Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew Reid.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I am the founder of Matthew Reid Photography, a photography and video production business specializing in weddings, lifestyle, and small businesses. I currently live in Austin, Tx with my wife. Aside from photography and videography, I am heavily involved with church and the local community. If I’m not behind a camera, then I’m in the kitchen cooking, sending random GIFs to my friends, or on Hulu catching up on TV shows.
Growing up, I wasn’t considered a creative person. It wasn’t until after college and working for a year or so that I realized my life could not just be about working a 9-5 job and that I needed a creative outlet. My best options were to either be a photographer or a DJ. It was around this time that my wife (fiancé at the time) and I were wedding planning and searching for a wedding photographer that I realized a huge problem. We struggled tremendously to find a photographer in our area that had a portfolio that adequately represented people of color enough for us to feel comfortable and trusting that our skin tones would pop beautifully. This is what led me to purchase my first camera and eventually start and grow my photography business.
Producing videos came out of curiosity and a knack for problem-solving. Most businesses struggle to get their customers to identify with their brand. I help businesses clarify their message and close the gap between them and their customers through video to increase engagement and give business owners back their time.
Over the last 2 and a half years, I have photographed many weddings and produced many videos for small businesses. What first started out as a need and creative outlet has now become a platform to share the stories of couples, graduates, and small businesses. I am extremely grateful that I was able to see early on that life is more than work and deserves to be fun and creative. It seems silly to say this, but I truly do not know what my life would look like without a camera in my hand.
Please tell us about your art.
Matthew Reid Photography is a local photography and videography business that focuses on weddings, lifestyle, and small businesses. Two concepts that drive me are culture and legacy. Culture is what led me to first pick up a camera, and legacy is why I keep it in my hands. I have photographed all kinds of work, but the ones I enjoy the most are the ones after getting to know my couples or individuals then crafting photos around their personality, memories, or everyday life. I’m not as much into posing as I am about capturing life as it happens. Photography should be able to represent each person in the image. Nobody wants to see their wedding photos and not be able to recognize themselves in their photos!
I also spend time working on personal projects. One that I have been working on is called Elder Stories. I’ve been holding video interviews with our elders that are 65+ years old and giving them an opportunity to share their life story while also speaking to their children and grandchildren so that they will have something tangible to remember their elders by. This project was birthed out of me wanting to know more about my 87-year-old grandfather and has led to others wanting to record the stories of their parents and grandparents.
Wedding photography and videography is my bread and butter. Helping small business grow with video is my golf game. Despite the medium, art should tell a story, if it doesn’t, then it’s just a distraction.
What do you think about the conditions for artists today? Has life become easier or harder for artists in recent years? What can cities like ours do to encourage and help art and artists thrive?
Write all of your ideas down on one sheet of paper. Some may seem bigger than you, but you will grow as an artist, then they will become attainable. The only limit to your creativity is yourself. Something that I wished I had learned earlier was to not be afraid of growth. Often times, I humble myself by looking at my first photos. At the time, I knew that I wasn’t great, but I had to keep taking photos to get better and eventually grow to the place that I am at today, which is still growing.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
My work can be found on my Instagram and website. You can also email me or slide into my DMs to chat. Reach out and let’s have a conversation. Whether you are a creative or wanting to represent yourself through photography or video, let’s connect!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.MatthewReidPhotography.com
- Phone: 7372311320
- Email: mlrcphotography@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/matthewreidphotography
Image Credit:
Jerrell Trulove Photography (for the photo of myself)
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