I earned my chops the old-fashioned way—by shooting feature-length assignments around the world for National Geographic Magazine. The stories varied, but the mandate was always the same: work with every kind of person, under any kind of condition, and create timeless yet contemporary images for a client with the highest visual standards on earth. My assignments took me to six continents and often required 200 days on the road each year.
People often think the best part of being a National Geographic photographer is the exotic travel, and I get that. But what I’ve always valued most is the time spent with people whose lives are completely unlike my own. A lifetime in other people’s worlds continues to be my greatest professional gift—it keeps me curious and continually strengthens the empathy that defines my work. Because I genuinely care, people sense that I deserve their trust. That trust allows them to open up and be vulnerable, and that vulnerability creates the authenticity at the heart of all my work. You can’t fake this or learn it quickly—true authenticity isn’t a goal; it’s a byproduct of these things.
I’m interested in original reporting that explores complex issues in the context of real people and their everyday lives. My work spans seven National Geographic Magazine features, the #1 New York Times best-selling Blue Zones Kitchen (now a top-20 best-selling cookbook of the century), campaigns for major brands like Sony, and the SXSW-premiered documentary Bounce and a 10-part series on health equity in America. At the core of it all is attentiveness—to others, my craft, and my clients.
I live with my wife, artist Anne McLain, in a 220-year-old Maine farmhouse with a post-and-beam barn where we share studio space. Our children, Finn and Myla, grew up here—one is becoming a builder in Maine, the other a teacher in San Francisco. My family, my home, and Maine ground me and fuel the boundless sense of possibility and hope I bring to my work. I continually marvel at how endless the opportunities are. Now is the time to start exploring them.
David is represented as a speaker by Changemaker Talent. Founded by Deborah Benson, who co-created the National Geographic Speakers Bureau, Changemaker represents a broad range of dynamic thought leaders who are exploring the planet, solving problems, documenting life around us, connecting us, and helping us think creatively about the future. For speaking fees and availability visit : deborah@changemakertalent.com
The Sony Artisans are a talented and diverse group of photographers who are helping Sony break new ground and reimagine what cameras can do in the 21st Century. I'm unbelievably proud to be one of the five founding members of the program. Over a decade ago, it became clear to me that Sony was in a unique position to reimagine what a camera could do in the digital era. They have exceeded my wildest expectations.
I’m a founding partner of Slipstream, a production company focused on reporting on the biggest health stories of our time. Through original reporting and ethnography, we explore complex issues in the context of real people and their everyday lives. Nothing we do is scripted or contrived. Instead, we let the truth arise from people’s stories – and let the voices of our subjects speak: in their words.