Today we’d like to introduce you to Neil Williams.
Neil, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’m originally from Nashville, TN. Born and raised there. Growing up, I always had a camera in my hand starting at roughly the age of four or five. I still remember my blue fisher price film camera and being limited to two rolls of film a week. As I got older, I began to grow more in love with both photography and film. I watched as many movies as possible and couldn’t stop looking at photos in magazines and books. Once I was in high school, I made a friend with an older student who connected me to a wedding film company, Limelight Cinema/Enchanted Brides Magazine, and I began working part-time for them as both a videographer and video editor. I got paid next to nothing but it was an amazing experience being part of high-end weddings that took place on skyscraper rooftops in downtown Nashville and in famous and beautiful venues all over the area.
Once I graduated high school, I began working for them more and started looking into going to college for film but quickly realized I had a passion and a calling to tell real stories and help those in need through visual storytelling. I was (and still am a Christian) and was told about a school in Fort Worth where I could learn to be a missionary and even be in a program that would allow me to live in another country and do those things while in school. So in 2013, I moved to Fort Worth, Texas to attend Southwestern Seminary as a missions student.
Soon after arriving, I applied for a job on campus to be a staff photographer. I got the job and what I didn’t know at the time was that this was the most life-changing opportunity I had ever had. I began to be trained and mentored by both amazing photographers and incredible videographers. People like Adam Covington, Matt Miller, and Daniel Moon. The most important person though didn’t arrive until three years later. Her name was Kathleen Murray and when she showed up and became my new supervisor my life began to change. She quickly pointed out my skills needed work. I wasn’t as good as I thought and if I didn’t grow then I probably would have been let go. So I began listening to everything she said. Every detail I absorbed like a sponge. Over the next three years, I grew far more than I ever thought possible. If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be who I am today.
Ultimately I loved telling student stories and the stories of those who are trying to make a difference for those in need of help all over the world. The job allowed me to travel for their magazine to tell these stories. I even began getting side jobs from mission organizations in places like Uganda and Honduras. I even went with some churches to other countries to document what they were doing there. All these things and all the other experiences I was getting allowed me to better understand my passion for photography and videography and grow in them as well.
One thing I didn’t mention was that while I was working as a staff photographer for a college/seminary, I also started my own side business in 2015. I hardly had any jobs at first. Maybe a friend here or there. But after a few years, I had a growing business that I still run today where I specialize in Family and Wedding photography. I love my freelance work. I get to meet amazing families and couples that I am honored to help tell their story. Sadly covid killed my wedding work for the moment. Thankfully I have families that still love and support me by hiring me year after year and help spread the word about my work. However, I do hope to get back into the weddings again soon. Neil Williams Photo / neilwilliamsphoto.com / @neilwilliamsphoto.
I also currently work for a religious organization in Dallas as their Multimedia Specialist where I handle all their photo and video needs. While working here, I was able to win a national photography award from BCA in 2020, the Fon H. Scofield Award for Significant Achievement in Photography, for a story I photographed for their magazine.
While I never officially had formal education in the arts or photography, I do believe that I was educated by some outstanding individuals over the course of my time pursuing photography. If it wasn’t for them and the mentoring they gave me, I certainly would not be who I am today or have the skills and experience that I do.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Oh no. There have been times that I practically cried myself to sleep because I thought all the time and work I had put into this passion of mine were not paying off and that I just needed to quit. I can remember times where I thought I was going to get fired and other times where people told me things I had done were trash.
One of the biggest struggles that I have had as a photographer is frankly personal insecurities. Worrying that I’m not good enough and that no one will like my work. Yet, I’ve found the opposite to be true most of the time. I wish I could say these struggles are in the past now but I think all artists worry about these things in waves over the course of their careers.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m at heart a photojournalist. My passion is telling visual stories through my photography. Because of this, no matter what I photograph I always try and do my best to tell the full story and not just random cute moments. I think this is probably what I’m known for the most. I do this both in my day job and in my freelance business. My day job is working for a religious organization where I tell the stories of churches, ministries, and individuals all over the state and even some around the world. My freelance business in Dallas focuses on families and weddings where I do my best to tell their true story. Whether that’s everything from the smallest wedding detail to the largest moments, or if it’s a family, I want to make sure I try my best to provide them true to life moments that they can treasure forever. You can see this in my editing as well. It’s all true to life color and edits. My experience and skill in photojournalism is what I believe sets me apart from other local photographers.
I am most proud of the work I have done for ministries that are helping those in need. I’ve been able to document ministries all over the world that are working with the poor and marginalized to help not only provide them food and clothing but also are investing in their futures through education and skill building.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
Oh gosh. A lot. If I had not run into certain people over the course of my life, I would not be where I am today. The crazy thing is I did not run looking for almost any of these individuals. They are just appeared in my life and I took up the chance when it came. Once I was assigned to document an event and I found out the speaker did not have a professional headshot so I offered to take one for him free of charge and I did! A few short days later, I got a call from someone saying that I photographed their dad and they had a passion open at their work for a photographer/videographer and asked if I was interested in applying. I said yes and a few short months later, I was the full-time multimedia specialist there. So I would say I’ve had a lot of good luck.
Bad luck is a little difference. There have definitely been moments in my life where I felt like I was having the worst luck. However, usually those situations ended up building me in ways that I could never have realized. So I would say there is a lot of good luck disguised as bad luck out there.
Pricing:
- Wedding packages start at $1500
- Family and couple sessions are between $225 and $350
- Other types of events are $250 an hour.
Contact Info:
- Email: neilwilliamsphotograph@gmail.com
- Website: neilwilliamsphoto.com
- Instagram: @neilwilliamsphoto
- Facebook: Neil Williams Photo
