17 Years and Counting (part 1)The

In May 2009, while living in Detroit, MI, a decision was made that shifted the trajectory of my life. There had been much consideration about taking the hobby of photography into a professional realm, but during a trip back to Detroit, with a holiday weekend on the horizon, I decided to drop into a Best Buy to see what sales they had going on.

It just so happened that they did have a sale on the Canon XSi, bundled with an additional lens. Since I didn't have the money to outright purchase the bundle, having recently relocated and starting a new job, I would need to apply for the advertised financing special. I walked to a quiet spot in the story and prayed. I bargained with God. "If this is something You want me to do, have them approve the financing. If not, have them decline it." I was prepared to get back in the van and keep rolling.

To my surprise, not only was I approved for the amount of the bundle, but for an additional $1,000. So, I put the camera bundle in the cart and got some important accessories. Once I got back to The D, I went on eBay (my go to site, before Amazon) and order a backdrop and some lights. I took the afternoon to set the camera up, and went on YouTube to get some starter tips. And Truly Blessed Photograpy was born.

The Early Years: Building a Foundation

The early years were quite the adventure. I was blessed to have willing "crash test dummies" that were willing to allow me to test new techniques and equipment. Kiwi (pictured above) and Mahogany Jones were my main subjects. Because I was involved in the urban Gospel and Christian Hip Hop community, I was able to work with several local artists to hone my craft. Many used my photos for their promotional materials for years after I had relocated from Detroit.

I learned a lot of lessons from my time in Detroit. The biggest lesson was to always have your camera with you. One day, after work, I decided to cruise through downtown, to scout for new shooting locations. I noticed a crowd gathered in a park, so I got out to see what was going on. I discovered that it was a peace rally and the featured speaker was Rev. Jesse Jackson. I was sick to my stomach, because my camera was about 30 minutes away. It was pre-iPhone days, so I have no pictures of my opportunity to meet and talk with him. After that, I treated my camera like it was American Express (old heads will know what I mean).

Mentors and Supporters

I was blessed to have some amazing mentors that helped me get proficient in photography, early on. My best friend from my time in Huntsville, AL, Roland Scott of Roland Saun Photography was disappointed that I chose to go with Canon, but he was a great resource, whenever I needed tips. I quickly discovered that one of the guys that worked in my building at U.S. Army TACOM was a local legend. James Ambrose aka Ambrose J not only provided me with photography tips, but opened up his warehouse studio space for me to shoot (see photo below), whenever I needed. He was a huge help, early in my development.

Shift in Location & Focus

After only about 18 months of shooting with a DSLR, I was presented the opportunity to relocate from Detroit to the Mississippi Delta. It was a huge culture shift, but for this southern boy, I was glad to get out of Michigan, before having to endure a 5th winter. This move caused a reduction in my portrait work and an increase of event shooting. It was a major shift in my business and events became the major source of revenue. I did a lot of work for churches and church conferences (see below).

The early days of professional shooting gave me the foundation to prepare for where I am now. In photography, those who don't continue to hone their craft, will be left behind. My 17 years have been an adventure and in the next post, I will share more of the formative years, including my time in Tennessee and Georgia.