Today we’d like to introduce you to La’Tavion Stanfield.
La’Tavion, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’m La’Tavion Stanfield, photographer/cinematographer based out of the Oklahoma City and Dallas area. Film and entertainment have always been a goal for me. Growing up, I only had an interest in careers in front of the camera until learning graphic design in the Audio and Video Production program at Francis Tuttle in 2011. That’s when my interest for the industry grew to all things in front of and behind the camera. Leaving Francis Tuttle in 2012 without finishing the course, I started using graphic design as a side hustle creating everything from mixtape covers, promo pictures, event flyers, etc. After five years, I realized I was just jumping from job to job, my clientele with graphic design hadn’t really grown, and now I have a little boy on the way, it was time to switch it up.
That’s when I linked with a childhood friend, Music Lyfe artist @D.Wright405, who’s also the owner of @LyfeMedia405 in the summer of 2017. Music Lyfe was in need of an in-house photographer/cinematographer, which persuaded me to create Visuals by Image and try my hand in full-time entrepreneurship. It started with me shooting a couple of music videos, photoshoots, and performances for Music Lyfe artists. At the time, I was shooting with a Panasonic fz300 camera and editing my photos from an app on my phone. That’s why my advice to people getting started behind the camera is once you have the knowledge, just start. Don’t wait until you have the most expensive equipment. Make due with what you have, then upgraded equipment and develop your skill as you go. With that being said, I made the decision to sharpen my skills by returning to Francis Tuttle to finish the Audio & Video Production program in August of 2017. Shortly after, we partnered with music artist @Official_Inyarachaa, owner of Essentric Visuals and the rest is history.
Three years later, we still have a long way to go to reach the heights I know we’re capable of, but with a repost from Will Smith on his Instagram page, hundreds of photoshoots, 20+ music videos, short films, and many more to come. I’m grateful and proud of the progress we’ve made. Thanks to Matthew Oakley we now have studio access at Moto Photo located at 6900 N May Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73116. We’re blessed to have a steady and loyal clientele that continues to grow. This has definitely become more than a side hustle.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I had obstacles to overcome along the way, as we all do. Losing my mom, aunt, and best friend within the first two years of starting my business was something I thought I wouldn’t get through, but with a good support system, you learn to find ways to keep moving.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
Visuals by Image is a photography, cinematography, and marketing company based out of the Oklahoma City and Dallas area. We offer:
• Photography & Video *music videos, glamor shots, family photos, weddings, commercials, etc.
• Graphic Design *logos, album/mixtape covers, event flyers, etc.
• Prints & Photo Restoration
We do have studio access with props available at Moto Photo located at 6900 N May Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73116.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Finish the Audio and Video Production program the first time around.
Pricing:
- 10 Pictures – $120 (In-Studio $145)
- 15 Pictures – $160 (In-Studio $185)
- 20 Pictures – $200 (In-Studio $225)
- 1 Location Video – $500 (Contact for details)
- 2+ Location Video – $750 & Up (Contact for details)
Contact Info:
- Email: VisualsbyImage@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/visualsbyimage/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VisualsbyImage/
- Other: Add me on Snapchat! Username: yesimpbt3 https://www.snapchat.com/add/yesimpbt3
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