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

Ish, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Going back to the beginning – how did you come up with the idea in the first place?

I’ve always loved photography ever since I was a kid. I remember after moving to Texas in 1996 and attending Pershing Middle School, I would always have a disposable camera with me, taking pictures of my friends and classmates. This continued throughout high school and my young adult life. Fast forward to around April 2012, when someone I was dating at the time was looking at pictures I taken at various bodybuilding contests. To my surprise, she was amazed at the quality of the pictures taken with just a regular Kodak point-and-shoot digital camera. Right then, she asked why I didn’t pursue photography professionally to get paid for it. My response was that I just liked doing it for fun.

For my birthday that same year, she bought me my first DSLR camera and three books on photography. That’s when I started taking it seriously due to the effort she put into my birthday gift. The following year, I had gained enough experience to take it to the next level as a business. I went to the courthouse and secured the DBA “Barri Media.” The next step was building my first business website, where potential clients could view my work and book me online. The rest, as they say, is history.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My main goal as a photographer since day one has been to make professional-quality photography affordable for the everyday person. I achieve this by consistently thinking of innovative ways, keeping up with the ever-changing landscape of technology and trends, listening to my customer base, and ultimately working smart rather than hard. The main problem I often encounter and solve for customers is finding unique locations for their creative needs. I address this challenge by actively scouting the city for awesome outdoor and indoor locations that can be utilized for a wide variety of photo sessions.

I have collaborated with a diverse range of small business owners and professional athletes. What I am most proud of is when they utilize the images we captured for their advertisements and social media content. That truly holds great significance for me.

What I want potential clients to understand above all else is that I value their input on their photos. I am always open to creative styles and suggestions that the client may have. Because, at the end of the day, teamwork makes the dream work.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

For me, the best source is word of mouth from previous clients, and I also reach out to people on social media whom I believe have a need for my services. This includes business owners, athletes (amateur & pro), and college students.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

When it comes to photography, the most rewarding aspect for me is the clients’ reaction after receiving their completed photos. There’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of surpassing a client’s expectations. As for podcasting, I cherish the feedback I receive from guests and the audience regarding the quality of the production. I dedicate several hours each week to editing each episode (both video and audio), as well as planning the marketing. When people recognize the effort I invest in delivering a podcast, especially now that this season is available in 4K, it feels truly rewarding.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.barrimedia.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barrimedia
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/748787993540429
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/barrimedia
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/thebarrimedia
• Other: My podcast “The Unrestricted Podcast” can be found streaming everywhere and on the official website https://www.theunrestrictedpodcast.com

Image Credits
Mz Blue Dicey Grenor Starr Parnell Jesslyn Norman-Robinson