Today we’d like to introduce you to Kamel Hill.
Hi Kamel, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’m from Long Island NY and currently living in Charleston SC. I got started with photography back in 2014 and fell in love with the craft when I started taking pictures. I remember as a young boy, My uncle Mark would come down from New York to visit us here in the south, and he would always bring a polaroid camera with him lol, and the expensive one at that. I decided to jump into photography after I stopped doing music. In 2011, I started rapping using the name K-swagga and my crew was S.O.E [ Swagged out Ent]. We released the single, Do The Damn Thing, along with a video. When the videographer did not complete the video in a timely manner, I decided to purchase my own camera and equipment. This would allow me to shoot and edit my own videos. Regretfully After two years of not generating enough revenue, I had to give up on my rap career. Now I’m stuck with this expensive camera equipment and I need to turn it into revenue. I think about all my fond memories of growing up that were captured in pictures in my mom’s photo album. So I started taking pictures and videos of family and friends. After a while I fell in love with the craft and decided to turn it into a business. It was at this point that I turned my passion into a business and E4E Photography was born.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
What I found most difficult was finding a mentor or tutor to teach me how to properly operate my equipment. This was very important to me because being a rookie I didn’t know how to maximize all of the features/ functions of my equipment. This proved to be discouraging because I found that a great deal of photographers are reluctant to assist others, for whatever reason. not wanting to give up on my passion, i turned to youtube and other social media platforms to teach myself. Another challenge was figuring out a price point because being new in the business it’s difficult to find potential clients willing to work with you. Once my pictures/videos were seen and shared by others I was able to set a competitive market rate.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m not afraid of a challenge, I use challenges as motivation. Although weddings are my favorite themes, I find them to be the most challenging in order to satisfy both parties. What sets me apart from others is my work ethic, I believe in delivering the highest quality of work to my clients. proofs are great but the final product is everything, This is how people will judge your work.
What were you like growing up?
growing up i was into electronics and I wanted to be a DJ. i idolizes funk master flex and DJ clue and even tried mimicking their styles. Although I wanted DJ equipment my family couldn’t afford it. my mother was raising four kids as a single parent dj equipment just wasn’t in the budget. As an adult when I could afford to, I purchased my own dj equipment. I provided deejay services for three years throughout the state of south carolina but now i just use my equipment for personal use and family events.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.e4ephotography.com
- Instagram: e4e_photography
- Facebook: E4E Photography LLC
Image Credits
Sunil Ford Photography
