Today we’d like to introduce you to Richard Payne.
Hi Richard, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’m from New Orleans, Louisiana, and my journey as a photographer didn’t start with a camera. It started with Myspace and a phone. I didn’t own any gear, but I always had an eye for creating cool, artistic shots. My friends had smartphones with the best cameras at the time, and I’d take over by directing the shot, setting the vibe, and treating each photo like a creative project.
That energy carried over to Facebook and eventually Instagram. By the time IG rolled out, I had already built a name in New Orleans as a stylish guy on Myspace and Facebook. I knew how to dress, pose, and create a moment. I was developing a visual style before “content creation” was even a term. At the same time, I was painting, drawing, tattooing, and sculpting. I was considered one of the top artists in my school, if not the best. Creativity was always in me.
For three years straight, my friends and I went downtown in New Orleans almost every weekend to shoot outfit photos. What started as a trio grew into a movement with 20 to 30 creatives linking up to collaborate. At the time, we didn’t even know what a photowalk was, but that consistency built my reputation in the city. Even after I left for college, the movement kept going.
At Louisiana Tech, I turned my passion into a hustle. I began charging for photos and dove into graphic design. My work started going viral and was used for cover art, branding, and marketing materials. That success pushed me to start studying branding, marketing, and virality through books, courses, and hands-on research. I worked with a fast-growing clothing brand in college and eventually applied everything I learned to my own business. One of my ART T-shirt designs went viral and made more money than I’d ever seen at once. That success helped fund my move to Dallas where everything started to elevate.
In Dallas, a friend introduced me to the sports scene which was booming at the time. I started filming high school players, then moved to college athletes, and eventually began working with NFL and NBA talent. Athletes connected with my work because it was different. It was urban, cinematic, and multidimensional. It just looked better. I knew right away that I was bringing something special to the table.
Around that same time, I connected with Young Money APAA Sports, Lil Wayne’s agency. That was a full-circle moment since we’re from the same neighborhood in New Orleans, and it opened doors for design opportunities and brand work.
Not long after, I started noticing variations of my viral ART T-shirt popping up from bigger companies. It showed me just how far my creativity could reach and reminded me of the range I have as a designer. People still send me photos of the shirt being worn in different states or sold in places I’ve never even been. It’s wild to see something I created in college continue to show up across the culture, proving that art really does travel.
One of the craziest moments happened when I met someone in Dallas who had one of my graphics from four years earlier as their phone wallpaper. They had no idea I was the artist. I only realized it when I picked up their phone and thought I had accidentally changed my own background. Moments like that confirmed I was on the right path.
Since then, my creative agency has worked with the NFL, NBA, Adidas, Jordan (Nike), Sports Illustrated, and even the Official Basketball Hall of Fame. I’ve been featured in Forbes a few times, published, shot a bestselling book cover, created a logo for an NBA signature shoe, and led campaigns that reached millions.
All of this came from my love for art and finding my creative medium. It started with a phone, a platform, and the desire to apply my artistic self. That’s why I’m such an advocate for shifting your mindset, changing your environment, and fully showing up as yourself, especially for the at-risk youth who need to see what’s possible when creativity meets purpose.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One of my main challenges early on was the lack of knowledge and guidance. When I first started my creative agency, I had no reference point. I didn’t know anyone with a creative agency, and the larger companies felt out of reach. I wasn’t sure how to land clients, set my pricing, or even run a business the right way. To overcome that, I threw myself into learning, reading books, seeking out mentors, and absorbing as much as I could from the people I met along the way. It was all part of doing whatever it took to build the foundation for my company.
We’ve been impressed with Richard Payne Studios LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Richard Payne Studios is a creative agency that specializes in creative photography, videography, graphic design, and social media management. My focus is creating revenue driven content that drives results such as sales and engagement. I’m a Creative Director with extensive experience, that has collaborated with major brands such as the NFL , NBA , Jordan (NIKE) ,and Adidas. What sets the studio apart is its strategic focus on creativity, ROI , and virality.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
The most important quality for my success has definitely been my creativity and the ability to adapt. From the start, I always had a natural eye for art, even before I had a camera. I was driven by the desire to create, whether it was through photos, painting, drawing, or tattooing. As I kept going, I never stopped exploring new ways to express myself. I was always willing to adapt to new platforms, like Myspace, Facebook, and eventually Instagram. I kept pushing to create something unique and authentic. Whether it was building my rep in New Orleans or jumping into the sports scene in Dallas, I stayed focused on doing things differently. That creative drive and adaptability have been key to helping me grow, evolve, and push boundaries with my work.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.richardpaynestudios.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richardpaynestudios/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-payne-802a47195/
