Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Earl Morgan. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Earl, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Going back to the beginning – how did you come up with the idea in the first place?

You must give credit to my sister, Consie for giving me the idea to start Asinto Photography LLC. I was recovering from a stroke in November 2021. When I returned to work three months later, things felt different. It was like the organization moved on and I wasn’t needed. I confided with my sister on my frustration with the job. I’ve already retired from the Air Force, and I’ve worked the civilian sector for 14 years. With the side effects of the stoke, do I really want to start over again? Who would want to hire me with my health issues? My sister said, “Why won’t you be a photographer? You take great photos!” I’ve never thought of having a career in photography. I’ve been taking photos since my brother gave me a Nikon in 1986. I was taking plenty of photos during family events. I joined the Air Force in 1989 and continued my photography as a hobby traveling the world. I was nervous starting over again. I was very comfortable with my previous job, but the joy was gone. I couldn’t have done this moving without my wife, Rita. I explain the risks of starting the business. She knew I was very unhappy with my current job situation. Once I got her blessing, I took the leap of faith and never looked back! She has been my biggest cheerleader and my “rock!” Without her love and support, I would have never took the risk of starting my photography business.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m from Queens, New York. As I stated earlier, I’m a 20-year Air Force Veteran, spending the last 9 years working at the Pentagon in the Air Force Small Business Program which unexpectedly started my career in the small business industry. When I retired in 2009, I worked for an aerospace Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) out of Wisconsin then another SDVOSB in Washington DC which specializes in events, marketing, and advertising which including photography. We manage small business events for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), United States Agency of International Development (USAID), Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Veterans Small Business Coalition (NVSBC). I met thousands of small business owners which included small business consultants who taught everything from business development, marketing and management. I did not know what I learned the past 14 years in the small business industry cumulating with my Air Force experience is what I would be using today. I never planned on being a small business owner.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

As I stated earlier, I suffered a stroke in November of 2021 while working a conference in Orlando, Florida. Just before the start of the conference, I was talking with two of the attendees when I started slurring my words. A good friend of mine, Rita Brooks, recognized the symptoms of a stroke and notified my employer. I remember walking in the ambulance on my own power and when I woke up the next day, I was paralyzed on the right side of my body. I entered rehab a week later. My father suffered multiple stokes and was bedridden for several years before he passed away. I started thinking if I was going to suffer the same fate. Unfortunately, I had a setback in rehab when the doctors discovered I had a pulmonary embolism. I was in the hospital, lying in bed thinking to myself, “I didn’t want my wife to become a caregiver for the rest of her life. I didn’t want to be a burden on my family” On top of that, I watched many patients in rehab just “gave up” and accept their fate. All though the nurses and doctors asked repeatedly if I was depressed or want to do harm to myself, I answered “no” but deep down I hid the fact that I was very depressed and wanted to end it all. My sister came to my rescue. She noticed something was wrong and began to list the things I need to live for. After a few hours (and some tears), I began to “snap out of it.” When I got back to rehab, that’s when the real work began. A week after returning to rehab, I started moving my pinky finger. Three weeks later, I started taking baby steps with assistance. My goal was to get out of that wheelchair! Four days before Christmas, I returned to North Carolina to continue my rehab at Duke University hospital. During my rehab at Duke, I was selected for a nationwide study on stoke recovery to help other patients. Another two weeks of intensive rehab, I “graduated” from a wheelchair to a cane and able to use my right hand to eat. Now I have 100% use of my right hand with 98% use of my right leg and arm.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I was primary focus on business photography, headshots, conferences, meetings and products. On my spare time, I shoot sports. One day while shooting a college baseball game, a mother came up me asking if I can take photos of her son who is a relief pitcher. I took about 30 photos and emailed her a link. A few weeks later, she asked for my Venmo info and within 5 mins, she sent $175. I said to myself, “WOW,” maybe I need to focus on sports more.” I started calling a few local high schools and sports organizations to diversify my portfolio. I was shooting everything from football to soccer. I was doing pretty good until I tried shooting hockey. Now if you told me three years ago that I would be known today as a “hockey photographer,” I would probably be laughing at you. Other sports I photograph was easy, but hockey was a different “beast!” If you can compare my hockey photography from three year ago to now, it’s night and day. Some folks would say my hockey photos were decent, but I felt they were bad. My timing was off. I would mostly get photos after the player shot the puck or player’s backs. It was that fast! You got to start from somewhere, right? It was very frustrating. I reached out to several local hockey photographers but none of them responded. I was talking to a friend who happened to be a local model and stated her photographer also shoots hockey. I started following his Instagram page…his photos are incredible! I reached to her photographer, Rob Miracle. Not only did he explain the dynamics of hockey photography, but he was also willing to come out to shoot a game with me. I learned a ton that night and I’m forever grateful for his mentorship. I went from shooting two games a month to shooting eight games a month. I also shoot hockey tournaments host by the Capital City Hockey League (CCHL) and the North Carolina Autism Hockey League (NCAHL). So, I like to thank Michele Bench Goodman from the North Carolina Trailblazers Women’s Ice Hockey for my first opportunity, Jeff and Taylor Brown from CCHL, Andrew Mazzeo from NCAHL and Micheal Babcock and the players from BABS Hockey Fraternity.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.asintophotography.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asinto_photography_llc
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asintophotography
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/earlmorgan/
• Other: https://g.co/kgs/HnwrN8Z

Image Credits

asinto photography llc