Meet Ben Battles | Automotive Photographer, Educator & Historian

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

Hi Ben, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Starting your own business is a scary, scary prospect. It’s a risk that weighs heavily on you, especially if you’ve had steady income at a 9-5 for 5+ years. In my case, the decision to take my business on full time was not made by me, but by my previous employer. With no prospects immediately available, I took to my “side hustle” and focused all energy on myself. Over 2 years later, that decision has been by far the most rewarding one. Of course, my scenario will not always be the case for others. I want all of the aspiring entrepreneurs know that the biggest risk you can take is not taking a chance on yourself. If you have a talent, a product or an idea – dedicate all available time you have towards it. You’d be so surprised how just one year can change your life if you just take that risk.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
As a photographer, being creative is the key to success. Trying different angles, lighting, cameras, lenses – anything to improve the shot. For me, having that freedom while working for a magazine is the ultimate feeling. It’s not always perfect, though. Sometimes, I’ll set off to try a new style and end up with a load of photos that won’t ever see the light of day. Of course, I try to stay critical of my own work while still enjoying the process. The goal is to keep improving! Also, trying to keep the mentality that I don’t need to be stagnant but rather try new things & keep the quality high. It’s a balancing act!

Last year, I decided to focus on my personal brand, Battles Digital, full time. It was not an easy decision as I had to drop a few clients in the process. That decision has so far paid off to an incredible amount. Going from 3-4k followers on Instagram to now over 180k in the span of just over 9 months is probably the most staggering number for me, personally. However, it hasn’t been a cake walk. I have uploaded educational automotive videos daily for now over 250 days in a row – that takes a lot of effort, editing – not to mention traveling around! This year, I have made a major shift in my editing from the photography side to now more of the video side. However, I am still heavily into photography & it will continue being my ultimate passion for the foreseeable future!

I want everyone reading this to know this: You CAN do it! If you’re looking to grow your following online, the key is a mixture of consistency & quality. Having a daily routine is crucial. As mentioned, I upload a video every single day. That doesn’t include any additional photos, posts, shares – bottom line: be ACTIVE! Of course, activity alone doesn’t bring people to your brand. Having entertaining, informative or useful content is equally as key as the consistency! Find your niche and capitalize, and above all, make sure you enjoy doing it to ensure long term success!

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?
Atlanta is full of cool places to visit! On the shopping side of things, Little Five Points has such a diverse collection of shops. Everything from vintage clothing stores all the way to a store filled with the most odd collection of… things, imaginable. If you’re looking for it, you can probably find it there. Not to mention, you’ve also got the Vortex which has some of the BEST bar food on planet earth.

If it’s a weekend, look at Underground Atlanta’s schedule. It’s an underground event venue that used to be a shopping center. The vibes are, as the kids say, “immaculate.” You’ll find they host everything from concerts to literal car shows – all underground. Plus, the art installations are super unique and eye catching. A place not many people think about when they visit the city.

For the outdoors type, Piedmont Park is great. Lots of wide open area for lawn games or picnicking. It’s also worth noting that the park is relatively skate & bike friendly as long as you stay off of the tight paths & stairs. A great place to go spend an afternoon, whether relaxing or exercising.

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?
Firstly, I’d like to thank my dear friend Jonathan Wooley at S3Magazine. He’s one of the reasons I get to do what I do. I’ve learned so much being involved in the mag industry. Wooley took a risk hiring me on with no prior magazine or print background. Rather, he saw some of the photoshoots I had done and thought they were good enough to be not just in the mag – but on the cover! Years later, I’m still writing articles and traveling all over the US showcasing the best of the best everywhere I go.

Secondly, my parents. My mom & dad were always my biggest cheerleaders growing up, even if they didn’t fully understand what I was involved in. I can singlehandedly look back on my childhood and pick out the moment I knew I’d have a lifelong obsession with all things automotive. From that moment on, I had the full support of my parents to chase the dream of being involved in the auto industry.

Lastly, my wife. She’s always supported my decisions, through good times and bad. When I was let go from my last job, she was the first person I saw. Instead of worrying and stressing about the next moves, she embraced me and set me up for success in working for myself. She still says that me getting fired was “… the best thing that happened to us!” -That’s love, folks.

Website: https://www.battlesdigitalimaging.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/battles.digital/?hl=en

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnakck1G8WY6myXXAEAA0yg

Image Credits
All photos by myself.