Today we’d like to introduce you to Rusty Hill.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Rusty. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Growing up in the beautiful state of Colorado it is no wonder that I fell in love with photography at an early age. When I reached high school, I was excited to take a creative photography class as well as take photos for the yearbook. It was in high school that I met someone who would shape my life forever.
My high school photo teacher was a college level instructor who was between university jobs and provided me with an amazing education. He was a former Ansel Adams student who shared with me everything he had learned from Ansel. One day he mentioned that I could go to college for photography and that was all it took.
After graduation, I was off to Texas to learn more as an assistant. I spent a couple of years assisting photographers and honing my craft before I became a full-time photographer. I shot for another studio for several years before opening my own studio here.
Early in my shooting career, I was involved in a cooking and food catalogue; it was during this time that I fell in love with the colors and textures that were involved with food photography. I was one of the pioneers of Dragon Street.
I took a chance on this building in the Design District well before it developed into what it is now. I love coming to work here and can’t imagine doing anything else.
Has it been a smooth road?
Because I was willing to pay my dues early, it has been a fairly smooth road for me. I was always shooting images for myself when I wasn’t busy with client work. This allowed me to up my game and have successful images to show to gain new work. As rewarding as it is running your own business there are always downsides to it. Scheduling for personal time can be challenging as you don’t always know when your clients will have needs.
Photographers are used to the term “feast or famine,” which refers to scheduling issues where the work hits all at once or not enough at one time. You have to be flexible and available as much as possible during those times. Shooting days will occasionally extend beyond the normal workday, if you had personal plans you can’t just walk out the door to attend those. With many years in the business, I have learned how to make it all work, and it really is super rewarding.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I specialize in food and beverage photography predominately for advertising clients. We shoot illustrative photography that is used nationally and internationally for menus, ads, the point of purchase displays, websites, etc..
I have always been proud of my ability to light a scene and bring out a richness or texture that others may not have seen. I am also proud of the fact that I have run a successful company for over 25 years. In that time I have mentored countless aspiring photographers who have gone on to have amazing careers.
I have long-standing client relationships and get much satisfaction when told of successful campaigns that netted sales exceeding expectations. That really is what enables us to do what we love. My goal is to take the best photo I can get away with while still realizing the client is paying for this and it needs to meet all their criteria.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I moved to Dallas based on its well-rounded economy. I didn’t know at the time that it was a huge food market with a multitude of restaurant headquarters and food manufacturers based here.
As I moved totally into shooting food, I realized what a great market it was. If someone were just starting out Dallas would provide a great opportunity for them. The food and drink scene here is fantastic; I can’t really imagine a place with more choices.
On the other hand, as I stated earlier I grew up in Colorado, it’s difficult to be confined to the concrete for long periods of time before I need to go and find a nature fix.
Contact Info:
- Website: rustyhill.com
- Phone: 214-761-1761
- Email: rusty@rustyhill.com
- Instagram: @rustyhill
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.
