Today we’d like to introduce you to DaWonn Andrews.
Hi DaWonn, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I am 28 years of age, and I was born in Beaumont, TX, but I moved to Houston when I was ten years old. I am the oldest of six, and I am currently a full-time college student at Houston Community College, studying chemical engineering and doing photography full-time. I have always had a passion for photography; I was always the person that everybody wanted their pictures taken by. I was already creative, so I would make them do different poses and position them by different objects to create an amazing image with lots of creativity
My mom knew that’s what I wanted to do, and she was very supportive in my gift. She then purchased my first camera before I graduated high school, and I began to do free photoshoots for my friends and family. I then became known for doing photography locally and was growing a name for myself as DaWonn The Photographer. My mom eventually became really sick with seizures, and instead of me going off to college, I stayed in Houston and worked and helped out with my siblings. Although she did not want me to be the eldest, it was my obligation to step up and help. My mom was a strong woman, and she was the best mother ever; even with seizures and having another son with traumatic brain injury and him being partially paralyzed, she was superwoman/supermom and didn’t allow the seizures to stop her and she did everything a mother was supposed to do better yet a single mother. I still stayed home and worked and help with my younger siblings and didn’t do as much photography. She wanted me to continue to further my education in engineering and further my photography career because she knew that’s what I loved to do, and she always wanted me to start my own photography business. She would tell me how great I am and how big in photography I will be and just give me encouraging words and just be my #1 supporter.
My mom died October 27, 2018, from a series of seizures in one day, and it was very hard for my siblings and me. Although we knew that she raised us to be very independent and to look out for one another, we were missing our mother and the love that she gave us daily. I just knew that I needed to continue to make her proud and do what I really wanted to do and what she loved for me to do, and that was photography. I then took the initiative and went full force into photography, doing trial shoots for practice, created a website and business cards, and booked free photoshoots for content to gain more and more clientele. Although it was hard with the lack of support from others, lack of money for new equipment, etc. I still remained to believe in myself, and I always remembered how much my mom used to tell me how great I was and how great I will be and I just focused on that, keeping GOD first and being a that great example for my younger siblings if they ever wanted to start their own business. The name of my photography company is DaWonnJphotography, and I got to where I am now by hard work dedication, and GOD. I plan to grow bigger and bigger every day, gain a team, and create a photography school for younger photographers to gain more knowledge of photography so they will be able to enhance their greatness and also create a better life for my siblings and give them better opportunities to do what they love to do.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it has not been a smooth road. I have always had my mom to encourage me in all that I do, and my mom was my everything, and she’s gone, and I don’t have that anymore besides from my siblings and a few more other people. I don’t get the same amount of support as I put out, but I didn’t allow that to stop me and discourage me. I continued to focus on my goals in my photography and trust that God will help me along the way, and he did. I know my mom is so proud of me.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I think what sets me apart from others is that I genuinely love what I do, although the money is good, I look past that, and do it because I love creating great images and making my clients happy.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dawonnj.photography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaWonnJphotography/
