Hi everyone and welcome back to the real real podcast with me. Natalie barbu. Today's episode is with a photographer but his story is so cool because he actually went to school. He went to University of Florida. He studied business. So he was a business major and didn't even realize he wanted to do photography until basically after college, which I just think is so inspiring in general. We put so much pressure to figure our lives out even in high school. It's Like okay you're going to go to college and you're going to major in this and this determines your whole life. And really that's not how the world really works. So many people end up not using their Majors so many people realize their passion until after college. So many people go back to school to get a second degree because they realize they want to do something else and not everyone has one path not everyone has to go to college get a degree work in that degree and get some years of experience and work until they That's not everyone's path in life. And I just think it's really important to note on that because I know when people feel like oh, I'm not like using my major or I don't really like what I'm doing anymore, or I have no idea what I want to be doing for the rest of my life. I feel like that's okay and we need to emphasize that so I really really love how grants story starts off with not him knowing that he wanted to be photography from the day. He could hold the camera in his hand and He's been practicing on that his whole life and then he went to photography school. And now he's a photographer. It's a more. I feel like it's very unique but also so common at the same time. It's just not as glamorized. I guess where it's not as I don't know the right word to say but like I guess acceptable by Society I guess so I just really really love the story how he got into it. Also. He has so much knowledge about photography. So regardless if you're interested in it or not, but especially if you are trying to go onto the photography path or you are a photographer. I feel like this potty house is extremely relatable and also so knowledgeable just because he is doing it full time now and he really does love it and you can tell that he loves it and just his knowledge on photography in general and Grant is actually my cousin Naomi's boyfriend. So my cousin she recorded a podcast. At about grad school and they did this at the same time because they were both visiting me. So this is actually the second podcast episode I ever recorded So if the audio sounds a little bit different than my previous episodes, that's why because it literally was before I even announced that I was starting a podcast me and him recorded this in March. So it has been a hot minute since I recorded this episode and I just read listen to it just to make sure it all flowed and sounded good and I didn't start it off. Was setting the record straight I started it with him introducing himself. So if you're like wait Natalie, you didn't start off as setting the record straight I get into that. I just I did things a little backwards because it was like I said, one of the First episodes that I ever recorded and speaking of being the first episode or one of the First episodes I ever recorded. I think it's crazy how in only two short months how things have I guess change but also just how much I love recording podcasts like I am having the time of my life recording these I am constantly thinking about who I should interview next constantly thinking of how I want this to grow and what I want it to become and it has just honestly inspired me because of the people I'm interviewing so it's really helped me and kind of a therapeutic in a way because I've been trying to figure my life out and even though I'm sitting here and I'm like you don't have to be what Society to tells you you have to be you don't have to do this. Additional route blah blah blah. It's so much easier said than done and I totally understand that. So right now I'm just kind of trying to figure out what I want to do in the next chapter of my life and I want to see if I need to make changes what changes I should make and I also want to stop being so scared about what people are going to think because I feel like I get very held back by that sometimes and I need to start realizing that it doesn't matter. I should be doing what's best for me and what I want to be doing and And it does not matter what other people think so I don't know how we I just got into that. But yeah, I guess oh saying about the podcast. Yeah, it's been very therapeutic for me. So I hope that you guys have been enjoying it as much as I have been enjoying filming or recording these and then I also wanted to just thank you guys for all of the reviews and if you guys didn't know I do reviews of the week. So on every episode of the podcast I shout out one review of the week and I just Thank you guys on here. For writing reviews taking the time out of your day. I know it's so much easier to like an Instagram photo or to comment on an Instagram photo or to comment on a YouTube video. Then it is to leave a review on a podcast. So I just want to say thank you for that because it does not go unnoticed and it's honestly another reason why I love podcasting so much is because I can read your views and literally I tear up reading them sometimes like I just I can't believe that this is my life and that I Have the pleasure and like the honor of interviewing these people and putting this content out there. That might be helping some of you so I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. So the review of the week is going to be from Tasia and she says where do I even start? I'm so grateful for Natalie starting this podcast last Facebook group and being so open and honest it truly is refreshing to hear and establish social social media professional like yourself to be so transparent. About her career, the tip / advice is so genuine and that is rare. I literally feel so driven and inspired after listening to each show. I could not recommend more Tasia. Thank you so much for that. I mean you are the sweetest person ever, but I just it makes me so happy that you guys are actually getting something from this and like my tips or advice or whatever that I'm giving you or that the people I'm interviewing are giving you that they're actually helpful and I hope that it does bring Who your