In Motion with Photographer Collin Findlay
Collin Findlay is a creative director and photographer based in Austin. He’s a local in the Austin running and cycling scene and has worked with brands and organizations like Nike Running, Adidas, Under Armour, the Breakfast Club, and Puma Running, among others. He’s also been an orchestra musician for nearly 15 years, is one of Spot’s go-to photographers, and leads creative and marketing for Hotel Van Zandt, a boutique hotel in downtown Austin. I recently chatted with Collin to see where he finds inspiration and how he discovered his home in the world of photography, hospitality, and love.
I caught up with Collin a couple days before he’s set to head out on his latest photo adventure through France and West Africa. He’s been to Africa several times, but this will be his first time exploring the western region of the continent. He loves exploring places he may never end up again—no surprise, considering he’s deeply entrenched in the active and travel lifestyle.
That sense of adventure is, in part, what led us to Collin. We were initially drawn to his eye for documenting motion and the gritty imperfections of athleticism in a way that feels both dreamlike and honest—later, we got to know his kindness and fun, infectious energy. He’s been helping tell the Spot story through photography for several years—our most recent project with Collin involved us taking a road trip to Houston to document a race day at the USA BMX Lonestar Nationals.
A penchant for high-fashion, Collin initially had visions of a career exclusively positioned in the fashion photography space. He’s built a successful career around so much more, but he still finds artistic inspiration through fashion magazines. Much of what he produces feels avant-garde, funky, and voyeuristic—an understated sexiness that speaks to the editorial aesthetic.
“Even if things aren't necessarily fashion-related, like bikes for example, you can still find moments to make it kind of editorial in a way that I think is unique. I love the anonymous moments of, say, biking that feel to me very fashionable or editorial. A little bit of skin here and there is not necessarily a bad thing. It just shows you how the athletic body is still part of athleticism, and I think it's kind of cool to showcase that every once in a while.”
Collin was introduced to the cycling photography scene around the time many of his close friends in his running circles started to take up cycling. “As cycling became more popular in the fitness community, and more of my friends started getting and riding bikes, I started showing up to cycling events and photographing without being asked.” Many of those cycling events were hosted by the Breakfast Club, a local Austin community ride of about 800 cyclists.
The artistic approach Collin takes when it comes to photographing cyclists is to focus on the body and bike posture. He also focuses on moving components like scenic backdrops, as well as pedals and the rhythmic pulses of shoulders and head bobs. Because speed is a major factor, Collin is able to capture his shots most comfortably from some kind of lead or support vehicle, most often a van. “And yes, I strap myself in and hang out of the window when I can!” When van coverage isn’t available, he’ll scout a spot where the athlete is most likely to be moving slower—like a hill or sharp curve, or both—so he has more time to get “the shot”.
When it comes to running, Collin most often shoots races or events that require him to take a slightly different approach. “I use my bike to catch up with the runners between scenes or backgrounds and aim to capture things like gritty faces, pumping legs, smiles, frowns, and pain faces.”
While still very much a staple in the running and cycling scene, Collin’s career has begun to evolve into a body of work that also encompasses hospitality, love, and travel. Today, I’m chatting with him at Hotel Van Zandt where he leads creative and marketing for the hotel itself, as well as its pool and lobby bar, performance venue, and Southern-style restaurant, Geraldine’s. “What's cool about having a job that's photo-focused is that when I'm here, I still get to tap into all this creative freedom and energy.” His team’s latest project involved a shoot for the hotel’s newest bar, the Brass Poppy, which opened in September. The creative captured the essence of the Van Zandt brand imbued with Collin’s own artistic expression—like vignettes of a high heel or someone sipping a cocktail.
“I feel lucky that my job lets me do all the crazy shit that I would want to do anyway—and it's so niche that I feel like no one else could fill it but me.”
While he’s carved a niche for himself in the hospitality space, Collin has visions of how his career may unfold in the future, including shooting international locales on behalf of hotels, boutique hostels, and tourism bureaus. “Finding the essence of whatever city I'm in—be it big or small, known or unknown—and translating that to how it relates to how the hotel or the city is meant to make the viewer feel. I love finding the quiet moments in the bustling world of 2024, so any project that allows me to do that sounds like a dream.”
No doubt that adventurous spirit will lead Collin on a path to countless opportunities for telling stories through photography in a way only he can. We’re looking forward to seeing where his inspiration lands him next—and we couldn’t be happier to lean on his creative vision as Spot evolves and continues its journey in the active and travel space.
Check out Collin’s website here. Find him on Instagram at @collin_fin and @collinfindlayphotography.
