Today we’d like to introduce you to DeJon Kemper.
DeJon, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My father was a known photographer in my hometown of Augusta, GA. He was known to do all the debutante balls, weddings, football and basketball games, even concerts. My dad is like my best friend so at the age of 6 years old, I was tired of him leaving me at home, while he went out to take pictures. So one day, I asked him if I could go and help him take pictures for a wedding he had to attend, and luckily with a smile, he said yes. Watching my father in action as he painted pictures with his camera and his direction of capturing the right moments was amazing to me. In middle school, he gave me my own camera to start taking pictures at school. I began to take pictures of any and everything just from the excitement of actually having my own camera and utilizing it in every way. When I became the lead photographer for the yearbook staff in eighth grade, you couldn’t tell me anything (lol). I felt so passionate about capturing the perfect moment of everyone to where it became more of a new love than a hobby. When I started high school, I took a step back from photography for a while and started to become more interested in music and tennis. I still had a camera that I would take to school sometimes, but I was rarely using it. I later graduated and attended Clark Atlanta University, where I pursued a degree in Music. My music classes were actually off campus to where I used to have to walk through Morehouse and Superman just to make it to class.
One afternoon, in broad daylight, I was walking to my voice lesson, and I had my book bag on with my camera inside of it. Before almost making it to the building, I was robbed at gunpoint. They took my book bag, luckily did not take my wallet, but then realized my camera was inside that bag. Because of that incident, my father had bought me another camera and I was also given backstage access to all the events at homecoming. I took my camera to each event and took pictures of every celebrity that I saw standing right in front of me. I later started to realize, I began to start picking up my camera now, more than my sheet music. Going forward, I changed my major from Music to Mass Communications with a concentration in TV/Film and Photography. I started doing internships taking pictures for Clark Atlanta events, radio stations around Atlanta, and also interned for Drexina Nelson. I later began to venture out and work for myself until I met someone who changed my life in the photography world. Marvin McIntyre, CEO of Artist Development in Atlanta, GA who has worked with artists such as New Edition, Babyface, and Bobby Brown, (just to name a few), he introduced me to the world of owning my own business as being a photographer/videographer. Working with Mr. McIntyre, I was able to even become Johnny Gill’s personal photographer and videographer, traveling around the world to capture each moment. Without the inspiration and support of my father, and the belief and faith in me from Mr. McIntyre, I wouldn’t be where I am today without them. They both challenged me to become stronger and better each day in my craft, and I’m still not perfect, but I’m working harder and harder to get close to it.
Has it been a smooth road?
It was not a smooth road at all. It’s so hard, especially in Atlanta, when you have to determine who’s a real photographer here, and who’s just a person that just picked up a camera one day and says “Hey! I’m a photographer!”, but doesn’t know the technique of how to operate one. I feel like as of right now, in this generation, popularity and social status is more supported and praised than natural born talent. It makes it hard for the real photographers, or artists, that actually have the talent, but don’t have the right support or not as “popular” to be discovered all because of social status. There have been times where I have been approached to do a photo shoot or video, and people will say, “your work is awesome.”
However, when we begin to discuss pricing, then the dynamic of the discussion changes and you never hear from them again. Going through those experiences at one point in time made me question my talent, and also question my faith in continuing to be a photographer. I even had to get to a point after leaving school to actually start working a regular job in order to survive in Atlanta, because photography for me was not paying the bills, nor putting food on the table. Although, without those struggles, I wouldn’t be the person I am today who continues to invest and perfect my craft, and also strengthen my faith in knowing my talent.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Within the next 5-10 years, I WILL be opening up my own studio and operating my own film network. I want to be able to discover real, raw, and genuine talent and reach out to help get them discovered to succeed
Has there been a particular challenge that you’ve faced over the years?
My biggest challenge has been accepting things that I can and cannot change. It has been times where in the back of my mind I have felt like I was not good enough to be a photographer or cinematographer. While growing into the man that I’m still becoming, I’ve learned to overcome the challenge and/or fear of being myself and trusting myself and my talent that I was put on this earth to utilize.
What advice do you wish to give to those thinking about pursuing a path similar to yours?
Never give up on what you feel like you have been called to do. The beginning is tough, the middle is even tougher, however, each journey that you experience will teach you something about yourself that you never knew. Trust your process, perfect your craft, teach yourself, and remember to have faith and support in yourself.
Pricing:
- Mini Session – 45 minutes | 1 look | 5 images | $75
- The Creative Hour – 1 hour | 2 looks | 10-15 images | $175
- The Creative 3 Way – 2 hours | 3 looks | 15-20 | $250
Contact Info:
- Website: www.creative1films.net
- Phone: 404-940-0723
- Email: creative1films@gmail.com
- Instagram: creative1films
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/creative1films/
Image Credit:
DeJon Kemper
CEO, Creative1 Films