day whether it's just entertainment or whether it does motivate you to just do something like start your own business start a YouTube channel, whatever. It is follow your dreams. Like I'm glad that it is helping you guys with that and I also love that you guys have been loving the Facebook group. So if you guys didn't know we have a private Facebook group on about saying on Facebook. Yeah, that's obvious. I'll have a link in the show notes so that you guys can request to join. Basically. It is not a place. For me to promote myself anymore. It is a place for you guys to network with each other and meet like-minded people every episode that the interviewer is willing to they are going to do a QA for the day on there. So there's going to be a thread where you can ask the person that I'm interviewing on this episode any questions and they will answer them in that thread so that it's more personal and that if something wasn't answered from this podcast or you guys just want to talk about something a little bit more than you can do it on that thread, but regardless of that it's not even like about the podcast. As the Facebook group is literally there to met to motivate you guys by each other like for all of you guys to motivate each other for if you need a job and you want to see if someone's hiring if you need to hire someone you can ask in that Facebook group because it is like minded like go-getter people and I just think that's so awesome. And I'm actually a part of similar Facebook groups myself, and I really really like them and they motivate me and inspire me every single day. So I'm just really happy that you guys are making use out of that and in there. I just talked about any like announcements or something because I know that it's a little more personal and I'll get like one-on-one feedback. I guess if that makes sense. So be sure to join the private Facebook group. This is a very long intro. I just wanted to kind of come on here and ramble because I missed you guys, but I really hope that you guys enjoyed today's episode with grants. He's the first boy that we have on the show. So show him some love and be sure to follow him and everything like that. Anyways, thank you guys again for listening to today's podcast and let's get started. Welcome to the real real podcast with Natalie Barb. Instagram might be your highlight reel but we're here to talk about the real real. Okay grants would just introduce yourself. Tell us a little bit about yourself how you kind of got into photography. All right. So, my name is Grant's Tumblr. I am a lifestyle and wedding photographer in the Fort Lauderdale and Miami area been doing photography professionally for only about a year and a half now and about probably equal time before that it It's just a hobby and mainly as I said, my work is on the lifestyle side working with hotels and restaurants. So mainly the hospitality industry and then of course weddings both photography and videography and like all my episodes. I always started off with setting the record straight. So I'm going to be asking you about five questions or five kind of myths that photographers get and you can tell me if they're true. Or if they really are myths. All right, let's do it. It's all about the camera / the lens. Yes, and no you'll probably see a bunch of videos already people debunking the myth of giving an amateur the best camera in the world and giving a professional and iPhone camera and the professional can do wonders even with an iPhone camera. So from that standpoint, it really is about the photographer and not the Camera when it comes to composition working with your subject just having an understanding of lighting and properly exposing whatever you're photographing. But when it does come to photographing difficult situations or even special video situations where a more advanced camera has better capabilities that certain other cameras can achieve and the same with lenses then the Equipment does make a difference when you're starting out buying the most expensive camera won't lead to you know, it won't lead to professional grade photos. Yeah, especially for me, for example, I am not a photographer at all, but I do YouTube videos. So I wanted to get a really nice camera and a good lens but I've realized quickly that it doesn't I don't know that much about cameras. So I am I know I'm not getting like the max capability that I could be even though. I have a good camera. Yeah. Because I'm not trained in that field like at all. So you'd be surprised how many people tell me they own a camera but they're always like you need to teach me how to use it because people buy the camera but they don't even know what they're even doing with it. Yeah, like I get the blurry background a little bit more but that's about it aren't a real photographer. If you don't shoot in manual, it sounds a little not to sound I guess bougie or like looking down on people that don't shoot manual. Because there are some automatic modes that are really great but I think shooting manual is what makes you become a better photographer because you really do learn how your camera works and what settings work in better situations. So this one kind of piggybacks on the last one, but you need good lighting to get a good photo lighting is incredibly crucial obviously in photography. It's completely subjective. So what is a good photo? I mean you could go on and on about that. I will say that In my field of work, I do a lot of food photography for restaurants and for probably the first four restaurants, I shot I was doing all natural light. I was even having to put it on a tripod for long exposures just to make sure that the light was like properly exposed and I was getting you know the right colors and everything that I finally invested in a professional lighting equipment. Yeah, I was gonna ask do you use any studio lights I do now and I will say that it not only just makes the situation easier from controlling your light the professional-grade look of the photo the crispness the colors. It's just it's night and day and that for products. That's how I look at it when it comes to people I'm this is when it becomes subjective because I only shoot natural light for people. I'm not a studio portrait photographer. Even you know, I've seen one of photographers that will bring a strobe Flash. Hmm when it's perfectly sunny outside and it just gives