Meet Willie Daniels | Photographer

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

Hi Willie, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My thought process when I started my photography business was I knew this wasn’t going to be easy but this is my passion and I have to put my all in this business. I knew this would be an extremely challenging process for me because I have never started or ran a business as well as I am starting from scratch but I love photography and I knew this is what I wanted to do as a career.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Absolutely, What sets me apart from others is my ability to shoot multiple styles and categories in photography. I’m not just limited to one genre in photography but many such as, event photography, portrait photography, real estate photography, fashion photography, etc. I’m very excited about being featured in Shoutout Atlanta and what I am most proud of being featured in Ylle Magazine last month. That was my first feature in a magazine. I picked my first camera in 2016 and I knew right then and there that was what I wanted to do as a career. It was countless hours of practice, learning, and understanding the photography business. I took it very seriously and quit my job to pursue photography full time. This wasn’t an easy road at all. When I quit my previous job to pursue a career in photography, I had no Idea of the struggles that would come. It started off super rocky. I was promoting my business on all social media platforms, craigslist, and many more sites. This is when I realized it was much harder than I thought.  I started  falling behind on bills at one point and I wanted to give up. I eventually got things together and adjusted my lifestyle. That’s when things started to form together like a puzzle. I began to start learning from my mistakes, taking in advice from others, and bettering myself as well as keeping my mental stability in check. I enrolled in school and graduated from Atlanta Technical College in Design and media production with a focus in photography. I learned how to charge for my work, the proper way to adjust in different photoshoots, and taking every photoshoot as seriously as possible. Everyone loves memories and it was my duty to capture those in the best way. I would love for everyone to know how much love and thought is given with my business.. I value everyone’s ideas and try my best to turn them into memories that can’t be forgotten.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
One of my favorite spots that I enjoy taking friends to would be Ponce City Market. It has a wonderful variety of foods, shops, and super fun activities. You can also visit the rooftop which is called “Skyline Park”. They have different enjoyable rides, cool bars to grab a nice beverage, and just all around good vibes. The atmosphere is friendly and you have a beautiful view of the city.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Of course I have plenty of supporters who helped me along the way. My mother and father were a great support system throughout getting my business started with equipment and direction. My family in general supported my work as well as friends. My girlfriend who never let me give up, not even in the toughest times. My instagram and facebook family who helped me raise money to purchase my first professional camera. Lastly, my instructors at Atlanta Technical College, Karen Shacham and Kahiah Polidore who helped me master my craft with their great teachings and criticisms.

Website: https://snapgeniusphotogra.wixsite.com/snapgenius

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100011296097188

Image Credits
Photo credit; Dennis Holt