Today we’d like to introduce you to Arahman Jones.
Arahman, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I got fired from my job two days after my boy Max bought an office space right across the street from the mall I worked at. He quit T-Mobile two days before I got fired from Journey’s. He said “B I got a photography studio set up the office. You do music, clothes, and paint… You may as well try shooting.” I’m like well I’m unemployed, I got nothing to lose. If I’m trash, I’m still unemployed lol. So I went for it. A week after shooting he introduced me to a guy named HD. After HD saw my work he told Max to let me borrow the camera whenever I wanted cause I had something. Fast forward three months, I got booked to shoot a model for a JET magazine contest. I also shot my girlfriend (@ifrankie_ell) for the contest and she won. That’s pretty much it. We’re here now, lol.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It hasn’t been easy. I mean I lost my job and had to binge YouTube videos to learn how to edit just good enough to fake like I knew what I was doing. Nobody really did model photography where I lived. Just grad pictures. I had to build a team of models to work with. Once I did that, me and my boy who’s camera and studio I was using fell out cause money finally started coming in. So then I had no camera and no studio. I had to rent cameras from people I knew just to shoot. I literally had to pay @seanwoodsmedia a percentage of my profit just to use his camera. Shout to him and @macork. I was shooting and donating plasma to save up for a camera. Then I moved to Atlanta with a job promotion and knew absolutely nobody. So yea… lots of starting over.
Black Neon – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Black Neon. I specialize in model photography. I like to shoot everything. I’m just mostly known for that because the world only allows you to wear one hat at a time. I’m proud of not being rich and still giving back. I randomly do super discounts to give back. I’ve been told my work is too good to do deals like that but I do it because I had nothing when I started. I’ve watched people turn a $25 shoot into a portfolio, album covers, grad photos… all kinds of stuff. That’s what it’s about for me. I couldn’t even afford my own camera at 1st. The difference in my work is simple I like to push the imagery right to the point where people start to get uncomfortable and make them realize that they love uncomfortable.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success is being about to live the rest of your life in harmony with the decisions you made for yourself. That’s it. Being rich is dope but did you make a positive impact? Did you pull some people up the ladder or did you kick it over when YOU got to the top? Success can’t be measured by a bank account. I think it’s measured by how well you can sleep at night.
Pricing:
- $250 – 1 hour, 5 edits, and all raw images
- $350 – 2 hours, 10 edits, all raw images
- $600 – 3 hours, 15 edits, 1-3 min bts video, and all raw edits
Contact Info:
- Website: Arahsgotagun.com
- Phone: 850-339-0391
- Email: neonred11@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arahmanjones/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/Arahs-Gun-1862272653989156/?tsid=0.6467106940121244&source=result
Image Credit:
Models: Cheranna Dottin (@che_ranna) and Frankie Ell (@ifrankie_ell) Headwraps: shopxanc (@shopxanc); Model: Lauren Johnson (@thelalalauren); Model: Tasha Milan (@callmechinaa); Model: Lauren Johnson (@thelalalauren); Stylist: Dria (@iamthriftjesus); Model: Soni Dorcena (@sonimulqueen); Model: Athena (@eyeofathena); Model: Frankie Ell (@ifrankie_ell); Stylist: Arahman Jones (@arahmanjones); Model: Shashi Aliyah (@hausofali) Stylist: Arahman Jones (@arahmanjones)
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