Meet James S. Tomlin | Wedding Filmmaker & Portrait Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with James S. Tomlin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi James S., why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Ever since I was little, I have always been been fascinated by art. When I was 14 my dad told me that I Needed to get a job, so I did… By the time I was 16 I had worked 5 different jobs including: fast-food employee, cotillion teacher (teaching manners + dance to teenagers), home renovation assistant, farm-hand, and production crew member for my church. I loved working, but something didn’t feel right. Then, freshman year of high school, a friend of mine told me about her job. She was a wedding photographer and had been watching me try to figure out cameras and teach myself. She advised me to look into being a photographer, so I did. About a year later Tomlin Visuals was born. I grew my business through the ridicule that I received from my peers and teachers, the highs and lows of my anxiety and depression, and the battles of being a business owner as well as a student. During quarantine i was really struggling to see what my future was going to be. During the summer i was asked to film a wedding, despite having told people for years that i never wanted to get into weddings for fear of having to deal with the dreaded bridezilla and the horrible stress, i decided to say yes… and my eyes were opened! I loved it! I began to realize that my love of art had nothing to do with the concept of art, but rather the way it makes my clients feel. I love seeing a client watch their wedding film for the first time! They are thrust back into the happiest day of their life, almost immediately a massive smile washes over their face and they become like a kid on Christmas Day seeing their presents. They are so happy. So i decided to stop pursuing the “art of photography” and rather chased after preserving people’s Joy. You become like the people you are around, so why not be around happy people? Now, I film weddings and employ teenagers to second shoot along side me. Many times these people have never touched a camera in their lives, but overtime i train them and grow them into professional grade photographers. I allow them to realize that they are capable and give them the opportunity i wish professionals would have given me. I pursued this career because it gives me the freedom to do what i love most… make people smile, plus I am always surrounded by joy and love… its kinda hard to be sad when everyone around you is smiling.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Art originally was an escape for me. When Iwas in 2nd grade i was diagnosed with dyslexia and later ADHD, dysgraphia, along with anxiety and depression. My family has always been incredibly supportive of my disabilities and continuously told me that they were not disabilities, but rather abilities. So i have never viewed myself as handicapped but rather enabled to do things that others cannot, however that does come at a price. The best way to describe ADHD is that my brain has the power of a Ferrari with the brakes of a hot wheels (OR TRICICLE). My learning differences has caused some major problems in the school system. I was never a great student or a even a good one. Junior year of high school I got hit Hard. My depression took control and i just shut down. My life literally started spiraling down hill – i lost firendships, relationships, jobs opportunities, and completely lost my. Desire to work. One of the resons i look up to Jackie kjircche so much is that she really helped me through this time of my life. Coming out of that hardships wasn not easy. I recently heard someone give the example of how skiers avoid trees. If you look for the trees you will inevitably hit one bc you start to lean. Towards them subconsciously, but if you look for the clearings you will make it thought the clearing. My recovery process was full of me only looking at the trees in my way, so i only got woirse. But thought the help of Kirsche, my family, and therepy i learned to see the clearings. Around the time that i was staring too see an end to this darkness i got my first wedding and began to realize the importance of surrounding ourself with happiness. But i cannot give the credit to myself or to Jackie or to my family. I would not be here if it were not for Jesus.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
1) OBVIOUSLY jackson street bridge at sunset…. I mean WOW. 2) my family is absolutely obsessed with Tin Drum – don’t ask me why, but we cannot stop eating there! We literally go every time we are in town
3) I am always down for walking the belt line
4) I love to go on top of ponce

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Jackie Kirsche! Jackie was my art teacher for 10 years and taught me everything from sketching to sculpture. Despite that being a difficult task already, Jackie is a survivor of stage 4 ovarian cancer. In her time as my teacher she was diagnosed and has had four relapses. She is the perfect example of what it looks like to persevere and look a challenge right in the face and say “try me!” She taught me how to see the beauty in everything, even trials. I learned to see the beauty in the dark times, i mean even the darkness of night has the beauty of the stars. Jackie is, and always will be my inspiration. By teaching me art and being such an incredible example of what it looks like to be joyful and loving even in the most bleak of times, she has shaped me into the artist and person I am today.

Website: Tomlinvisuals.com

Instagram: Tomlin_visuals

Facebook: Tomlin_visuals

Other: Email: Info@tomlinvisuals.com