Today we’d like to introduce you to Avante’ Littles.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Avante’. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
During my Sophomore year at Texas State University. I decided to buy my very first camera. It was a Nikon d5200 which I still use to this day. My very first model was one of my close friends. As soon as I got my camera I quickly started to reach out to models in the San Marcos and Austin area where I was living at the time. San Marcos and Austin was the perfect hub for creatives so it was really easy to find people to take pictures. As time went on I eventually branched out into the music video scene and began to do music videos for rappers that went to Texas State. This led me to a whole other world of photography and videography. I eventually began to shoot for big brands like Interscope records and Def jam where I got the opportunity to shoot for artist Dreezy and Lil Yachty.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
While I was in college my photography journey was pretty breezy. I got the opportunity to shoot at really dope festivals, concerts and music videos and It even served as a side hustle whenever I needed some extra money. As soon as I graduated college thats when life took a different turn. I was going through post-grad depression and felt like I couldn’t live in Austin any more (you know you’re depressed when the most happiest city in Texas doesn’t even cheer you up). So a month after graduation I decided to move back to my hometown, Houston Texas. I had zero clients, depressed, in major credit card debt and no friends except for a few that I had in high school. I was applying for “professional” jobs left and right but no company in Houston would hire me.. not even TARGET. I was a wreck! One day I was searching on Event Brite for events going on in Houston to try to pull myself out of my depressive funk and saw Ryan Henry from Black Ink Chicago was making an appearance at a local club called Access Lounge. Something told me this was my shot to make a name for myself in Houston.
So I pulled myself out of my depressive funk and decided to give it a shot. That was my first time going out to an actual club in Houston but no level of anxiety or bad outfits stopped me that night. I threw on something nice and fitted but easy to move around in and drove 45mins to an hour to the club with a half a tank of gas and $15 to my name. I didn’t let nothing stop me that night because something in my spirit told me it was going to be worthwhile. I made a free video for them and that turned into a business relationship. That video was my very first piece of content that I created in Houston. After that video I slowly began to build my clientele and build my name and brand which eventually will plant the seed of Space Center Studios.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
September 22nd, 2019 was the day I officially opened my very first ‘creative studio’. This was the biggest moment of my life! I wanted Houston creatives to have a safe space to go to connect, create and collaborate with other creatives around the city. My studio consist of a photography space, a beauty room and eventually there will be a co-working space for graphic designers, photographers and videographers to edit their content. I named it Space Center Studios because I wanted to pay homage to the actual Space Center in Houston. I believe what sets Space Center Studios apart from any other company is that it is something that no one has ever seen before. It is a ‘creative playground’ for all creative across the board whether you are a photographer, videographer, rapper, singer, podcaster, etc.
What were you like growing up?
When I was younger, I was a very shy and nervous child. I was an average student and athlete. I never thought I was creative because I thought being creative was synonymous with just painting and drawing. I never knew there was a whole world out there that I would be exposed to years later. But one thing I knew for sure was that I always wanted to be something great. I would try to make bracelets and sell them at church trying to get to a million dollars or cool cups around my neighborhood. I guess you can say I was ‘creative’…well creative at making money. There was a little voice that kept telling me (which I now believe are my ancestors guiding me every step of the way) that I can do anything I wanted to do in this world and it always stuck with me and that thought manifested to who I am now.
Contact Info:
- Website: Spacecenterstudios.com
- Email: Spacecenterstudios@gmail.com
- Instagram: @Spacecenterstudios & @Taebigmoney
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