it a very Cookie Cutter magazine look to it. I don't like that. I like using the light of the day. So to kind of circle back I would say that lighting can make a huge difference but it all depends on the look you're trying to achieve and this one. I feel like I know what you're gonna say but being a photographer is a really easy job. I will give credit to people that say this from the outside looking in it looks really easy, especially in my situation I get to do some cool travel opportunities. And so obviously I'm showing all the highlights where I get to go in the people I get to meet people don't see is the 8 to 10 hours a day that I'm holding very heavy camera equipment is sweaty as can be not having food or drink most of those times editing thousands of photos just from one day. So there's a lot of behind-the-scenes hardships and as great as it is, it's very tough. Not only Like we demanding mentally demanding but also there's a lot of pressure depending on what you're shooting. I've like weddings would have the most because that's a one and done thing. I people tell me that they don't shoot weddings because of the pressure. I think the reward is greater than the risk and I'm well prepared. So I wouldn't tell someone who's just picked up a camera to go shoot a wedding. It's difficult when you know that you are in that specific situation that someone is trusting their Forever Memories with you and So I'd say pressure makes the job incredibly tough. So is fun as it can be and it is my passion and I love my job. It is at times very challenging and more ways than people probably can imagine. Oh, yeah. Definitely. It's the same for editing videos and even doing like a podcast like the editing that goes into it and people just don't see that. Yeah, you don't work that often whatever. I feel like I touched on that a little bit just now and so I will say that is completely false. Yeah, not only do photographers work. Time in my field especially wedding photography. We're working weekends all the days that people look forward to having off. Mmm. We're working a lot of those right now. I'm doing kind of the double hustle of a Monday through Friday shooting a lot of my Hospitality work and then on weekends doing weddings. So I'm almost working every single day of the week. Even if I'm not shooting a wedding that weekend. I'm probably catching up on editing from a previous wedding. So the workload is pretty heavy and like I had Said helps that I'm doing something I love so doesn't always feel like work, you know, I get excited when I'm going through the editing process. I work probably more than I don't. Yeah, and I haven't told my girlfriend that I'm the busiest person. I personally know that is a complete myth photographer's work all the time. Okay. So tell us about how you started in photography how you got into it. You're just photography story. I guess the sounds cliche, but I think even from When Instagram first started I felt like I had the eye or whatever you want to call it. I just kind of took a Fascination and just capturing life as it was going. I mean, I remember even grabbing like an old video camera from my parents house and just like trying to film Christmas morning or going to a cool Museum and I didn't know why I just I said I want to be able to capture this memory the first camera I ever bought was honestly a GoPro and this is when go Pros were cool. And no one had them A bunch of people started filming YouTube videos with GoPros. Like that's their first Super wide. It just looks terrible. Yeah, but I was like, okay. Well this seems like a real camera had a decent price point started making videos doing some cool photos. It wasn't until after I graduated college that I couldn't even tell you how but I had some photographer friends and I just saw their work and I'm like that looks really cool and what they're able to do for other people that is really awesome and I saw this Art behind it. And I had such a passion for it that I just reached out to one of my friends and I said tell me about what buying a first camera looks like and you know, everyone kind of started with those introduction cameras that are a little lower price point. I've been saving up some money and I was like, I think I want to buy like a nice camera. What's the point of buying a cheaper one? That's not as good. If you're just going to invest in another one later. I don't know. I feel like it's more of an investment. You can learn along the way. If not, you're spending more money in the long run. Yeah and at that point. I was saying worst case scenario I buy a nice camera and it just stays a hobby and I have great photos, you know, I'll use this camera for years to come but I said best case scenario. It turns into something greater. Honestly. I said that with hardly any confidence that it would turn into something greater. I spent about $1,000 on a first camera and that was draining most of my bank account of the time for a fresh out of college and just kept working my other job, which was interning at a church at the time. I'm and I was just taking photos that events for people and just giving them for free and I would bring it, you know just around friends and they're like why you have a camera like why are you doing that? Like, I don't know. It's kind of fun and no one really got it went from working at a church to work against State Farm selling insurance and then managing a co-working space and all that time had been just doing little photography things here and there sometimes for myself sometimes for friends and at the last job the co-worker. In space I had met a videographer who worked for the company that I'm working for right now, and he said they needed a freelance photographer to come and shoot an event at a hotel. He had really not seen any of my work before we had just talked a couple times, but he gave me a shot and I went out and I shot a my spring break style pool party, which weighs real wild really my first experience in South Beach it was Two months after that that I had accepted a full-time offer with them and just kind of took this leap so that company is called gather grow media and I've been with them for about a year and a half and that is the company that does the hospitality content creation as well as social media management. And so that's you know, kind of pushed me into the photography world and I would say about