Meet Anthony Andrews of B.I.C. Photography & T-Shirts in South

Today we’d like to introduce you to Anthony Andrews.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I was born and raised in Dallas, TX (Oak Cliff). As a child, visiting my grandparents, I can remember my grandfather having walls covered with family photos. There were so many it literally looked like wall paper. He loved photos. Like my grandfather, I became infatuated with cameras and photography, and I have yet to put them down.

A Polaroid with the instant film was my first camera. I took my camera everywhere and I took pictures of everything. Photography for me started out as a fun thing to do, then it became a hobby that evolved into a passion, which led me to start my business. I can vividly remember the day I decided to go into the photography business. It was in 1991, and I was in Galveston, Texas for the Annual Kappa Beach Party, and I decided to take my new Olympus Digital Camera, with about 100mp, and my HP Photo Printer to take and sell photos. I sold 8×10’s in a frame for $20.00, and I came home with a $900 profit. From that day forth, I began pushing my small business until I was known all over the DFW (Dallas/Fort Worth)area as the picture guy who would print your photos on the spot at your event. I began to acquire jobs at some of the most popular night clubs and after-hour spots in Dallas. Over the years, as I advanced, I wanted to diversify my business, so I purchased other types of equipment, seeking better opportunities and went back to school and earned three certifications in Photography and Adobe Photoshop from East Field Community College.

I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit, so in addition to B.I.C. Photography, I was also running my own trucking company. However, by 2008, it was time to walk away from the trucking industry and time to open my own Photography Studio & T-Shirt store. God’s timing is everything. With that, I prayed and walked away by Faith.

I sold my trucking company to invest in my vision, and I started my photography studio in the back of my cousin’s furniture store, and it was a success. That was the beginning. I teamed up with a business partner, and we moved into Southwest Center Mall formally Red Bird Mall for three years. The next move, my wife and I renovated this old building in a sketchy part of town, and people thought I was crazy, but I saw the vision. My wife didn’t even “see it,” but she helped and supported my vision anyway (that’s why she’s now my wife). At this location, it was another three years of success. Now, I must be honest, it’s not easy being an entrepreneur, actually, the last four years at the last location have been a struggle, but overall it has been an amazing journey.

As a Freelance Photographer, T-Shirt & Graphic designer, I have had the opportunity to work with multiple organizations including being a part of The Potters House of Dallas Photography team for over 14 years, covering The Mega Fest, Pastors and Leaders Conference, and other events hosted by TD Jakes Enterprises and TD Jakes Ministries. My team and I have covered the Las Vegas Soul Fest Festival. I have worked with several colleges and trade schools capturing their graduations: Everest College, Lincoln Tech, ATI College, and Medvance Institute. I have worked several concerts at Verizon Theater in Grand Prairie, Texas. I have had the honor to do the Bows and Debs for Concord Missionary Baptist Church as well as the Obama School here in Dallas for several years. I have worked several luncheons for Charlton Methodist Hospital. I have worked with multiple celebrities, Dallas City Hall Political Parties, United States Christian Chamber of Commerce, The Chris Howell Foundation, Celebrating Life Foundation, The Sister to Sister Fitness Festival, Dallas Fort Worth Trail Ride Association, South Central Civic League Joppee Neighborhood Association and surrounding school districts just to name a few.

Currently, after eleven years of being a storefront business, I am transitioning into an online/mobile business. I’m very excited about the transition and looking forward to what the future hold. My next vision/dream/aspiration is to work with Tyler Perry Studios.

Has it been a smooth road?
This journey has certainly been like a roller coaster ride. Initially, there was not a lot of competition, there were not many photographers offering what I could offer. However, every year as technology changed many millennial’s began stepping into the business and taking Photography and Graphic Design to a whole different level, making it a game-changer. As I mentioned before, the last four years have been the worst because the main storefront of the retail shopping area I was in closed down and traffic decreased dramatically within my first four months of being there. In addition, competitors moved into the area, so I had to offer a faster turn around time, adjust my prices, and change some of my market strategies. Another impediment was leasing a building in which I was responsible for ALL of the maintenance and repairs. In addition to employees quitting in the middle of a week when the season is very slow and being overwhelmed with too much work with too short of a deadline. Which all culminated into my biggest challenge: financially keeping my business afloat as well as my home and personal needs. However, I am a believer and God always provides.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with B.I.C. Photography & T-Shirts – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
Brother In Christ (B.I.C.) Photography & T-Shirts is a professional photography and custom t-shirt business that also offers all types of marketing materials for small businesses. I create business cards, flyers, banners, car magnets, door hangers, yard signs, etc. I specialize in event photography and I am well known for setting up a live photo booth with custom backdrops and custom borders of the event themes for guests to take home printed photos as a souvenir, not just a photo. I am also known for the “Alter Ego” and photo collages I offer with my Senior Photo packages. Most of my events I would set up a photo booth, capture the shots of the event. What I’m most proud of regarding my company is also what sets me apart from my competitors is that I’m a one-stop-shop for many of my clients. I do their photoshoot, design their flyer, banner, t-shirts, and other print needs. I even supply the DJ, if needed.

At B.I.C. Photography and T-Shirts we serve others by “Capturing today’s moment for tomorrow’s Memories”.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
What I love the most about our city is the skyline and The Dallas Cowboys because they are America’s favorite team (lol). Dallas is full of opportunities and great people. What I like least about Dallas is the traffic.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://bicphotos02.wixsite.com/bicphotos
• Phone: 972-780-0078
• Email: bicphotos02@yahoo.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bicphotos02
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bicphotographytshirts
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/bic1tshirts
• Other: https://bicphotos.photoreflect.com

Image Credit:
Anthony Andrews, Alisa Andrews

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