Arnie Watkins's Photos Follow the Sun

Welcome to Hero of the Week, an ongoing series sharing stories from some of the best photographers in the Pexels community.

When we asked Arnie Watkins to describe what he does and where he's based, he said simply: "I shoot photos, and I’m usually wherever the weather is hot." Isn't that every photographer's dream? (It's definitely ours!)

We fell in love with the casual, surfer vibe of Arnie's photography right away. In addition to snapping dreamy beachside scenes, Arnie's also a creative director and has worked with some major clients including Nike and Audi.

Here, he gives us a quick look behind the scenes of his photo world.

Pexels: How long have you been taking photos, and how did you get started?

Arnie: I must have been around six or seven, and used to pick up my mom's old film camera.

What camera gear do you use?

Let's just say a Canon 5D.

What's your favorite type of photo to shoot?

One that happens naturally.

What inspires your photography?

The sea and sun.

Tell us about your favorite photo or video on your Pexels profile.

It's shot in my favorite location.

Who are some other photographers or artists who inspire your work?

I don’t really know a lot about specific photographers — I just take photos of my friends and my world.

What is one goal you have for your photography?

I want to work on producing some books in the future. I’ve archived thousands of photos no one's seen yet.

Pexels Heroes is our invite-only community of the top photographers on Pexels. Find out more and apply to join here.