six months into that is when I started to get interested in weddings and start out with doing a video for one friend's wedding and Photo for another and then all of a sudden Word of Mouth spread and business picked up and some kind of just exploring all different fields. And that's where I'm at right now, but you are originally a business major, right? Yes. So I did skip that I agreed go from business to I guess I know that you had like a passionate about it. But did you think you were going to work in business? Absolutely not. So graduated from University of Florida with business management degree, which I really don't Now do you think it taught you anything and the feel that you're here? I Hate's not really. I hope my parents don't hear this. But honestly that degree is a fancy word for people skills. Okay. I think if you have them you I did not need to take that and I did so it may be it reinforced a few things. But honestly, it was just to show that I had a bachelor's degree at the yeah, but I think I was able to feel the freedom. I'm to do something a little crazy because I graduated early I graduated college and I was 20 years old with my bachelor's because I do enrolled in high school. So I was 20 in the adult world looking what to do that gave me the freedom to go into the adult world with not as much pressure of knowing what I had to do. You know, I all my friends still had two years left in college and I said this gives me some time to figure out and so that's why I went from working at a church to insurance, too. A co-working space, you know all three very different and then, you know eventually along the way photography came in my father being, you know background in sales and business probably wanted me to do something similar, you know with the security because really not many people in my family have done the creative route. No one else really in that creative field. So I was doing something very contradictory to what my family had done picking up a camera doing photography. That's all very random. Like it's nothing that your family whoever Completely random. My mom was like, did you have to buy a camera? That was so expensive? Yeah. Well that's worth it. Yeah, it's worth it is so no you said that your family is more on the business side their more traditional job and career paths. So when they found out that you were quitting your job and doing going with this photography company did how do they react? You know overall? I think they knew I was young and could take a risk and they didn't know actually I didn't really know how How serious I was about it, I think when I jumped into it, I know that I had expressed not frustrations about my job because I should really did enjoy working at the co-working space. And that was my first exposure to a bunch of creatives and one building which probably played into the hole making the leap, you know, they they supported me. I was only 22 Yeah. I was 22 when I decided to make that jump. I think it wasn't until a couple of months ago my mom. I was like, yeah, you know, we're really proud of you and seeing how far you've come like when you started we didn't think you'd actually like be this serious about it. So maybe they thought it was going to be a fling just me trying out another career like I had done before but completely supportive always have my back no real pushback except from my grandpa. My dad said he just didn't see it as a very traditional job, you know, the creative industry kind of has the reputation of not being the most Most sustainable. Maybe not making the most money. How long can you really you know, shoot weddings for and like all of that and so I think it just had the reputation of is just is this just a phase or is this really something that is going to dive into and commit to for the rest of his life. Hmm. And so I think once I was able to produce work and back up what I was saying with actual quality content being like wow, not only does he love this, but he's actually really good at it now. Foley back him up and how did you just started doing weddings my first move a couple friends and then word of mouth or how important do you think social media is in that or do your own website or how do you besides word-of-mouth and reach out to people first wedding was actually I was at a wedding and I was going to like cocktail hour and my friend calls me and he says hey my sister is getting married tomorrow. It's kind of like a shotgun marriage. And they need a photographer. I know you kind of have been dabbling in photography. This was long before I even started full-time and he said do you want to shoot their wedding? And he's like, it's just the ceremony in this small reception. So I said sure that was the first time I ever really did something it honestly didn't turn into anything. I didn't use that work to promote anything at all that when you kind of fell in love with it or not. Not really even um, there were some aspects about it that I liked honestly. I look back at the photos now and I say, whoa Was I doing really? Yeah, it's crazy how even a year year-and-a-half can can change that your style and even your talent your skill. I enjoyed it enough where I said I would do this again, but it wasn't until my friend who I recently shot his wedding. He just said hey you do you do videos right? I go. Yeah. He's like, well, my friends are getting married and you want to do their video and I said sure now he actually told them that I made another wedding video that I didn't make that someone else did so she Called me and she's like yeah, I saw the wedding video that you made him. Like no pressure. That wasn't me. Did you tell her that it wasn't you? Yes, I had to be honest and I was like, but listen, I know what I'm doing. I promise to give you a good product and I did and it was great. And so to go off your point about social media and how important that is is I posted that wedding video on social media and it might not feel like a lot but I got five inquiries about doing wedding videos. No, that's A lot for starting out from zero to five exactly know everyone was like wow, like I don't even know you did this and and I was like, I didn't either because I first one it's actually turned into business and same with some others every single thing. I post on social media has led to I want to know you do this. Like let me refer you to someone or even people