Today we’d like to introduce you to Devontae Jones.
Devontae, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I am a portrait & fashion photographer from Tallulah, Louisiana. Growing up being a “kid in the band” and the only child in my household, my mother would photograph and save every memory I made while in High School. Those memories held great meaning to me and they still do today. From this, I learned the importance of savoring every moment in life because each memory in life takes you back to your humble beginnings in life. From this, I began to develop a passion for doing the same for others. We now live in a generation where technology rules and people don’t really take out the time to buy cameras to capture moments so I feel that photographers are now responsible to remind others that memories should always be captured despite the evolution of technology.
I took it upon myself in 2017 to tap into my own creativity and I started taking pictures of the GSU Band while I was a member and my passion grew from that point on. I was able to capture great content of my colleagues and band-mates and as time passed, some of their parents started to reach out to me to thank me for capturing moments that they could not be present for. It felt good to know that it was my work that started connecting those families with their loved-one’s in the World Famed Marching Band and this alone was enough inspiration for me to keep going.
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?
Photography has not always been a smooth road but it has been a road worth traveling. Some of the struggles that I’ve encountered while being a photographer are, building clientele and finding a solid foundation as it concerns what I loved to photograph the most. Being from a small town and entering into a bigger city with many well-known photographers, I had to find my place in the city and I also had to work overtime to prove my worth to others. However, I learned the importance of networking and I was able to meet a lot of talented photographers that are now my lifelong friends and the best part about it is, we all share the same passion. As far as finding a solid foundation as a photographer, when band photography was no longer a thing I had to find my niche. All that I knew was, I thoroughly enjoyed photography. After spending a great amount of time discovering what I loved to photograph the most, fashion, family and studio photography seemed to enthuse me more than anything so I decided to hone my skills in those areas and I can truly say that it has been very rewarding.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the D. Jones Visuals story. Tell us more about the business.
D. Jones Visuals specializes in family, fashion and portrait photography. The company’s mission is to capture priceless moments that cannot be replaced. D. Jones Visuals is all about building meaningful relationships and making all clients feel like they are valued from the moment they express their interest to the moment they receive their images. What separates D. Jones Visuals from its competitors is the southern-hospitality experience that is given to each client whenever they are in front of the lens. In addition to that, our exceptional customer service and high-quality work is unmatched. There are many things that I am proud of as a company but if I had to choose one then it would be the impact that my photography continues to make in this world for not only myself but for others. Seeing the excitement, tears and extreme emotion that is experienced from clients when they receive their image make it all worth my while.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I am not a believer in luck, but I do believe in God’s favor and blessings. So, if we are speaking in terms of that, I would say that being an active student, band member and member of society has helped D. Jone’s Visuals reach a lot of great places. For example, capturing moments for The Dallas Mavericks basketball team and photographing events for many well-known individuals. My past experiences and ability to network has led me and my business to many great opportunities.
Pricing:
- Regular Photo Session ($150-$275)
- Weddings ($900-$2000)
- Small Events (Up to 30 people) ($200)
Contact Info:
- Website: www.djonesvisuals.com
- Phone: 3184936670
- Email: djonesvisuals@gmail.com
- Instagram: d.jonesvisuals
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/djonesvisuals
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/djonesvisuals
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