There is an unquenchable thirst for authentic stories in our world.
We now live in the most visually literate society history has ever known. This is why visual storytelling is such a relevant and effective way to connect people to a brand, idea, and mission.”
—Garrett Hubbard
Synopsis
Garrett Hubbard is a visual storyteller because he believes in the power of authentic stories. He utilizes both video and still photography to connect his clients with their audience. Garrett believes that visual storytelling is the language that saturates our reality, and that stories revealing truth can change lives.
Garrett learned from some of the best storytellers out there—journalists. He has spent the past four years cultivating a documentary and narrative driven video style mixed with an artful photographic vision at USA TODAY. This work has taken him to the White House, the Olympics, The Royal Wedding, and many other places around the world. Prior to joining the USA TODAY staff, he had the opportunity to tell stories for The Washington Post and The New York Times.
Garrett’s work has been honored by some of the most prestigious awards in journalism including the National Press Photographers Association and White House News Photographers Association. These awards have landed him in the Oval Office twice to shake the President’s hand (Garrett opted instead for a fist bump and a high-five). These awards have given him a platform to speak around the country to teach others about the art of visual storytelling. More important than the recognition, Garrett has seen his work bring relief and partnership to some of the most difficult places on earth.
Garrett is thankful for the trust he receives from those who invite him to tell their stories and is grateful for mentors and friends who have invested in his life story. He loves Jesus, his wife, and his neighbors. When he’s not working or celebrating life with his bride, he can be found with a huge grin on his face riding his mountain bike in the woods as fast as humanly possible.
Further Background
Garrett Hubbard earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics with an emphasis in Accounting at the University of California Santa Barbara. In his desire to live a better story he spent the summer after graduation in the townships of South Africa to help people living with HIV & AIDS, poverty, alcoholism, and hopelessness. Upon his return—having received far more than he gave—Garrett used his amateur photographs to raise awareness and funds for the beginnings of a community development project that would help his friends in South Africa. People radically responded to his photos, which made him realize he could use photography to motivate others.
Garrett followed his calling, which took him to one of the top photojournalism schools in the country, Brooks Institute of Photography. Upon graduation, he went on to intern with the Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch, and the Naples (Fla.) Daily News before being hired full-time for the Naples paper. A few years later he was offered his dream job at USA TODAY outside of Washington, DC. After four years, three continents, hundreds of national stories, piles of awards, countless frequent flyer miles, and finding his bride, he decided it was time to start his own storytelling company and launched Garrett Hubbard Studios.
The Hubbard’s lives in Reston, VA (a suburb of Washington DC), but they are convinced their love for avocados, Mexican food, and the outdoors has granted them honorary residency in California. They live life by loving and serving in their own community. Most recently, the Hubbard’s went to Haiti to listen, learn, and help raise money to build a house for a woman in a tent city. The Hubbard’s continue to seek out ways to live a story worth telling.