not even friends with but just kind of know me they're like, hey, I someone pass this along to me and you know, can we talk about your pricing and all that? So the social media has been huge in promoting and I do have On website. Here's my plug grants tumblr.com. I'll have everything everything linked. I'm gonna tell them where to find you. But you know, honestly, I think that for me Instagram is more important than my website only because even in with my agency, we know that when someone is looking to stay at a hotel, you know, we manage a lot of Hotel accounts. The first thing I do now is they don't usually go to Google and say South Beach hotels like they might have a name in Mind of a hotel I've been told about and they'll go on Instagram. They'll search it up and based on what the field looks like. They'll be like this looks awesome. Yeah, I've done that before I do that even with restaurants. I'll look up on Instagram what they look like because Yelp. Yes, like Yelp and all these review sites they have photos, but they're always really bad quality in the dark, you know, you can't really see how it looks like but I feel like Instagram it's all aesthetically pleasing. It makes it look way. I not way better but you know, it's like it's best version of itself. So I always look to Instagram for restaurants hotels if I'm going somewhere. I'll look to even see like the vibe of the place. I'm definitely someone who does that Instagram has become my best friend. My own personal account has almost turned into purely a photo video account where I'm struggling to find like even post pictures of myself. It's mainly just my work and my girlfriend is a great model. That's who I am now. That's the brand. I'm building like when people at one when people We'll hear the name Grants tomb where I want them to think that the photographer do you ever use hashtags or anything? But I don't know some people are like, oh they definitely work and you know, honestly, I don't know if they do sometimes I don't use them sometimes I do. I hate honestly being the guy that like Post 40 hashtags and a comment mmm because I used to get reach and I feel like it's a long as they're somewhat relevant or as Irrelevant, it's not annoying like when people post pictures and it's like hashtag girl. Hashtag Sunshine trying summer. That's when I think it gets a little like, okay. What are you doing? Yeah, like my thing is, you know, there's a lot of photographer accounts that specialize in either weddings or portraits or whatever it may be and they'll literally say, you know tag us in your photo and use hashtag whatever maybe to get featured. So that's one thing that I You know try to get I guess out of it. I don't know if it actually gives me more engagement if it gives me 5 more likes and at the end of the day, maybe it's worth it may be one of those people that see it ends up being a client. Yeah, so, you know to the haters whatever like yeah deal with it. And how do you price your services? Like, how did you realize? Okay, this is how much I charge should charge for an hour or this is how much I'm worth that. That's a really interesting question because that took a long time. I feel like that's so hard. It's also a sensitive topic for not even photographers. I think for artists. Oh, yeah in general because you're trying to put a monetary value on what on what your work is worth whenever there's pushback on your price or whatever. You're like. Well do you not think I'm worth that much and it becomes this whole thing. And so I know the general rule of thumb is when you're starting out to be cheaper because you don't have the portfolio you might not have the experience. So at least if you're cheaper, that's What you can offer people so that's kind of how I started out. I was doing portrait sessions for $100 which is to some people might sound like a lot but that's really cheap. Yeah. I've heard a family photographers that will charge over $1000 and I'm like that's dumb don't ever do this. You can find much better, but I think over time I started to figure out, you know, I'm going to charge by the hour and what I tell people is that it's not just the hour that I'm with you that I'm charging for. It's for the time that I'm spending editing. Ever and so just so that they understand we know it started small. It starts $50 an hour or two a hundred dollars an hour, which what I put into it and when I and what I'm delivering, I think my price point I feel that I'm not being cheated and then I'm not being greedy. Yeah, and also the equipment that you bought I mean you're paying kind of paying that back to yeah, I mean a lot of the times, you know one wedding will just about cover the cost of a new camera or one lens. Maybe two lenses. The pricing is very interesting and I even struggle with you know, when do I up my pricing and you know the scary moment when? I get you know someone comes to me from a referral and I say oh it's this price and they'd be like well I heard you didn't someone's wedding for this price and I just like you know I don't know if to say that hasn't happened yet do people ever ask you to shoot for free yes but they don't say they don't always ask for free they poisoned his like you know I don't know if we can really like afford it but we would really love it and it's like this guilt trip especially when you know like it's only when you know the person that is No one ever is ever like reaching out to a professional and saying like, oh, we don't know if we can afford it. But like maybe you just like budge this one time and that ever happens. It's always friends and I hate to say it but you know, I'm probably selective with certain friends. It's the friends who aren't really your friends but want to be your friends when they need it if that makes sense. Yeah, you know just people asking for favors because at the end of the day like good photos are you know, it's It's a sought-after thing and people don't own their own camera. No one wants to go the iPhone. We're out there like hand. We actually want photos. We're going to throw a couple hundred bucks. And so they'll look for their free options first, you know something my friend pointed out to me that I thought was interesting is because they know it's my passion. They probably assumed that you're willing I'm willing and I'm enjoying and that it's no like you know it I'm like excited about it. There's