Today we’d like to introduce you to Clint James.
Clint, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My journey in photography is a relatively new one. I’ve only been shooting for about 22 months, which coincides perfectly with the birth of my daughter. Like any new parent, I couldn’t stop taking pictures of her with my iPhone. I took hundreds. I just wasn’t satisfied with them & decided if I was going to do this beautiful girl any justice I needed a real camera. I went to Best Buy and got my first DSLR camera, rushed home, charged the battery and went to town taking photos. They were terrible. Seriously. I had no idea what I was doing. I was determined to figure it out though. I poured through dozens of YouTube videos, actually read the camera manual and took as many photos as possible. I eventually got a beautiful picture of my daughter & I was hooked. I fell completely in love with photography in a way I didn’t know was possible. It took me almost 40 years, but I’d found what I was passionate about.
Although I haven’t been doing this long, I’ve been extremely fortunate to learn from some industry giants like Matthew Jordan Smith, Sue Bryce & Lindsay Adler. I’m personally mentored by Joe Edelman who’s been extremely helpful & giving of his time, knowledge and very honest critiques of my work. I have thrown myself headfirst in to learning as much as I can because I just can’t get enough. I love it so much…
I’ve quickly found that my absolute passion is for low key, moody & dramatic portraiture, boudoir & art nude photography. I love shooting & working with people from all walks of life & getting to know their stories and helping them share that story with the world. Landscape photography is fun & beautiful, but there is nothing like the time spent working & connecting with the person in front of my lens. A beautiful portrait stops me in my tracks…
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Fun? Absolutely! Smooth? No…. Not at all.
As I mentioned before, I started shooting when my daughter was just born, so there’s obstacle number one (the most beautiful & perfect obstacle though). Me and my wife both work full-time jobs and side jobs, we have three dogs & now a baby. Finding time to shoot has been a juggling act from the beginning. Fortunately my wife is absolutely the most actively supportive partner I could ever hope for, but there’s still only so much time each day.
Another obstacle has been my own unbridled passion. I love it so much that, in the beginning, I had all the drive in the world, but zero direction or disciple. I was all over the place… I was shooting anything, anyone, and anywhere. I was going 100 miles per hour, but had no idea where I was going or how to get there. I was in a mad hurry though.
I’m less than 2 years in & I’m sure there are many unknown obstacles lurking around the corner. I’ve learned to slow down and be deliberate though. Obstacles will pop up, but hopefully I’ll be prepared to handle them better.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about M. Clint James Photography – what should we know?
My company, M. Clint James Photography, specializes in contemporary portraiture, boudoir & art nude photography that has started to lean toward a low key, dramatic and moody feel.
As for what I’m most proud of, it’s my boudoir work & the feedback I have received from my boudoir clients. Boudoir is usually seen as sexy photos you take for your spouse or partner. While that’s a piece of what boudoir is, so far that hasn’t been the reason behind a single one of my clients shooting their boudoir sessions. They chose boudoir completely for themselves. They were celebrating their new bodies after significant weight loss or hoping to find themselves after coming out of abusive, unhealthy relationships. They were giving the middle finger to society’s beauty standards and embracing their own beauty, taking back power over their own bodies. I have grown as a person watching my clients face their fears and personal insecurities. It is so, so amazing & powerful to watch these beautiful women come in completely terrified & insecure, but leave empowered & strong. Seriously, it’s my favorite thing to watch & I’m so honored to be a little part of their journey.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
There really are so many. My wife is absolutely at the top of that list. She has given & sacrificed so much to allow me to pursue my passion.
I’ve also been so fortunate to learn from a plethora of local photographers, HMUAs & models. There’s Omar Ramos, Jacky Fae, Sophie Hunter, Jasmine Williams, Jonathan Christian and so many more. There is so much talent in Dallas!!
And as I stated before, Joe Edelman has been a significant help (and pain in my ass at times) throughout this journey.
Pricing:
- Session Fee starts at $250 and includes hair, makeup, styling and a 3 to 4 hour shoot & a private printed photo reveal & sales session.
- All prints are sold a la carte or in packages. A digital file is included with each purchased print.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2024 Dripping Springs Dr
Forney, TX 75126 - Website: www.mclintjames.com
- Phone: 469-909-0834
- Email: clint@mclintjames.com
Image Credit:
Jasmine Williams, Lauren Powell, Whitney Lee, Tina Torres, Tianna Tucker, Jacob Miller, Tiffany Bee, Kendal Wooten, Paris Broughton, Jacky Fae, Amber Kyle
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
