We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dimaggio Escobedo a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Dimaggio, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Has Covid resulted in any major changes to your business model?

Covid really made me reevaluate a lot of my business structure. With photography being such a personal and close contact trade my world really came to a hault. The clients that I had created relations with, potential new clients, the clients brought in from word of mouth and the networking events really faded quickly. The only thing there was to do was wait it out unfortunately. It pushed me to find financial stability in the job markets that were still open. As the world seemed to get a handle of thing I slowly started to build business again but not through the traditional means pre covid. The world shifted to a more digital one due to fear of contact. Sure there were the regular clients but even then the fear instilled in everyone kept people away from each other. Now that vaccines are steadily available I feel there is more hope in finding a normalcy and continue to build business.

Dimaggio, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Of course, my name is Dimaggio Escobedo. I found and operate D.E Lenswork, my photography company. I fell in love with photography at the age of 10 when introduced to me by a cousin of mine. He had taken a film photo of my younger sister at the San Francisco zoo. He went on to explain the printing process and how he developed everything himself and for me the rest was history. I just ran with it. From then on I was always using disposable camera. In the winter of 2009 I received my first DSLR. With my artistic style and drive deriving from the skateboard subculture I directly started shooting street photography, fashion , and skateboarding which gave me a different perspective that the traditionally taught artist. In 2012 I graduated high school and started to pay more attention to the craft and hone in on my signature look. In 2016 I started D.E Lenswork which carried me throughout my college life and into covid.

My photography works can range from architectual, lifestyle, weddings, family portrait, boudoir, skateboarding, high fashion, events, and commercial. I do my best to no be bound by a photographic style rather than to be bound by my title as a photographer. Capturing moments is what I’m in this industry to do, so why limit the type of moments captured.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Clearity and communication for sure. Without these two I don’t think I would be anywhere I am today and that goes beyond business and into my personal life and relationships. Especially when it came time where I shifted focus to boudoir to strengthen my craft. As a male photographer we are very the subject of matter and what I mean by that is that there are a lot of males with no talent and some money who go and buy the most expensive gear in order to manipulate their clients primarily being of the opposite sex. This is a very hot topic in the photography market right now which in turn opened up models to start taking up the photography craft and rising an amazing set of dual talented females. In return though I gives all male photographers a bad name because you don’t know who to trust. So yeah clearity communication and a little skill will get you a long way

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

I would say just getting out there getting in front of people to say “hey this is who I am and what I do”. Going to events is where I met the bulk of my clients. Finding people in their element having fun is the best way to find a connection and leaving an impression on the people you meet followed by a business card has gotten me some of the best connection I have ever made.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sites.google.com/view/dimaggio-escobedo/home?authuser=0
• Instagram: @Dimtheautodidact
• Facebook: D.E. Photography
• Twitter: @dankaplooza

Image Credits
Taylor Belcoff