no work. They're not, you know wrong, you know, so give an People someone comes to me saying, you know, I would love for you to shoot my son's graduation photos and I'm just like trying to like divert and I'm just like that's not my passion. You know, there are people that do that. You know, I can I'm able to what I my my field is in family portraits and graduation. I want to shoot lifestyle and couples and engagement and weddings and like that's something I get passionate about. So if I had two of my friends that say, you know, it's are Five year anniversary since we met or something or one year of marriage whatever may be and we wanted to do, you know just have a couple nice photos together. Then I see that not only as an opportunity to give something to my friends, but also get better at posing people. Maybe go shooting a new place that I've wanted to shoot or try some new techniques out and I know that because they're not paying me there's not this huge pressure if like by chance, I don't deliver what they want. I would because I think I'll do a great job but there's no pressure and then it's fun and I'll bring music and we'll just have a good time. But when it's something that I don't want to do it gets hard to be like well I'll do it, but I need like yeah pay me. Yeah, so that's Parts understandable though. I mean, it's your job to your career. Let people know that you're doing this to make a living. I know a lot of friends might not understand I guess they might think like, oh, come on, like do me a favor like it's just an hour or whatever, but it's not just the Our it's the editing with the editing. Do you get annoyed if people edit over your photos if you send them and then they upload it to Instagram and it's like totally different than what you sent them. Yes, because well one I'll say this if you're asking me to be your photographer you're asking for my style, even if it like hurt my feelings a little bit. I would even much rather have someone be like, even if it's a little more annoying for me. I'd rather have someone be like, hey, you know these photos Are a little too vibrant or vice versa or could you can you make them a little warmer, you know out they'd probably say that's don't know if they know. Yeah terminology, but you know photos little cool like you warm it up a bit I'd say no problem because I know at least if I know what they want then I'll do it the right way rather than someone trying to do it themselves and then they smile and then putting my name on it and then you know if they did a great job then Whatever, but if they didn't then it's like well not only did you show that you're not happy with what I delivered you, but now you're giving a false image of what I did deliver you and like don't even tag me at that point and that's showing of your art like they're saying that you did something but you might not have you know, like if it looks yeah not as good. It's it's putting your name on it like you said, but it's not really your work like editing is half of the is half the battle Yeah, so Trust me, like I'm not going to give you something I think looks bad. Yeah, because why would I give you something that I want you to say? I'll Grant somewhere took this if it looks bad. Yeah, and since Instagram is so popular now it does it annoy you that people like a lot of people just claim their photographers, like you'll go on Instagram bio. You'll see photographer but really they're just kind of shooting with an iPhone camera pictures of their friends. Yeah kind of like the Instagram model thing where everyone now is a model because they have a few photos of themselves and they post them on Instagram. I don't know I can tell right off the bat who's a photographer and who's not like I said again photography subjective. So technically anyone that can take a photo as a photographer anyone that can sing as a singer but it's kind of like there's a difference between photographer and a professional photographer if you're just putting portrait mode and just because you have the blur, you know, any more artistic than something, you know, I think it's a great awesome feature that Apple came out with its really cool people just kind of claiming that there They might not need an actual photographer anymore because they're so amazing and I'm not trying to take the fun out of Photography, but it's kind of like it just comes up across as like you're saying that anyone could do my job. Yeah, and I don't think that's the case. Yeah. No, I totally agree. It definitely is something that you work at for a long time and you can teach yourself, but I don't know like you were saying even the wedding you did a year ago how it looks totally different than what you would do now. So I you're just constantly growing help me about a horse. A story that you've had like Bridezillas or crazy mother-in-law's or anything like that. Okay, so I will leave location and names out for ambiguity. Yeah, we don't need any names but I was out of the country doing a Content shoot for a hotel and we had brought two girls who are I don't know. It's like micro influencers. We the Much of a small sweet can actually afford full models for this for this trip. One of the girls was absolutely a nightmare to work with every single shot that I tried to do like coordinate. She would question everything that I was directing her but not in like a like a nice feel like yeah like this is she was like, oh my gosh pull like our enjoy look like does this make me look fat? Like how's my hair look like and I'm just like, whoa, you are stressing me out. I think that they were brought there for like almost like an influencer trip, which was It it they were just there to like pose. Yeah, just be models. And so every minor break we had she's like, hey, could you just like just like you like waving me over? Can you come over here and like just get like a quick picture of me? And then she just going to look ridiculous fashion posing like what I do like, I'm not your like personal photographer like you're here for us. Yeah the way around yeah done with that for a whole week and I'm like We had one final shoot and it was this amazing thing went on a boat and we weren't actually shooting until we got to the certain place and I was standing I was like drinking a beer. Everyone's having a good time. Like it was so great. It was so relaxed and she's like, excuse me