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

Hi CJ, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
My first official business started back in 2012 when I invested in my own camera & photography gear.

Photography became a passion in high school, always being that guy with a camera, never thinking I would have become a professional photographer, video producer, director & editor in digital media.

My thought process had been brewing for years. I have always had an entrepreneur mindset wanting to own a business in everything I felt I was good at or could be good at. I have always had a love for art, every form of art.
Sports was my first love, however, I continued to pursue art through college studying studio art & graphic design at Old Dominion University, completing a Bachelors of Arts degree.

Years later, in 2020 I became an author of an interactive children’s photography book.
“Point and Shoot with Taj & Cam”.
My goal was to introduce photography to the youth, but more so give the youth a book they could build their first portfolios in while following along a character and his camera on an adventure to capture specific images illustrated in my book.

I look forward to continue producing more books and challenging my creativity.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My professional full time work career consist of operating & monitoring the quality control of live sports television aired on the major sports networks such as ESPN, Fox Sports, ABC Sports, etc.

Getting to where i am at today definitely wasn’t easy, but I would not say it was extremely difficult.
I enjoy networking & building relationships with creative strangers & business minded individuals like myself. My effort got me where I am today. My passion got me where I am today. My willingness to step outside my comfort levels, learn, & produce got me where I am.

The lessons I’ve learn along the journey were…
Be consistent. Be different, but be YOU.
Stay positive. Never be afraid to ask questions.
Learn everything. Try everything.

I want the world to know behind my brand is an amazing individual.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There are endless activities in the city. I dont believe i’ve been to any spot twice. I would probably head to Atlanta Breakfast Club following the airport.
Then depending on the weather & day, spend outdoors in midtown anywhere or head to Ponce City Market where we could walk it off, shop a lil, grab a drink from King of Pops, & head on the rooftop.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I definitely want to shoutout my closest fam and friends who blessed me with all the necessary creative feedback throughout the process of producing my 1st book and growing my photography brand. My illustrator Hayley Moore really made this happen as well.

Website: https://www.amazon.com/Point-Shoot-Taj-Cam-Reaves/dp/0578809451

Instagram: www.instagram.com/author_cjr

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cedrik-reaves-42480ab4/

Other: Film credits: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8254021/ Photography portfolio: Shotsoflyfe.com

Image Credits
All photographs are my personal images. I am the photographer. Cedrik ‘CJ’ Reaves Shots Of Lyfe Productions LLC “Point And Shoot with Taj & Cam” Author CJ Reaves

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