Photography is an engaging art form for many individuals, and it has the unique ability to highlight the artistic eye of people, whether they are amateurs or professionals. There are those, however, who appear to have been born with the rare gift of creativity, excelling at a very young age, even without any formal training. One such person is Owen Garitty, a self-taught professional photographer whose visual storytelling is pushing boundaries in both industries of photography and media marketing. 

What initially started out as a distinct aptitude for photography eventually transformed into a multi-industry skill that involved brand design, film direction, and strategic execution of marketing strategies. Over time, the gifted photographer diversified into other fields, from being the creative director of FPW Media to being an international business consultant, motivational speaker, and real estate investor. 

Garitty developed FPW Media in 2013, a creative studio that designs and implements meaningful media content and effective marketing strategies for its clients. The company caters to clients from different kinds of industries, from agriculture to apparel, large-scale manufacturing, and big machinery. He designed the company not just to be very competitive but also to exceed the expectations of clients, as evidenced by its tight turnarounds, transparency, and one-of-a-kind perspective when it comes to developing creative marketing strategies that will boost clients’ businesses or initiatives.

In 2020, FPW Media was listed as one of Adweek’s 100 fastest-growing agencies. At that time, he was only a self-taught 15-year-old passionately doing what he loved doing the most. 

Despite this success, Garitty always finds the time to teach others about his craft by speaking at events, where he talks about brand representation, an emerging concept in consumer goods, and marketing. Apart from his regular talks, his real estate investments also require him to travel all over the West Coast. He works closely with commercial real estate properties, including hotel and hospitality assets. 

The millennial entrepreneur was only ten years old when he got hold of his first camera – a Pentax film camera. At 13, he won his first photography award. By the time he turned 15, he was already working professionally as a product photographer for a wide array of clients in the Portland, Oregon, area. As can be expected, clients quickly took notice of his impressive talent in product catalogs. Not long after, he became well-known when it came to design and brand identity, resulting in numerous consultancy opportunities both nationally and internationally. 

In his free time, Garitty can often be seen boxing, enjoying craft coffee, or gardening organic fruits and vegetables. He always makes sure to maintain a balanced lifestyle and still gets to enjoy the simple charities of life despite his unstoppable success. 

When asked what differentiates him from his competitors, he simply says, “My relentless drive and willingness to embrace being different.” True enough, Garitty can easily be considered an uncommon talent in the industry. But, more than his keen eye for detail and artistic perspective, he also possesses a strong character that is defined by the values he has acquired since he was a young boy. 

At this point in his career, Owen Garitty simply wants to inspire the younger generation to pursue their passion relentlessly, saying that if they do what they love, they will never have to work a day in their lives.