Grant. Could you move you're blocking my view right now? And I was like, I'm blocking your view and even my coworker from like like a few steps away was like she really just say that like and you're just gonna vote with everyone. Yeah, besides the fact that even like some just just say like I can never imagine said you're blocking my view of yeah, it sounds like a movie. It's like I'm standing in front of a TV. It's just like I'm sitting on a boat and whatever but also it's like below grateful that we have brought you here first of all, and then I kind of motion back and without even realizing it I guess I stepped in again and she's like Grant you're doing it again blocking my view and I'm like, oh, Now so needless to say we've never worked with her again never reached out again. Well, I know from from being around certain influencers. Also, there are definitely some you would be so surprised when you follow them on Instagram. They might seem super normal super nice or maybe not even normal, but just like you don't think that they're very shallow or fake or whatever but like you work with them in person or you meet them in person and some people that either the numbers Guys in their head or they just think that they're used to like everything being catered around them. So I am not even surprised that something like that would happen. Yeah, like I said never badmouth clients or anything, but every now and then there's just a few that I don't know. It's kind of like, what are you what are you thinking? Yeah, and you meet a lot of people doing photography. Yeah. It's the people. Yeah, so, you know, I think she's doing great and good for her, but we just never end up working together again, and that's that. Yep. Do you have any dream clients or just kind of you want to keep doing weddings or from a wedding standpoint? Obviously, I can't say specifically but it's a dream to do like a destination wedding. Yeah, um, not only from the sense of just like the excitement of travel but the recognition of someone being like we like you so much that we want to fly you either, you know, if they're going a place then like they bring me with them or if it's like just a wedding in you know, Texas and they're like we want to fly you to Texas to shoot and I'm just like yeah because I mean they can it's so easy to choose a local photography the fact that if they saw you and then we want that guy no matter what so what doing why is that a dream would just be to shoot some celebrity and I don't know who that would be any off the top of your head first, don't you think of I don't know maybe that's so tough. I don't know if that's a guy or a girl. I am drunk guy. I would probably want to photograph honestly. I want a photograph second. Is that guy fron? Oh, yeah, because I mean have you seen those pictures of him on the horse like shirtless in Costa Rica? I think so. Yes. I was like I was like, that's a good lookin man. That's my girlfriend's and then girl I would probably say I don't know. I'll probably maybe throw out just like Alexis run or something just because of Who she's worked with us photographers. So it's more of like a staple and saying like I have shot her alongside like other photographers that I look up to which is, you know, not only chance to work with a great model but a chance to you know, show that kind of like I've made it. Hmm, so that type of thing. Yeah. Well one day well, maybe we'll have you back on like five years and you'll say oh that work this person this person this way. Okay a few last questions. What is your Biggest pet peeve and what is the biggest misconception about being a photographer biggest pet peeve is when I'm photographing people and I give them Direction and they like a, you know pose them whatever and they say, I don't know what it's feel. I feel weird. I feel uncomfortable and I'm just like just trust it's the biggest thing is trust because I've been in some shoots where I mean, I don't do a lot of photo shoots, but when I do one of my really good friends knowing he's a photographer and he will put me in the Weirdest poses and I feel so awkward and then I see the picture and I'm like wow, this is amazing. Thank you. So it really like they have the vision you can see what is behind the lens. Yeah, and you know, just think about even when you're used to get like your yearbook photos or whatever and the photographer when you're sitting on that stool there like chin down, you know, just your shoulders like all this weird stuff in your like I feel like a, you know, the weird contorted statue and then you look at the photo. It's like looks really normal. Yeah. And so it's really just trusting your photographer. And also especially when you're like paying me it's like if I'm telling you to do something don't like when people get annoyed of like I don't do this. I'm like, why did you hire me then? Yeah, you know, let me do my thing and I promise it's going to turn out I've done, you know, a couple poses and things that people were not prepared for and that they didn't have it wasn't their expectation and they felt awkward doing it and then I see them. That is like the cover of the album and I'm like I told you exactly so really the lack of trust is a big pet peeve. And then he said biggest misconception. Yeah. I think it probably just goes back to the original myth of people thinking it's easy. Yeah that it's easy and your jobs not hard. I think if it wasn't hard everyone would do it. Yeah, definitely and you just don't see everything that goes beyond, you know goes on behind the scenes. I like the whole thing about photography and videography. Is like you see a product you see a final image and you have no idea what went into it not only the day of and after but before there I mean every photo shoot every Everything I Do even this wedding I recently did. I mean I'm spending two hours on a shot list and inspiration and scheduling everything out and you know, making sure that it all comes together because things are happening tight things are fast paced always being able to plan for just things that are out of your control. Oh and I mean it's so difficult, but it's the most rewarding thing. So it's more of just like, you know, when people hear grants photographer, I think photographer photographers want a level of respect that comes with that. Hmm. I even was telling this guy. I know I'm just at a restaurant