“I’m Drew, I’m a Towson University Graduate with a Degree in Electronic Media & Film. I have a Passion for Art , Media & Movies.

I started out doing black & white film photography in high school, which lead me to graphic design. I studied Graphic Design, Electronic Media & Film during my time in community college. Upon transferring to Towson I bounced between majors but landed on Electronic Media & Film, I graduated in 2012.

I have been Freelancing Professionally for 5 years. I’ve worked with Corporate clients (Under Armour), Non-Profit Organizations (BGC Metropolitan Baltimore), and individuals for video and photography services.

I Enjoy being Creative and using my skills to help others.”

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1.) What elements and/or characteristics made you say to yourself that you wanted to do photography and videography for a living? 

• In my life Creativity is King. I’ve always had an interest in Art from a very young age. I love movies, Photography & viewing things in a new perspective. The thought of being able to do something creative frequently excited me!
• I feel like I always had a unique view of the world, even as a kid.
• “Creativity is intelligence having fun” – Albert Einstein
• “A good photograph is knowing where to stand”- Ansel Adams

 Who are your influences/heroes/role models?

• Milton Glaser
• Devin Allen
• My Dad
• Shepard Fairey
• Ansel Adams
• All of their work; different aspects I try to make a part of my style. It took a bit to solidify that, but I found my groove.

2.) If you could compare yourself to an already established photographer/videographer, who would that be and why? 

• I don’t think I have anyone I’d compare myself too.
• I’m always trying new things & learning.
• “You start with the traditional then you violate it “- Milton Glaser
• “You never master it, you never figure it out… there’s always more to learn” – Milton Glaser
• I think that sums me up; I love clean, effective design but I also love breaking the rules.

If you don’t like to compare yourself, then what separates you from other photographers/videographers out there?

• I feel like for me, I have a unique perspective. I’ve dabbled into a lot of mediums. BW Film photography, Graphic design, videography & Digital photography.
• I feel that I have an eye for good photos, aesthetic & what looks good. I don’t force it, but when I know I know.
• I’d say my work is Clean, vivid & eclectic.

3.) Everyone in life goes through adversity of some sort. Is there anything in your life that has any influence on how you approach your work? 

• Definitely – when I first started in art I knew I loved it & that I was pretty good. But the problem with that is you think you are at your peak when you’re just getting started. I remember being in a college course being more advanced than my fellow students. That made me complacent, so I didn’t challenge myself. So at one point I was getting lapped by others because I didn’t continue the perpetual process of refining my skills & learning new ones. I had several teachers along the way that challenged me & made me really work. Looking back I appreciate them the most, not the ones who thought I was amazing.
• Learning that learning never stops, you have to be consistent and constantly refine, get better, and try new things. That was the best lesson I learned. It’s not over until it’s over.

What is the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure on your path to becoming an entrepreneur?

• In the early days it was failure & thinking I was better than I was.
• You have to have somewhat of an ego when you do creative things but you can’t let that get in the way of your evolution and development. It’s easy to get complacent.
• Technology, social media, processes all change as time goes on. You have to adapt to or you will fade away.

4.) Aside from money being a motivating factor, how do you prepare yourself to create for your client (or yourself)? 

• 100% of the time I do media consultations with all of my clients to verify I’m the right fit for the job.
• This was a hard lesson to learn, when you first start out you want to take any & every job. Sometimes it’s not meant to be for one reason or another.
• The money will always come. In my experience it’s about the relationships, networking, and informing people that you do a particular thing well.
• I always try to find out the why behind the ask. It can really help you find out the best way to proceed, to see if you’re the right or wrong person for the opportunity.

What is your process?

• Media consultation – verify the needs of the potential customer
• Talk about money
• Determine the best course of action
• If accepted, really dig in & find the best way to accomplish the project for the client.

5.) Unfortunately the creative industry is full of talented individuals who more or less become the “starving artist” and don’t get any recognition for their talent and/or work. 

What do you do (or plan to do) to make sure you stand out and get noticed and don’t fall to the wayside?

• I think the biggest thing when you are a creative is having a strong network of people around you.
• People who are better than you and those who aren’t.
• You can learn from those above you & you can share knowledge with those on the way up.
• Having a great network can make this type of work easier.

6.) Would you rather work for a big corporation or would you rather stay independent and continue to run your own business? 

• When I first started I really wanted that company role, but you have a lot of red tape, depending on where it is you may have to do a lot of work you aren’t passionate about.
• For me, I love being creative but doing it on my own terms is priceless. I truly am my own boss in that realm.
• I’m much happier being independent; I make my rules.
• I have the last say on what I accept & don’t.
• I choose the money and I can do things I’m passionate about.

7.) Social media is obviously an extremely important element in today’s world, especially when it comes to business, branding, marketing, etc.

With that being said, how do you think the internet and social media affected the creative industry and how photographers and videographers are able to market themselves? 

