Meet Zachary Bobo | Photographer

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

Hi Zachary, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
It has become painfully clear that as a photographer, people who are not in the craft do not understand the work that goes into each frame. From the conception of the idea to the finished product, there has to be an even balance of skill and the ability to adapt to what you are given. With the influx of newer phones with better cameras attached to them, photographer are now faced with the problem of clients who have seemingly over night become the next Jimmy Nelson. While photographers like myself are not new or shy to the idea of critiques, comparing my hours of work and experience as a photographer to portrait mode on a phone is not only laughable but also slightly offensive. We are more than just point and click button pushers. Photography is an art form please respect it as such.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As a photographer to say that the beginning of this journey was a struggle is an understatement. Hearing someone say that what you have poured your heart, soul, and time into is not good enough for them is tough. But the only way to make it to your goal is to push through the hard parts. Those tough times have taught me to never take a single sliver of success or positivity for granted. Keeping this positive mind set is a challenge but bringing a positive vibe and keeping your art true to you helped me build what I have today in Candor Visuals. When trying to find a name for my company, I struggled with the decision to use my name or come up with a name like most artist. After sitting in my apartment in Florida one Saturday trying to make the decision, I decided to go sit a the beach just relax. While I was there taking pictures of the beautiful sunset, I was interrupted by an older gentleman. He expressed to me that his wedding was coming up and they have been looking for a photographer. As I showed him my previous work on my phone I kept a straight face, while I was ecstatic on the inside. He loved my photos and asked what company did I work for. At this moment I proudly made the decision to go with my name and said I work for no one I am my own boss I am the photographer Zach. I stood there full of pride and he reached up and poked a hole in my air filled chest by saying thank you for being honest but we are looking for something more professional. He waved me goodbye and that is when I made my final decision on what I would choose. When he thanked me for being honest the word Candor stuck in my brain. I immediately went home and filed for the L.L.C. for Candor Visuals because no matter the situation I was going to be open and honest with client and myself. I am thankful for failed opportunities like this. It helped me to build and work on my craft and business to make sure I never put myself into a corner and I’m always in the best situation to evolve and become something greater.

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?
On Sunday we would get breakfast at Nana’s Chicken and Waffles in Conyers and enjoy the beignets, drinks, and chicken and waffles of course. After the food has settled, we would head to the downtown area as today would be the day of just walking around to show the life and construction of a always growing city. By that time, we would go to Slim and Husky’s and pick up some tasty pizza and cinnamon rolls. After fighting through the Atlanta traffic we would end up at the battery. There I would show them what there is to offer there next to the stadium. We would then go to the braves games and enjoy the rest of the night with the crazy fans. On Monday, after having a late night at the baseball game, we would go get brunch at Kaleidoscope Bistro & Pub for food and bottomless mimosas. We then would go a photoshoot because who doesn’t love tipsy photos when you’re all dressed up. We would then take an Uber back to the battery to a cigar lounge called Burn to smoke, drink, eat, and watch Monday Night Football. On Tuesday we would venture a little outside of Atlanta to be more active. We would head to Amicalola Falls to go on a hike and see some waterfalls of Georgia. After that workout we will be hot, tired, and hungry so when we get back home and clean up back out we go to find food. We would then head to El Indio to get some Birria Tacos. On Wednesday we would probably eat from home with some homemade pancakes at brunch time because we will be tired from that long hike. Because me and all my friends are competitive we would then head to painted pin where I would hand out L’s all day long. On Thursday we would head to little 5 points and watch Thursday night football at Hudson Grille enjoying appetizers, beer, and football. On Friday it’s time to go out and stay out. We would start out at Twisted Soul and grab those perfectly sauced Georgia Peach Wings. Later we would head to a hookah lounge called Blaqhaus and enjoy music, food, drinks, and watch sports. On their last day Saturday we would go to Puttshack and enjoy some more food and friendly gentlemen’s wager with whoever loses buys the next round of drinks. We would end the night at a club called Encore.

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?
In March of 2018 I was in the beginning of my deployment in Afghanistan. Before I was deployed, the picture that my brain painted of this desolate place was that of a land full of darkness and a people who had discarded a civilized life. The longer I stayed the more I noticed how wrong my perception of a world and people I did not know was in comparison to the reality. Beautiful sunsets reflected off of the polar white snow top mountains each evening spreading a blend of red, orange, and purple light to dance across the base, signifying the end of the day. The people that I met in town on our missions spoke multiple languages, laughed, loved, and had struggles and bad days just like the rest of us. After seeing all this for about a month, I had a phone call with my parents to talk about this revelation that I just came to but I ran into a problem. Although I was explaining it as best I could, I couldn’t find a way to convey exactly what I was seeing. That is when I decided it would be more efficient to take a picture than to try to express what I saw with a thousand words. With that first click of my phone, it was like I unlocked a level of me that I had tucked away for safe keeping. I immediately remembered how my parents would make me be the family photographer growing up and how much joy it brought me. From that point I was hooked and began to dig deeper into this thing called photography. On this journey I’ve had a support group in my parents Angela and David that are inferior to none. From investing money into my passion to just being a model for a new lens, they were and continue to be the encouragement and support I love and respect. Every once in awhile I stop while I’m in a photoshoot doing what I love and think. Where would I be if my parents never asked to see a picture of what I was saying and just brushed off the conversation.

Website: www.candorvisuals.com

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CandorVisuals

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/candorvisualsphotography

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOalFTAYjQNlEI2nLEUCS3g/featured

Other: TikTok: @candorvisuals

Image Credits
Olive Branch High School Football Team Lake Cormorant High School Football Team Kimberly Erinkitola FatBoiz Terrence Alexander