Today we’d like to introduce you to Antonio James.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Antonio. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
HEY, Y’ALL!!
My name is Antonio and I’m a cowboy photographer who absolutely loves loves loves telling peoples genuine Love Stories through photographic memory.
So how did I end up in Texas? Long story short… There was this girl riding shotgun, this diamond ring in my pocket, this forever question I had, and this loud “YES” I can still hear years later. She came to Tennessee with me for a while after we “roped the cattle” or how y’all people would say “tied the not”, but one thing about a Texas girl is she won’t leave Texas for too long. So we’ve been back here for two years now. I live in south Texas but I’m a destination photographer and well most of my clients just happen to be here in the Dallas Fort Worth Area.
Next, I guess I should tell y’all how a cowboy became a photographer right? So I was 17 in Michigan and lots of my friends had cameras and shot models and stuff for fun so I bought one. Started off just a hobby then friends started asking me to shoot stuff for them eventually I was shooting a friend’s wedding and realized this is what I want to do…. But I was a student at a dental school in Tennessee so I just did it on the side. After I graduated we moved to Texas and I was instantly hired at a dental office but quickly realized it wasn’t for me. So four months in I went to turn in my two weeks’ notice. After that, I decided why not go full time? I have nothing to lose. I made a social media page, changed everything about my brand, and then all thanks to God it turned up well. I started booking in Dallas first which was weird because all of my ads were focused on where I lived which was 8+ hours away. But the city welcomed me with open arms so every month I’m there now for at least a couple of sessions and weddings.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
NOT AT ALL.
When I first started my companies name was TNT Photography and well, it was an EPIC fail. I couldn’t reach anyone and the clients I did beg and finally get weren’t my cup of whisky but I took them just because I needed a portfolio. I wasn’t happy tho an that’s what I was starting my own business to be. I was taking clients I should have passed on and not really being my authentic self and it dampened my success.
Please tell us more about your work. What do you do? What do you specialize in? What sets you apart from competition?
I’m a Destination Wedding & Couples, photographer. That’s my specialty. But IM NOT A “PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER”. NOPE! I’m so much more. I don’t just show up to take my client’s pics. When I show up my brides scream (NOT A JOKE) they literally scream with excitement. I specialize in becoming friends with my clients, getting to know them and the way they say I love you to each other. I specialize in telling stories and giving my clients memories instead of just really nice photos. I don’t pose my clients, we play games, do challenges and more to get our shots and we incorporate them into their photos. That’s why you’ll see my brides skateboarding, in leather jackets, having mud fights!! I want to look at my photos and forget butterflies exist I need the national Olympics to go off in their stomachs. That’s what sets me apart from others. my connection with my clients. I’ve mentored many other photographers and they all even told me the energy I bring to the table is one they notice everyone loves and I just instantly can connect with any heart of gold out there. Also, I’m known to get crazy so I’ve shot in full on thunderstorms and all and people love that whatever comes at me I saddle up and ride that baby!
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Proudest moment is definitely the moments I was able to create because I took this chance. Like being able to pick up my nephew from school to take him to meet his newborn baby brother for the first time, going on vacation with my dad in Dallas ironically haha and telling him to leave his wallet at home because I’ve got this, or being able to take my wife to her dream places all because I was blessed with a talent to press this button. In Photography, my proudest moment was the day I successfully shot a couple at the beach in a thunderstorm, with high winds throwing sand at us, and yet I somehow was able to keep my energy so high that they texted me after saying. We know the pics are probably bad but that was the best time of our lives.
“YeeYee Y’all, YEEYEE”
It’s the Cowboy way of saying stop overthinking so much and just live it.
Pricing:
- My weddings start at $1700
- My elopements start at $1500
- My couples sessions start at $450
- ALL WEDDING COME WITH A FREE ENGAGEMENT SESSION
- I TRAVEL WORLDWIDE
Contact Info:
- Website: www.carpediembyantonio.com
- Phone: 5862227586
- Email: carpediembyantonio@gmail.com
- Instagram: @carpe.diem.by
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