Today we’d like to introduce you to Dee Flores.
Dee, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I graduated from the Art Institute of Atlanta in ’92 and for years I worked in graphic design and marketing. After being laid off in 2005, I picked up my camera just to blow off some steam. Lo-and-behold, after posting some work online I started getting e-mails from people asking how much I charged. Being one of the first photographers in ATL to put their stuff on MySpace, I was contacted by a record company if I wanted to do a gig for SONY that was making a Ciara video in ATL. Well, that just catapulted me to the next level. It was a pretty quick progression for me as people quickly took to my work and started asking me to do photos for them. I at one point was selling women’s heels on eBay. To make my product different from everyone, I did the photos myself. After a while, other sellers were paying me to do their photos. Being that it made more money for me, I quit the online store and devoted to doing the product shots. It’s been incredible how in just a little time I’ve seen my photos go from just an online novelty to retail posters, magazine editorials to even being used internationally in Hong Kong, Greece & Italy.
Has it been a smooth road?
I think for me it was all about the finished product more so than anything else and it’s probably a result of not having the resources to buy the latest and greatest equipment. It’s not easy saying you’re a “professional” photographer when all you have is a camera, one lens and a couple of lights, but that’s how I started, that’s how I shoot and that’s how it’s done! I still work with minimal equipment.
What’s your outlook for the industry over the next 5-10 years?
The industry has changed drastically since I started, but photography will never go out of style. Although the value may go down, the art of photography, the ability to photograph someone and capture their essence, the gift, the uniqueness of each individual’s eye can never be replaced.
What would you say has been the biggest challenge for you over the course of your career?
The biggest challenge has probably been for businesses to invest in quality professional photography. The whole Instagram has really worked for many small to large businesses, but that will run its course soon.
Let’s change gears – is there any advice you’d like to give?
My only advice is to value your work. Don’t give it out for free. You devalue your work and devalue the industry as a whole.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.deelitephotography.com
- Phone: 678-644-2325
- Email: deefloresgraphics@gmail.com
- Instagram: deelitephoto
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deelite.photography/
Ken Jacobs
October 17, 2016 at 10:02 pm
If there is one word to describe Dee it would be “professional”.