Meet Robert Blum | Photographer

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

Hi Robert, how do you think about risk?
Risk is the catalyst to my decisions as a small business. Many times I had viewed risk as a sink or swim situation, where decisions for what I had invested my time and money in directly impacted the business as a whole. Strategies for growth and finding the roots of my business have shoved me into the workload of problem solving and weighing risks. Most of the time I chose to take the low risk choices for my business, such as paying more for a stable website provider or using higher quality photography equipment. Other times, I chose to jump into the deep end and build myself bigger in the minds of others than how I was in the moment. The foundation of what I wanted my business to be requires learning as if I am drinking from a firehose. I choose to take on each risk as they come, and remember what works and what doesn’t. Each path I forge pushes me a little further into the market like a wedge, allowing my small business to stand and grow amongst the giants.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am drawn to capturing moments that amplify the ordinary, casting them in a light that highlights their inherent beauty while staying true to their essence. The art of subtlety in editing can elevate any scene, but mastering the fine line between dramatic enhancement and genuine representation is where the real challenge lies. I find inspiration in reality itself, and my greatest challenge—and joy—comes from making a photograph feel both “real” and artistically captivating.

I have a diverse selection of photography subjects that I shoot, and I continuously develop new artistic styles I edit my photos in. I mainly shoot portraits with my business, but I also have interests in car, architecture, wildlife, and other photography. I aim to convey to people tailored emotions for each piece of art I create, whether it’s photos, videos, stories, or anything I create in an artistic manner. My goal is no matter what each individual is feeling emotionally in a given moment, when they experience my creative media, they can get a sense of a specific emotion that I want to share.

I got to where I am at by self learning: going into the deep end only to trail back and start down the adjacent avenue. It takes time to digest information and apply it to experiences. Because of this, I never know what truly classifies myself as a “professional photographer”. I am the same photographer day to day, but not year to year. I strive to learn more every day with this in mind.

The most prominent lesson that continuously pops up in my life is to understand the humility in listening to the expert in the room. I learned to take in their experiences and reflect them on my own. I have found I can use what is already shown to work, and spin my own style off of it. I understand that we cannot build everything all by ourselves in a lifetime, so instead we must build off of what others have laid down before us.

I started RBlum Media to produce journals, apparel, and other products using my art, but my main passion is creating media via photography. Each product incorporates a photo that I take, and builds upon its essence. My business is relatively young, and each day I have new ideas and new directions I could pursue. Today, I have been most successful with photoshoot sessions for graduates. My mission is to grow community connections in ways that each person gets to know me personally.

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?
Currently, I attend Georgia Tech and live on campus. My experiences have taken me to visit many coffee shops and restaurants’ near campus. One hidden gem I have found not too many people know about is a coffee shop / restaurant Momonoki. It’s Asian cuisine and coffee is exceptional and I share it every time anyone asks about places to go. Other places I frequent are restaurants along the Beltline and in Ponce City Market.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First I would like to mention my family. They fueled my pursuit in creative media, and provided me the support needed to make tough decisions or help me financially to start out. My first professional camera was a gift from my father, because he wanted to see how far I would take my growing passion. Gaining traction, I also relied on community for support. I saw potential in my business when I could provide services to my friends and groups I participated in. I chose to find inspiration in established businesses, seeing what works for them and attempting to mimic it. I aimed to consider each person I worked with a new part of my community, and each person was a new mouth that could aid me to grow and build my business a little better each time.

Website: https://www.rblummedia.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rblum_media

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095362578031

Other: Amazon Journals: https://www.amazon.com/stores/RBlum-Media/author/B0CRQM2QW4?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Image Credits
All photos taken via camera and edited by RBlum Media