Today we’d like to introduce you to Dimaggio Escobedo.
Dimaggio, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I guess the story starts in my adolescences, I would say as early as seven. What propelled my love for photography inevitability was my Godbrother (Chris Fletes) he was my role model when I was younger and can confidently say still is today. He was the one who introduced me to skateboarding and the co-cultures that came along with it. If anyone reading this skates, you know what I’m talking about. The genres of music, styles of clothing, slang and terminology, Art, Film, Photography and nomadic sense of being. These where cultures very intertwined with skateboarding and inevitably shaped my perspectives, way of thought and me as a person. I know to some that may sound silly that a mere toy can have that much influence on someone but, hey it’s gotten me this far, haha!
Skateboarding was my first initial introduction to Photography and film because it was so prominent to document your progression as well as to having bragging rights. Because of this, I have always had a deep admiration for these two mediums. There is an exact moment I fell I love with photography and knew I wanted to incorporate it in my work though. Now, to just be able to get my hands on a camera, haha! My family took a trip to the San Francisco zoo when I was about nine or ten, my cousin came along and at the time was in a film photography class in high school. That day, he took a photo of my youngest sister, it wasn’t the act of him taking the photo that made me fall in love, it was the outcome of that 16×20 black and white 35mm film print and his explanation of the development process that made me fall in. From there, I was hooked, I come from a predominately lower class family although my parents did everything in there power to keep us happy. This hindered my ability to have a camera, so I sought salvation in the greatest alternative of its time Kodak disposable cameras. Disposable camera where my go-to for family vacations and school field trips.
At the age of 11, my family lost our house, and we set off from Livermore, California for a distant land called Fort Worth, Texas where I didn’t even think had concrete roads haha. After arriving in Fort Worth things where rough and I lost a lot of influence in well, just about everything. I won’t bore you with that! It wasn’t until I was about 13 that I had picked up photography again, this time using my cell phone at the time. I remember asking for a camera priorly, but my parents didn’t have the means to afford a DSLR, so I decided to give up my portion of Christmas presents for x amount of years, it would take my parents to save up for one. I was 15 when I was able to walk in and purchase a DSLR, it was three years that I had waited for this one satisfying moment. Needless to say, I was on trigger-happy little kid haha.
For the first year and a half, I shot a majority street photography before I was provoked interest in clothing/fashion and portraiture. I was 16 when my friends began to ask me to shoot them modeling clothing for their lookbook but, I still never thought of it as a career just as a means for opening doors of networking. Throughout high school, there were other photographers that weren’t necessarily better than me, but more understanding of the path they were taking and how to get to their goals and that really hindered over me. My senior year of high school me and my closest friends (Shane, Andreas, and Phil) that are more brothers than anything started our own clothing company by the name of Autodidact, I was head of advertisement/ marketing, creative direction as well as helping with designs. This was the height of my creativity. The company didn’t make it a full year when Phil was found dead at home on December 8th, 2012. We lost our brother and a part of us that day, and we couldn’t seem to go on without him.
As time went on, it was hard to shake that numbing feeling in life, and I recused myself from everything. When I was 20, I found out I was going to be a father. The thought of being a father scared the hell out of me I couldn’t see myself being a good parent because I felt like such a f&@! up, I was scared, not ready, immature, and felt I had no direction in life and carry guilt for the way I treated the one closest to me and I hope I show how sorry I am every day. On January 23, 2014, my spouse gave birth to my beautiful daughter Amelia Rose Escobedo, she was the pivotal turning point in my life. My daughter was my strength and motivation to continue school and figure out what I’m going to do with the rest of my life. As she grew, my camera became more attached to my hip, and it became more clear that it could be a means of work or career.
