears to be heavily influenced by your travels, how have these experiences shaped your perspective?
Traveling took my work and just outlook on life to another level. Other than a few family vacay’s growing up, I never really looked at traveling abroad as anything other than wishful thinking. But after my first trip to Japan in 2017, traveling for work sorta became a norm. So when I realized that was the case, I started looking at it as opportunities to really embrace a lot of the cultures I really only knew through the computer. I would go to places to try and live as close to a citizen as I could, and learn from the native people. Looking at their creative products, graphic design, advertising, fashion, all of it. It’s cool to learn off forums and the internet, but doesn’t compare to the information you get actually traveling. Every time I get back home off a trip I have new references and mindset on my life and what I make.
Coming from Virginia to New York, what is your current concept of home?
Virginia is always going to be home, in every sense of the word. It’s the place my family and I grew up, its where I first gained knowledge of any type of culture, it’s who I am. New York is home base right now, and I love it. I’ve made a lot of memories here, accomplished great things and plan on having some type of living space here for a while. But when it comes down to keeping in tune with my roots, my family, and get some quality time with nature, its VA. I have two homes now, the one that built me and the one that has let me build further.
What inspired you to materialize this idea or was it always the plan?
I always wanted to make something tangible. Instagram and social media is such a quick fix and is the home to where content is short lived. And for years wanted to find a way to get personal with a project and provide some inspiration to people back in VA, but I just never put my finger on how that was going to look. But, when I had my first solo photo show at Nepenthes last July, Theo Constantinou, owner of Paradigm Publishing, came and was inspired by the show title and description, which was the same title and theme as the book. So after a couple meetings, Theo wanted to work together on something that goes beyond my typical work, and I had this idea in my pocket so it just organically worked out.
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And for years I wanted to find a way to get personal with a project and provide some inspiration to people back in VA.”
Are there any brands on your current radar, you would like to work with next?
My radar has changed recently. I came to NY with a long list of brands I wanted to work with in the fashion industry, crossed off a lot of them, but I’m at a point now where I want the opportunity to create in different industries. I’ll always be interested in having some type of hand in the fashion world cause it’s where I started, but like I speak on in the conclusion of the book, I’m ready to work on some industries that are more globally impactful and relatable as well. Especially with the fashion industry being up in the air right now, getting exposed for it’s novelty when the world is at a point of crisis, it only makes me want to experiment in other industries even more.
But with that being said, brands like Kapital, Comme, Issey Miyake and a few others will always be ones I want to add to my portfolio based on my interest in their clothing and stories of the past. I’m also interested in the idea of helping brands, particularly some lowkey ones I see potential in, grow their branding.
The book attests much to growth, what would you say you have gained during the development process of ‘For The Porch’?
The whole process was super cathartic man. Living in a fast paced city like NY, I rarely take time to reflect on all I’ve already done, so getting a chance to create based on moments of the past helped me to do that to uncover some positives and negatives that I didn’t personally address. I looked back on all the vices and mistakes I made, all the mental lows I went through, and took time to ask myself why I did those things, why I felt the ways I did about myself, and how to communicate that to others that might be going through that as well. I also got the opportunity to work at a pace that isn’t always allowed in this fast media world nowadays, my own. I went into the cave for like 4 months straight to focus on this, and put all my soul in it. I’ve always known staying patient and putting out work comes with the best outcome, but didn’t always listen to myself to keep up with the facades online. This taught me to stay true to that, and put the most honesty and vulnerability in my product as well. Towards the end of the process, I also got a better understanding of what I want my future to look like, and the type of work I want to make more of. The tangible item, one you can hold in your hand, just hits different.
To the some body reading your book, what impression would you hope to make?
To the folks that read the book, I want them to get the feeling of a true, relatable inspiration for their own lives. I know there are kids, and people who look at what I do and I want them to read this and feel like whatever they want to accomplish is attainable, while also remembering to stay patient, work hard no matter what, and that they’re not alone in having those self doubts ya know? It’s the old idea of “you can do it too” while also remembering to be human. And above all else, I want them to never forget where they came from, and if they get the opportunity to inspire people, from back home or wherever, they can achieve the same I have, if not more. Shoot for the fucking stars! But don’t lose yourself along the way.
A limited amount of copies will release May 5th from Dover Street Market New York via their e-shop with an exclusive t-shirt, followed by a general release from Paradigm Publishing on May 6th.
Words: John Erick Ramos
Photo: Amanda Alborano