• It’s a lot more mainstreamed. You can record/shoot quality video & images on a cellphone.
• It’s not like it used to be. Technology has really bridged the gap in the photo video world.
• Including YouTube, you can learn new software, techniques, anything you want online for free.
• I know a lot of self-taught folks who are killing it.
• As well as folks who are traditionally trained that are falling behind.
• You really have to stay in the now & be aware of how the industry is changing.

Do you think any business will be able to survive in today’s economy if they’re not social media savvy?

• It’s very difficult to do if you don’t know what’s going on in the space.
• Things that were popular 5 years ago are completely obsolete now.
• Think about TikTok in 2018 vs 2023. The shift to short form videos, the infinite scroll, shorter viewer attention spans.
• It’s impossible to avoid the model they (TikTok) have; YouTube & IG have copied that style of infinite video scrolling.
• If you try to stay in your ways, you’re selling yourself short.

8.) Your photography is very professional, clean, colorful and vibrant, so with that being said, can you give the readers some insight on the skills you had to learn on your journey to getting your craft to where it is now?

• I have a strong photography foundation in black and white photography. I’ve always loved B&W. The contrast and the way you can use light.
• That really set me up to become who I am today. My first camera was my dad’s old school Nikon. I learned a lot of lessons on that camera.
• I Remember the first really good photo I took, I surprised myself. It was a flower in B&W and it really opened my eyes to the possibilities. From there I was hooked and I just wanted to learn more.
• After that it was a Natural evolution into graphic design, digital photography, videography. Everything was overlapping in the best way.
• Learning how aperture, shutter speed & light work together. Then later on ISO and how to manipulate images in Lightroom/Photoshop.
• It was a constant process of refinement that allowed me to get better.
• “A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.”

9.) In regards to videography, what would you say inspired you to get into that profession? 

• I’ve always loved movies. The industry was going towards video and I loved the idea of it. So I jumped in fully in college at Towson. I was able to learn a lot & translate my photo knowledge to it as well.
• It really felt natural to me. I truly have a passion for both photo & video.

Did it feel like a natural next-step from photography or was it something you’ve always enjoyed or both?

• It was both; it was intriguing and something new. Learning the nuances got me hooked and expanded my knowledge.
• Learning how movies were made behind the scenes was very eye-opening and a great experience.

10.) It seems that black entrepreneurs have to really fight to be seen and heard in a world that more or less doesn’t embrace black business. With that being said, what are some issues that you feel that you and other black business owners face when it comes to gaining the momentum necessary to compete in a white-dominated capitalistic society?

• I think the biggest obstacles are…
• Getting paid what you’re worth.
• Getting people to understand the value in what you do.
• Breaking through into markets that aren’t easy to slide into.
• Getting a seat at the table. I’ve experienced going to a meeting and not really being treated fairly until I’ve showed my value. The respect isn’t given automatically. You have to really earn it & sometimes it can take awhile.

11.) If black entrepreneurship is one of many avenues to black economic empowerment, do you think we will see more black entrepreneurs coming on the scene? 

• 100%. I think that the key here is making these strong networks. You have to think of it as helping each other to help yourself. The money & opportunities are out there. You just have to find the right connections.
• I’ve had certain jobs that weren’t right for me that I’ve recommended others for.
• Along with adding on others to my team or vice versa to complete a larger scale project.
• Which ultimately let everybody get something positive out of it.

Will we see more black photographers and videographers come on the scene? 

• 100% yes!

If so, what do you think it will take for black business to truly compete in a world that seems to be rapidly advancing?

• Networking is the key here. You have to put yourself out there and really try to connect.
• I’ve gotten 90% of my jobs from relationships I’ve made over the years.
• Also everywhere you go you have to tell people what you do. I’ve gotten plenty of leads/jobs from just mentioning what I do.

12.) What advice would you give to someone who’s interested in starting a business or pursuing a career in the arts, whether it be graphic design, web design, photography, branding, marketing, etc.?

• Start now!!!!
• For a long time I was timid about putting myself out there. You have to take the leap to see where you are & then refine your skills.
• Invest in yourself and your tools!!! The best investment I made was in myself.
• A few years back I was debating getting a pro level camera. I decided this was something that would take me to the next level within a week of getting the camera. I booked a gig for the cost of it & received an extra tip that was the most I’d made up to that point.
• That moment opened my eyes to the possibilities & I never looked back.

13.) There are multiple ways of attaining clients and building up your clientele, so what are some ways you acquire clients? 

• Most of my clients are recommendations from Other clients. Luckily I’ve been able to build a strong network of people who believe in me & the services I provide. This took a while but these relationships are truly valuable in the creative space.

If you were to advise an up and coming photographer/videographer on how to get more clients, what advice would you give them?

• Put yourself out there and make connections. Don’t be afraid, take chances, consider failure as a way to learn & grow.
• Stay the course, refine your skills & keep getting better.

14.) Professionally, where do you see yourself 5 to 10 years from now?

• I hope to be doing more freelance work on a Larger scale. With a team of people that allows us to take on high level projects & travel the world. I’ve had a taste of that life recently and I want to experience more!