Meet Rydell Tomas Jr | Documentary and Portrait Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rydell Tomas Jr and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rydell, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I was born in Virginia Beach, but raised on the Southside of Atlanta. My family and I moved around a lot, so I was always “the new kid.” It forced me to be social because I wanted to have friends. My siblings and I were always different from the kids in our neighborhoods. We didn’t dress like most of the kids in our neighborhoods, we spoke differently and we had different interest. I’d say it impacted who I am today because I find it easy to make genuine connections with strangers. That goes a very long way working as a photographer.

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.
I’m a self-taught documentary and portrait photographer. I purchased my first camera during my second semester of college because I thought I wanted to be a filmmaker. I didn’t realize that taking photos were going to become such a large part of my life afterwards. I dropped out of college after my first year, and spent the next few years working regular jobs, drilling with the Georgia National Guard and taking commissions as a freelance photographer. I’ve learned over the last 6 years that your connections and how you treat people have the largest impact on your opportunities. How you choose to manage your relationships, consistently improve your craft and seek knowledge are the most important aspects of being a photographer for me. I’m in the early stages of creating something unique, and I look forward to the stories I’m able to tell in the near future as a documentary photographer.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my closest friend came to visit Atlanta, I’d have to show them around town a few times for them to truly enjoy being here. Atlanta’s culture is so much different than some of the other major cities such as New York City and Los Angeles. One of the first places I’d take them is Little 5 Points. I spent so much time there from my late teens to my young adulthood. My sister showed me this place and it really has such a special place in my heart. There’s so much to do in that one area, especially if you’re creative. Thrift shopping at some of the local spots like Rag-o-rama, grabbing a slice at Little 5 pizza, shooting photos around the way and sneaker shopping at Wish. I’d take them to Starlight, the drive-in movie theater off Moreland Avenue on a Saturday night OR Regal Hollywood off 85 headed towards the city. Those are two of my favorite movie theaters. We’d get a 10-piece combo with the peach drink from the American Deli off Lawrenceville highway near Clarkston or “K-Wings” off hwy 42 on the Southside. I’d take them to A Ma Maniere in Atlanta to do a little more shopping, show them the Krog Street tunnel and finally, joyride around the city at 12am.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to shoutout my older sister, Shantell. She taught me to be the person I am today. She practically raised my younger brother and I while my mom worked multiple full-time jobs to keep a roof over our heads. I looked at my sister like a superhero when I was coming up. She had the best taste in music and fashion. She was just cool, and I idolized her for the things she was interested in. About 2 and a half years ago, she got passports for both her and her children, sold her things and moved to Ethiopia. She now teaches English, is married and just had her third child. She’s doing such a good job as a mother and I’ll never be able to express my gratitude for the things she did for my brother and I. She’s one of my biggest role models.

Website: https://www.rydelltomas.com

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSV4ZN52iP5ADpdzkYnrFsQ