Today we’d like to introduce you to Deandra Raquel Bacon.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I have a really hard time dealing with grief. And I know it’s tough for everyone and we deal with it in different ways, but for me it’s pictures. I like to take myself back to the moments when that person was alive. I’ve lost both my biological father and my step father to violence and addiction. Those losses were really hard for me to process because I actually didn’t have a lot of photos with them. I felt so disconnected to the pain but at the same time I wanted a way to ground myself in it. I just feel like having photo memories would make that process a bit easier for me. In present day though, photo albums are my favorite part of going home. Whether it’s my mom’s house, auntie’s crib or down in the country to see my grandma, one thing I’m gonna do is pull out a photo album. I’m the oldest of 7 siblings and any time we get together they know we have to take our famous group photo. My brothers usually complain but my sisters are all for it. I always knew I liked pictures, taking them being in them and just browsing them. But it wasn’t until about a year ago that I realized that could translate into a profession. I never thought about taking pictures for money because it was something that simply fueled me. When I first started having the thought, it was because I kept getting this one recurring compliment. “You made me look so good in this picture!” And most of the time they didn’t even want to take the photo, so to see their satisfaction and admiration for themselves, it just did something to me. After people put a few bugs in my ear, I finally decided to buy a camera and start into the business of photography. This is a really special part of my journey because I feel like I get to prioritize my creativity in a way I never did before. Prior to this I was a teacher, program manager for a non-profit, and consultant. Photography is the most fun job I’ve ever had.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I moved to Atlanta about a year and a half ago with my now fiancee and six months after we moved here, I lost my job. It was remote and the company said they no longer had a budget for remote employees. That’s when I leaned heavily towards my entrepreneurship.
I offer career services (document review, headhunting, and interview preparation), business consulting (grants, administrative services, strategic planning) as well as Confidence Coaching. I’ve helped business owners channel higher levels of confidence while starting their journeys and I’ve worked with clients helping them realize that they deserve more out of their professional lives. Then suddenly it clicked, photography is just another way that I help people increase their confidence. As I mentioned before, I didn’t buy a camera until I decided to start a photography business. The only cameras I ever had experience with were disposables and the Fujifilm Instax mini. All my other photos were taken on some version of the iPhone. Buying the camera was an intimidating process from start to finish. I didn’t know what type to get, I had no idea about the differences between Mirrorless and DSLR and all that other stuff. And I also didn’t know how I was going to pay off my credit card bill after I made that thousand dollar purchase. But we move. I felt completely out of my depth but I knew that photography was a calling for me and I was ready to put some respect on my photos. After watching a bunch of YouTube videos and deep talks with ChatGPT I figured out the best camera to buy and got myself a lens specifically for portraits. It’s been a steep learning curve but I use my own confidence building tactics to maintain a growth mindset and keep pushing along my journey.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Raq Steady Portraits?
Raq Steady Portraits is a photography business based in Atlanta and my journey into photography is one of transformation and personal growth. After moving to Atlanta a year and a half ago with my now fiancée, I found myself unexpectedly jobless six months after relocating. This prompted me to fully embrace my entrepreneurial spirit and explore my creative passions. Although I initially offered services like career coaching, business consulting, and confidence coaching, it was in photography where I found my true calling.
Photography became a way for me to help people increase their self-confidence and capture their authentic selves. Although I had no formal photography experience before starting Raq Steady Portraits, I was inspired by the recurring compliments I received about how I made people look great in pictures, even when they weren’t initially excited to take them. That feedback made me realize how powerful a photo can be in boosting someone’s self-esteem. I decided to invest in my first camera, a big leap for me, and embarked on this journey with no prior knowledge of professional photography equipment. Through self-study I honed my skills and developed a style centered on celebrating people’s natural beauty.
What sets Raq Steady Portraits apart is my unwavering commitment to making every client feel seen, confident, and proud of who they are in front of the camera. I take a minimalistic approach to editing and rarely retouch photos. My goal is to ensure that the final images reflect my clients as they truly are—beautiful and powerful in their authenticity. I believe that photography is not just about taking pictures but about capturing moments that make people feel empowered and confident.
What I’m most proud of in my brand is the way it helps people reconnect with their sense of self-worth and find strength in their own image. Photography, for me, became a way to heal and process grief, as I learned the value of having memories to look back on. Growing up, I always treasured the photo albums that brought me closer to my family, and now, I’m able to offer that same sense of connection to others. My business is not just about pictures; it’s about creating lasting memories that people can hold dear for years to come.
I want our readers to know that Raq Steady Portraits is more than just a photography service; it’s a space for personal empowerment and creative expression. My approach is to make clients feel like the best version of themselves, captured in a way that resonates with their true essence. If you want to feel confident in your photos and cherish moments that reflect your authentic self, Raq Steady Portraits is here to make that happen.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
The thing that I love the most about Atlanta is actually also what makes it so hard to run my business here. I’m from Savannah, Ga (912) but I went to Emory (℅ 2019) for undergrad and then moved to Baltimore, MD to earn my Masters degree in Education from Johns Hopkins. Moving back to Atlanta after 5 years of being away was like a breath of fresh air. This is truly the Black Mecca. We have every type of person here and I was so excited to see how the city evolved, the new businesses and what they had to offer and also the diversity in the social spaces. My soon-to-be wife found this super cool FREE yoga class that was held in a hidden art gallery at the back of a bar. Like where else are you going to find something like that? Atlanta truly has it all.
The tough part about that for me is finding my target audience. One piece of business advice that I keep getting is to establish a niche. Find a specific customer that I want to cater to and cater to them only. But being in a city like Atlanta, I just want to serve everybody! My fiancee is a stand-up comedian so I capture a lot of performances and show photography. She also officiates weddings so I shoot weddings from time to time. I connect with professionals to do headshots and update their LinkedIn pages. I work with moms who just need a little confidence boost. I do birthday parties and family events. And I have so much fun doing it all. But I know for brand coherence I do need to narrow it down. It’s just so hard for me to do in such a dope diverse city like Atlanta. The one thing I can decide on is that I love having humans in front of my lens.
Another thing I love is that people are so willing to collaborate. It’s like a playground for entrepreneurs and I’m grateful to be connected to so many unique creatives in the city.
Pricing:
- 360 Photo Booth Rentals: $450+
- Event Photography: $650+
- Wedding Ceremonies: $250+
- Professional Headshots: $75+
- Family Portraits: $350+
Contact Info:
- Website: https://raqsteadyportraits.pixieset.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raq_steady_portraits?igsh=MTlrcGw5NHVjOTV6bw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deandra-raquel-bacon?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtmgazhOkrWlQcaDucF2w5A
- Other: https://professionalpeace.org/raq-steady-portraits-1
Image Credits
Deandra “Raq” Bacon from Raq Steady Portraits
