Richard Van De Water didn’t plan on becoming a photographer. After graduating from Ben Lippen in 2008, he started college in Interior Design before switching to Biblical Studies. “I was still figuring out what I wanted to do and where my strengths really were,” he says. Photography was not part of the plan. Today, Richard is based in Charleston, South Carolina, and is building a body of work spanning editorial projects, travel photography, and fine art prints. 

 

When Richard looks back at his time at Ben Lippen, it’s the range of experiences that stands out.

“There are so many moments from Ben Lippen that still come to mind. Some in the classroom, others on the baseball field and football field, and many through FCA and chapel,” he says. “Each of those experiences shaped my time at BL in a different way and made school genuinely enjoyable.” He also remembers many of the faculty and staff who invested in him: “Linda Hodges, Bobby Young, Dale Angstadt, Cliff White, Rob Settle, Brent Walsh, Christy Lambert.”

Though he admits he didn’t always appreciate every part of the experience at the time, he sees it differently now. “I’ll be honest. I used to roll my eyes at chapel, but looking back, those moments helped shape me in a real way alongside the foundation I had at home.”

More than anything, he remembers his teachers' personal investment. “I’ve come to appreciate how intentionally those teachers cared about who we were becoming, not just how we performed academically. Of course, they didn't do that perfectly, but at the time, I probably took that for granted, and in hindsight, their consistency, encouragement, and genuine investment were instilling values I still carry with me today.”

Richard didn’t officially pick up a camera until about 4 years ago. “Before photography, I dabbled more in video work, but I didn’t pick up a camera for photos until about four years ago. I knew nothing about it and have since taught myself everything I know.”

The turning point came during COVID. During a job transition, he spent a few weeks in Hawaii, borrowed a friend’s “nothing fancy” camera, and thought, “Maybe I should try this.”

That decision changed his direction. “I had no idea at the time that it would turn into something I truly loved (though hard) and something I was actually good at. Looking back, it’s clear that the Lord was using that season to redirect me and open a door into what I’m doing now.”

Breaking into this creative field brought immediate challenges. Richard says, “There were plenty of early moments where I honestly questioned myself. Is this a stupid decision? Can I actually make this work? What am I even doing?”

One of the biggest hurdles was figuring out where the jobs would come from and how to build consistency. His faith shaped how he navigated those questions. “I believe the Lord provides, but I also believe He calls us to show up and put in real effort. In a lot of ways, the work, reaching out, connecting with people, taking the risk, putting myself out there, is part of how He grows us.”

Even now, he sees how provision and effort intersect. “I can work hard to network and pursue opportunities, and then the jobs that actually land are sometimes the ones that come out of nowhere. That can be frustrating, but it also reminds me that I’m not carrying this on my own. God is providing as I’m being faithful with the effort in front of me.”

In 2021, Richard partnered with Tara-Leigh Cobble on a project in Israel that later became the New York Times bestselling book Israel: Beauty, Light, and Luxury. Their connection came through an unexpected reconnection in Greenville. After helping her move, he mentioned he had started photography. “And when I say ‘started,’ I mean I was four months in with almost nothing to show,” he says.

When he later asked why she chose him for such a significant project, Tara admitted “she had argued with God about it a lot (almost laughing), but she said every time it came back to ‘He is the one I want you to use’.”

The time in Israel affected him deeply. “Personally, it reframed the Bible for me. Less like something distant and more like something textured and real. Professionally, it shaped everything.”

He reflects on how much he has grown since then. “I certainly look back at some of those photos and think, ‘those are SO bad’, but given I didn't know anything, it's pretty remarkable how God showed up for me as I looked through the lens.”

Richard is candid that the internal challenges still surface, but how people respond to his work keeps him grounded. “What people consistently say is that the photos feel emotional—alive, real—and that my images pull something out of them. That’s the goal for me.”

He adds, “I want every image to carry the essence of a real moment and spark something in the viewer. Something they may not have even realized was there.”

Travel continues to play a key role in that pursuit. Outside of Israel, Italy stands out. “That trip did more than give me images; it built something in me,” he says. “It reinforced that the work I’m proudest of usually comes on the other side of uncertainty.”

Ultimately, his long-term goal would be to sell prints full-time. Richard wants the freedom to create the projects and moments he imagines and “to travel and capture the essence of life.”

More recently, he has also stepped into sharing on TikTok, giving people a clearer sense of who he is and why he creates. Richard believes that “connection is what makes art land. If someone connects with you as a person, they’ll connect with your work on a deeper level, too.”

In the end, his motivation is simple: “If what I’m sharing adds value to someone’s life in any way, then it’s worth it.”