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

Alright, Donell thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the story of how you went from this being just an idea to making it into something real.

This is a great question. I have always been into visual arts as a kid. I attended Harlem School of the arts(HSA) when I was a kid studying mediums such as sketch, painting, film photography, etc. Drawing is the medium that has always stuck with me! I carried on with drawing into adulthood and in April 2020 I realized I was drawing a lot of other peoples photography. Thinking back to HSA, I have the photography background, why don’t I but my own camera, take and draw my own photos? I then purchased my first camera the Canon Rebel SL3 and messaged a ton of friends to set up shoots. A few shoot in I fell absolutely in love with the creative photography process. From putting the initial mood board together, to choosing a location then meeting someone new for an adventure to be captured! It was at this point execution took place. How do I take this new found hobby and turn it into a income source? Step 1: was to refine my skills via a online photography course, Step 2: improve phot quality via a new lens (nifty 50!) Step 3: build a portfolio then finally step 4: find clients! With a huge focus on step 3 I set up many TFP (Trade for Print) shoot to acquire new content to display in a portfolio and Instagram and this directly translated to a lead funnel for clients and the journey began!

Donell, 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?

Going back to the artistic background and skill set from HSA. As time went on I came to the decision Photography is the medium I enjoy the most. Not only do I get to express myself through the way I capture photos, I am able to empower another person and bring them happiness, what could be better? I provide a variety of services ranging from 1 on 1 Portrait shoots to big events such as New York fashion week and everything in between! What I think set myself apart from other in my industry is my communication skills. Communication is not only instructions but listening, analyzing and understanding. I have a previous back ground in Personal Training Management which has led me to develop a skill set in understand a person’s wants and needs then devising a way to deliver them the desired result. I apply this to my photography by digging deep to see what my clients are looking to achieve and how I can make their vision come true. What I am most proud of is the experience I deliver. Similar to my background in personal training, these markets are saturated with a lot of people that offer the same technical skill set. A lot of photographers can take great photos, I pride myself on delivering an experience that clients will not forget!

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

I think every portrait photographer needs to hear what I am about to say: Instagram and events! I quite literally get over 50% of my bookings through instagram. In this day and age it is basically a live portfolio with high share ability for your work to reach new potential costumers and this is without even using the advertising features! Secondly is events. When starting out I only wanted to shoot one on one, that is where I am most comfortable and to this day what I enjoy the most. However! over looking events would be the equivalent of any business refusing to showcase their services to more than one person at a time, not a very good strategy to grow. Throw events, be it dinner, get togethers, fashion, etc I am amble to interact with people on mass scale and they are able to get a glimpse of how I work. Carry a few business cards and be ready to network!

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

This is a fantastic question for me. Prior to the last year I have never thought of what drives me besides the desire to create. Expanding outside of one on photography I began to shoot for NYFW a little over 2 years ago. Similar to the previous question my goal was to network and expand my clientele for subsequent one on one shoots. While shooting for @runway7fashion over the past 2 years I became inspired by how inclusive their shows are and how they are silencing several fashion industry stereotypes. Seeing this, combining it with my love of photographing and helping other led me to produce my own show during NYFW @modelxshowcase with the first show being this past February in Tribeca. My mission with The Model X Showcase is to create a platform where models can get started and explore modeling as a opportunity regardless of age, height, shape, etc. This now drives my creative journey adding a extra layer to client shoots who have ambitions of modeling. I am now able to help them in more ways then one and spread the showcase to help models all over the world. This past show I had models from all over the U.S. and even one from Norway! This shows me the impact I am able to make and the scalability of my concept.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://x2artphoto.myportfolio.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/x2artphoto/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/x2artphoto/

Image Credits
Katie Alden (Blue and purple photos, face of @modelxshowcase) Jules Everitt (Yellow tint photo with night background) Karoline Peterson (Norway model auditioning #233) Nat Davis (model on steps)