we were talking he had come up to our table. He wasn't sitting with us, but we're he was just like oh, so what are you doing? I said I'm doing photography. We were talking a little bit and I started saying, you know, what kind of work I do and he was like Oh, honestly, when I heard you just said like photographer, you know, everyone's like photography exactly and he's like but you're like actually a photographer and and then you know, he's in that realm so like he understands what goes into it. And so there's just that misconception but like right there, you know. Yeah, the photographer were gets passed around so much that it doesn't hold a lot of weight, but for someone that actually is it's a lot of work. Mmm. And before we leave any advice for someone who is not in photography but really wants to get into it. They might not have had gone to school for it, but they're interested. It's a hobby right now. What would you say to them? Probably don't do it. I did buying a thousand dollar camera just on a whim on the chance that it doesn't turn out great probably bad for my own business, but I would encourage everyone to have a camera because I think there's something special about professional-grade photos that and going into that. I think YouTube is honestly your biggest asset as it was for me if you especially if you don't have any photographer friends to share advice, I mean literally any question or intro to photography lesson you're looking for is on YouTube. I typically just find people on Instagram that are great photographers and it turns out most of them are all doing tutorials now, so not only can you learn how to be a great photographer, but you can learn how to be a great photographer in the style that someone if someone you like and you know, it is good to have hands-on experience with professional equipment and there's amazing. Rental sites, it might seem like a lot if it's your first time doing it, but you can rent a solid camera and lens for a week for like $100. If you really dive in then that would be enough time to be like, wow. This might actually be worth buying. I didn't know that at the time I probably would have done that before. I bought my actual camera. Once you have it in your hands. You've probably heard this before but it's really just shoot shoot and shoot more. She was many people as you can people are always willing for free photos we talked about and so if you said hey, I got a really great camera and I To shoot some photos of you and like you'll have an endless amount of models you want turn into something more than you can make a business out of it. But if not, it's it's an amazing passion for some people. I think the coolest thing about photography is there so many different areas. Like I said - mainly wedding lifestyle couples. Mainly, I love to shoot people but environmental photographers just landscape photographers people that shoot pregnant women, which is now a thing. Yeah Boudoir shoot switch art, you know. Shooting women in lingerie for the women empowerment just there's so many areas that if anyone ever says photography is not for me. Why does don't think you've actually like done your research? Awesome. So thank you so much for doing this interview and for teaching me and everyone listening about more about photography in the behind the scenes of it. So where can they find you so you but your plug now, this is a Shameless plug. So on Instagram, I'm just at Grant stemmler kind of just Spell it how it sounds and in or on my page is the link to my website, and those are pretty much the two main mediums that I'm using to promote my work can find me there and see photo video work that I've done and you know, hopefully more that I will be doing and I'd love to talk to any of you if you have any personal questions about anything shoot me a message. And yeah, that's about it. Okay, great. Thanks. All right. Thanks Tyler. That is it for today's podcast. I really hope that you guys enjoyed it whether you are a photographer or you just want to hear a story about someone that didn't go the traditional route that we typically always see I guess or that we are told is the quote unquote right way to do it. So I'm just so inspired by Grant and I know that he is killing it and his work is if you look at his work it is proof of what hard work and talent and skill and doing what you love like all about. You can see it through his work. So be sure to follow him on his Instagram check out his website, and if you guys are in South Florida, and you want to do a shoot with him, definitely definitely DM him just because he is so talented and your pictures will turn out amazing. But anyways, I hope you guys enjoyed this episode and again be please be sure to give it five stars on iTunes. If you guys do please send me the a screenshot of you listening to the podcast or send me a screenshot of you reviewing it so I can just personally thank you. So, thank you guys. Again so much. I love you guys and I will see you guys in next Monday's episode.
In today's episode of The Real Reel Podcast, Natalie interviews Grant Stemler, a photographer based in Miami, Florida who took a not-so-ordinary path to get to where he is today. Grant started off as business major at the University of Florida. He never considered working the creative field when going to college and no one in his family worked into a creative industries. So when Grant decided to buy a camera and pursue photography, it was a very random transition. What started as a hobby and something he was curious to learn turned into finding his passion and his dream job. He took on a bunch of random jobs from selling insurance to managing a co-working space until he got a job doing what he loved, photography. Grant now works as a full-time photographer and in this episode we talk about his path to get to where he is today, what being a photographer is really like- so if you're one of those people who think its an easy  job or anyone can do it- listen to this episode. We also talk about his favorite parts of his jobs, long term goals, building his personal brand, and also what it is like working with influencers as a photographer. If you are curious about the business of photography or just want to see how someone in their early twenties discovered their passion AFTER college graduation, then keep on listening. Follow Grant: @grantstemler Where can you find us? 