When I turned 23, that was when I fully devoted my efforts and creativity to photography and trying to figure out my next step. At first, I used every resource possible as a means to finding models to incorporate in my work, this was a major obstacle because known models don’t want anything to do with a no-name photographer which they aren’t to blame with all the stories you hear from the industry. Because of this one would assume the community is open-armed when it comes to embracing new and upcoming fellow photographers due to the difficulty to penetrate the industry but, that is not the case. I used friends and acquaintances as models at first because as a nobody no-one wants to work with you. Through friendship and recommendation of people willing to work, I forced my self into the industry. Once I found my way into the industry, it was a countless hour of networking, social media research, following trends, and attending meet-ups to make my presence apparent, through this process I established a name for myself and a small following to really push myself to the next level in my work.
From there, I really just tried to reach out and work with people I think could truly make my vision come to life or people that I have always drawn inspiration from with that came some successful sets and people really reaching out to me. all in all I couldn’t have don’t it without the amazing people that have always had my back, my spouse, my daughter, my parents, the models/stylists/MUA’s I have worked with, Ashley Arabian over at Wonderer Boutique for recommending me for this interview, the close friends I’ve made along the way and closely work with, and Voyage for giving me this opportunity to tell my story!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I would say definitely not, but I’m happy it wasn’t truthfully. The struggles shaped me, and I’m happy about the type of person I have become because of them. Skateboarding built my determination, endurance for pain, problem-solving skills, strong will, and coping mechanisms that I unknowingly would need for my future. And life put them to the test. I think the biggest struggles were mainly the adversities and odds that I had against me. There were plenty of nights spent thinking if any of my work mattered and if I should even go on. I sometimes feel I’m on a journey not many people understand. Constantly finding my self-surrounded by people that see my work as a mere fantasy or waste of time because they see no future or the slim chances. I don’t see slim chances, I see more learning experiences or a developing process to get there. These pressure made me want to conform and become a cog in society working a 9 to 5 in a career I hate but, at the end of the day, I just remember the reason I started shooting in the first place, for my enjoyment, form of expression, and to provide what I feel I can add to the industry.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with D.E. Lenswork – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
My business is called D.E. Lenswork. I am a freelance photographer. I work closely with models in the DFW area as well as traveling models and travel myself if booked whether it be collaborative or personal concepts of mine. I provide my art to not only the community but companies in the industry alike. I specialize in portraits, editorials, high fashion, streetwear, visual marketing, creative direction, collaborative branding work, and music performances/events. I would have to say I’m most proud of the accomplishments I’ve made in even the short amount of time I have done this as well as the versatility I have been able to provide to different audiences and clients I have worked with. In turn, allowing me to say I really can bring people visions to life. I think that what sets me apart for the rest is my vision and influences alone, a lot of photographers and companies over glorify false beauty and this perception of perfection while I focus on what’s raw, like emotions and concepts that get overlooked because deemed unpleasant or taking real-life aspect to what beauty is.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Big plans are definitely in the works. My goal this year was to get published by the end of the year other than the publishings I have had at The North Texas Daily as a news photographer and behold it looks like that happened with this interview haha. That doesn’t change much though, I still strive to have a photo published in a magazine or to provide a company collaboration on some ad work. Other than that, the ultimate goal is to be featured in Vogue, not because they’re my favorite or anything but the sheer fact that they kind of hold a standard in the community that I want to prove myself capable of. This coming year, I plan to be more project-based rather than collaborating with people who just show interest. This means more time in the studio more work with MUA’s, stylists, designers, and photographer on extensively thought out concepts. This year will hold big things, but I also want this year to be more at ease than the past. I’ve taken on 50 plus projects this year, it was a little overwhelming, so I’m definitely looking forward to a slower highly produced year.
Pricing:
- For on-location portraits, I charge $100/hour and you will receive a minimum of 20 fully edited shots in return (depending on how many photos were taken)
- Studio Portraits pricing varies depending on the studio being used as to their price differentiates (will be charged $75/hour on top of studio cost)
- Editorials / high fashion if in studio will vary otherwise $150/hour
Contact Info:
- Address: 81117 Kathleen Dr, Fort Worth, TX
- Phone: (682)553-3318
- Email: D.E.Lenswork@gmail.com
- Instagram: @dimtheautodidact
- Facebook: http://m.me/dimtheautodidact
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.
