Today we’d like to introduce you to Anthony Ferrell.
Hi Anthony, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I’ve been a creative for the majority of my life since the age of 14, it started with me making music on an old Dell laptop that my teacher gave me. It wasn’t until my 2014 sophomore year of college that I discovered my passion with a camera. I’ve always been obsessed with the process of turning something simple into something extraordinary.
My beginnings as a photographer started with just taking pictures of people around my college campus in Tennessee. I had my camera every day! With no real purpose other than to practice and see if I was good at it! I thought I was really doing something back then too, I had soooo much to learn too.
Over time my skills led me to start taking graduate photos for a few bucks here and there—just the feeling of making money doing something I enjoyed sold me on the dream!
I don’t think it was until 2017 or 2018 I got my first big gig. I was invited to shoot for a black awards ceremony in Nashville. I was meeting and shaking hands with some REAL legends! I’m talking people like The Jacksons, Rickey Smiley, Kid n’ Play, Sevyn Streeter, and so on. I will never forget how nervous I was to be there with my little camera. I honestly felt like I didn’t belong, but someone was kind enough to take a chance on me and I was grateful!
Of course, I definitely took a lot of losses along the way, but honestly, just taking the time to see how much I was growing was all the motivation I needed to make sure I never quit.
Today, my skills and confidence have grown tremendously. I have the skill and mindset to deliver on all aspects of the creative field. Concept creation, creative direction, shooting, and editing. I handle it all! From creating some of my best album’ covers with artists like nobigdyl, Byron Juane, or Nate Rose or really tapping into my creative sides with passion projects like my Black Luv series or my short film “Mother’s Love” that serves as a dedication to my late Mother.
Creating is just where I’m meant to be.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It definitely has NOT been a smooth road. I’m sure that can go without saying.
After creating my entire clientele in Nashville, TN, moving here to Dallas created a lot of anxiety. I went weeks without work, but one day I just had to stop and remind myself just how nice I was with a camera! I’ve grown a business before, and I KNOW I could do it again!
Starting over is tough, but it has its benefits as well. With so much open availability, I thought it was time to refine my skills and level up with some test shoots. So that’s what I did!
That’s just been the past 9-months! In general, there have always been people that didn’t believe in my dreams. I had to learn quickly not to let myself be thrown off by rejection. It just becomes a part of life, until it isn’t. Even with the talent and poise I possess now, I still receive quite a few rejections! Today, I see it as a “not now” cause eventually, my moments will come.
It’s all about consistency and patience!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At this current time, I consider myself a visual artist.
I love telling stories through my art.
I specialize and am known mostly for my lifestyle and editorial portraits and work with musical artists such as nobigdyl, Byron Juane, and Andy Mineo.
I think the thing that sets me apart from others is my ability to connect with my subject in a way that makes the creation process seem almost natural without force. Being able to feel the emotion of a project is important to me and I feel like I never have to force people into bringing that out. The connection and vibes that I have with people allow me to create some of my most impactful work, and this is what I am most proud of!
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
This industry is definitely growing, but art is unpredictable. With the way technology advances, I’m unsure. However, I am extremely excited to grow within it and hopefully become a known entity within the industry!
Contact Info:
- Email: anthony@anthonyferrell.net
- Website: www.anthonyferrell.net
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/iamaferrell
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/iamaferrell
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/iamaferrell
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/c/anthonyferrell
