Meet Ross Gordon | Photography & Aspiring Social Worker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ross Gordon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ross, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
The main thing that pushed me to do it was being my own boss. When I first started my photography business I was working a job I wasn’t truly happy at, making barely $9.50 an hour. When started doing photography every time I picked up my camera I was elated, and made more than I would make working an 8hr shift in just one hour. I knew at that point having my own business would bring me the happiness and freedom I desired!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My photography comes from a place of budding nostalgia. When you see my art I want people to remember everything that was going on when it was taken, whether it be the next day when they see it, or years down the line. I just want to capture memories that truly last, and bring a smile to people faces’. I got to where I am professionally today by practices, and people taking a chance on me. In high school when I first started shooting I would try to take a couple hundred photos a day, and attend every sports game I could to shoot. Through shooting so much I developed a work flow that worked with everything else going on in my life perfectly. I also got here because people took a chance on me. In college some members of the CASA eboard took a chance on me by putting me in charge of all the media for homecoming. Without this chance I surely would not have elevated my work to where it is today. None of this process was easy, I spent many late nights up late editing, many discussions with friends about my work and critiquing it, even arguing with customers about my rates but I am proud of where I am today, and I want to keep growing. A lesson I learned along the way though was charge what you believe your worth, someone will be willing to invest in you. Yes there will be people that will side eye your pricing, or even say that you are charging to much. At the end of the day, the clientele you want will be willing to pay the price. I want the world to know that RG13photos is ready and willing to work always!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I probably would start the day by taking them to little five points, and go thrifting to find some nice gear. After that I might take them to centenial park to walk around for a bit. Then we would go to cirque to get some drinks and good. After drinks your always gonna need some more food after drinking, so I would probably end the day by stopping by Fellini’s!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My father deserves all the recognition I get from my photography. He is the original photographer in my family, he started years before I did. In his process of learning photography he took me along for the ride, I was not a whiling participant at the time but I am ever so grateful now. He was the person that bought me my first camera, and has kept pushing me to dive deeper into photography for my almost 8 years in the business!

Website: rg13photos.com

Instagram: rgspark

Twitter: rg_spark

Image Credits
Travis Scott, yg, playboi carts, and young thug