Today we’d like to introduce you to Mark Campbell.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I first found my passion for film and photography at the early age of nine, where I would shoot silly short videos with my best friend. I would hardly call them a work of art, but they made me realize I wanted to make film and art more than just a hobby. I continued shooting videos throughout high school and began college at Lone Star. I constantly went back and forth between following my dream of film or studying something more stable. It wasn’t until my dad lost his job that I really had to pause and consider everything. With no money to pay for a four years university, I took off a year to work and save for a higher education. I did not put my art to the side though. In that period, I became one of several founders of the ambitious and hardworking film company, Redefining Creations. I started my own photography business, Mark the Photo Taker, and started my own humorous YouTube channel with vlogs, music reviews, and satire. Although unfortunate, this period away from school allowed me to sharpen my skills and develop my own artistic style. It confirmed to me that this is what I want to do for a career and gave me the confidence to do so. I now plan on attending school for film this upcoming fall semester. In the meantime, I use my photography business as a means to support this goal.
Has it been a smooth road?
While I have faced a few challenges, I would say I’m very blessed with the work and opportunities I’ve been given. The very much necessary (and inevitable) learning curve of going from casual family photo taker to booking paid gigs was a bit of a scary one. I happily suffer from perfectionism, so taking something so personal like art and turning it into a marketable skill took time. Photography has taught me that you can watch video after video on how to pull off a certain look or style, but at the end of the day, you just have to get your hands dirty and experiment on your own until something clicks. You’re simply developing your artistic instincts. Thankfully I had a plethora of friends and family to practice on and build a portfolio off of until I had the confidence to shoot complete strangers.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
With my business, I strive to give each of my subject’s photos their own style and persona that embody that person’s own unique qualities. I am very adamant on authenticity and originality and never want two shoots to look the same. A human’s portrait is a very intimate thing and should be treated as such. I am most skilled in portraits, but never want to restrict myself from doing other types of shoots. I also love doing the more eccentric and thematic type shoots when the opportunity arises.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I feel like the Houston area is a pretty decent place for photography. There are plenty of like-minded photographers willing to collaborate and help each other out, you just have to look out for them. I’ve learned the majority of the game is just keeping your networks open and letting people know about your business. Every single person needs photos. Whether it’s family portraits, newborn photos, wedding photos; the list goes on and on. Somewhere, someone wants a nice picture of something to remember it by. You just have to let them know you can do it for them.
Pricing:
- Package 1 Price: $75 Deposit: $50 Session: 1 hour Locations: 1 Outfits: 1 Edited Photos: 7
- Package 2 Price: $150 Deposit: $75 Session: 1-2 Hours Locations: 1-2 Outfits: 1-3 Edited Photos: 20
- Package 3 Price: $300 Deposit: $100 Session: 2 Hours Locations: 1-3 Outfits: 1-4 Edited Photos: 45
Contact Info:
- Website: https://marktcampbell17.wixsite.com/website
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mark-the-Photo-Taker-105578174169291
Image Credit:
Mark Campbell
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