Today we’d like to introduce you to Gary Pike.
Hi Gary, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I started out back in 2021, when I pulled over on the side of the road and took a picture of my truck with some bluebonnets. I submitted the picture to my company’s magazine (Eagle Eye News) and it landed on the front page on my first try. I was inspired to take pictures from then on and I seized every opportunity to do so. I was, and still am, a full-time truck driver. Photography became a creative outlet while I spent the long hours on the road. As I traveled, I saw many beautiful scenes Texas has to offer, which gave me opportunities to photograph nature. Around this time, I revisited my background in information technology, which I went to school for originally when I was 18. The timing wasn’t right then. I continued developing those skills through the years. I opened my second business in 2025 and began using my IT talents to serve others.
On weekends when I was home, I would take my kids out and photograph them as they played, capturing life at its finest. I would go places such as the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens to photograph the beauty of nature, downtown Fort Worth to document urban life, and the Stockyards to capture some of the history that makes Fort Worth special.
I kept photography as a hobby for the first few years. I realized I could help people express themselves through images of what they loved most. In 2024, I purchased my first camera, a Nikon Z5. I had been borrowing my mom’s Nikon D5500 for the first few years. I officially launched Pike Photography Texas at the beginning of that year. I then started working on my own website that I designed myself and later started hosting it myself on my own servers at my other business. These two businesses work well together and allow me to serve people in many ways while also supporting one another.
As time went by, I came across many opportunities. I shot my first wedding in June of 2022, my first family shoot in 2023, my first maternity shoot in 2024. In 2025, I shot my second wedding, and I am scheduled to shoot my third wedding in April 2026. During that time, I also shot several kindergarten and senior graduations and landed the front page of Eagle Eye News four more times. Looking ahead, I see both of my businesses continuing to grow together. Whether through photography or technology, my goal is to help people capture meaningful moments and solve real-world problems, using the skills I have built over time.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Balancing a full-time career with two businesses has been one of my greatest challenges. Long hours on the road taught me the value of time management and staying motivated when progress felt slow. I also value time with my children. There were moments when quitting seemed easier than continuing, but I learned that consistency matters more than speed. Small steps taken every day can eventually lead to real growth. During that time, my faith helped guide me through uncertainty and stay focused on the long-term.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Dustins Garage IT Solutions?
Dustins Garage IT Solutions operates two service brands: Pike IT Solutions and Pike Photography Texas. Pike Photography Texas focuses on portrait, family, graduation, and wedding photography, with an emphasis on capturing meaningful moments in natural Texas settings. Each session is approached with a personal and hands-on style to help clients feel comfortable and confident in front of the camera.
Pike IT Solutions provides technology services for small businesses, including in-person technical support, server hosting, and colocation solutions. The goal is to help clients run their systems reliably while also supporting creative businesses, such as photography studios, that need dependable technical assistance.
What sets the business apart is the combination of creativity and technology under one operation. The photography and IT sides of the business complement each other by blending artistic storytelling with reliable technical infrastructure. Together, they allow Dustins Garage IT Solutions to serve clients both creatively and technically while building long-term relationships based on trust and service.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
When I was starting out, I wish I had understood the business side better. I didn’t realize how much paperwork and documentation would be involved, and that was a learning curve for me. I also learned that patience is key. In the beginning, I was focused on chasing money instead of building something meaningful. Over time, I realized there is more to success than trying to force your way to the top.
If you stay consistent, let things develop naturally, and remain open to opportunities, growth will come. Constantly worrying about where the next job will come from only adds unnecessary stress, and in the long run, that stress can take a real toll. Trust the process, focus on doing good work, and allow your path to unfold. At the end of the day, what clients care about most is how you treat them, the quality of your results, and your consistency.
Pricing:
- Portrait and family sessions: starting at $100
- Graduation and senior sessions: starting at $100
- Wedding photography: pricing varies by package and coverage
- T services for small businesses: pricing varies based on project and support needs
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.pikephotographytexas.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dustin_pike1990/
- Other: https://www.pikeitsolutions.net
Image Credits
Dustin Pike
