Today we’d like to introduce you to Roosevelt Askew, III.
Roosevelt, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My photography career dates back 24 years ago as a sophomore in high school. At the time, I was pursuing a music career. I had been writing & performing songs for about 2 or 3 years roughly. But, unfortunately, I was ahead of my time in my area, so to speak, and I was never able to connect with any producers to aid in developing my chosen path. I didn’t want to keep writing to other people’s instrumentals, although I did keep performing until 2002. Sometime in the year 2000, my father gifted me with my 1st SLR film camera. The Canon Rebel 2000. From there I had a new focus. I studied the ends & outs of that camera and photography itself. I spent a lot of time in Books-A-Million reading and purchasing photography books. I learned how the 1st camera was made, I mimicked other photographers’ work, bought my 1st set of strobes by Smith Victor, and eventually created my own style of shooting. I never put that camera down and I still enjoy what I do greatly!!!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
A smooth road? Not at all!!! Lol. Nothing about building a business from ground up is easy. Especially when it’s something you haven’t been trained for. There’s a lot of trial and error. A ton of learning curves. I had to learn business itself, learn and understand the market I lived in, had to determine what I wanted to offer, figure out how to set my pricing, & learn how to market my brand. It also took me FOREVER to come up with a company name. I’ve also been burnt/cheated before. But the beauty is that taught me how to properly word my contracts with specific clauses to protect myself. There’s always going to be ups and downs in business. Such as life. You just have to make sure you’re learning from the lessons so you can grow and develop the wisdom you need to go to the next level.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a photographer. I don’t particularly specialize in 1 type of photography. I feel like that puts you in a box & limits you. Therefore, I shoot anything that requires a camera. What I’m most proud of is my growth. I periodically go back and look at my early work to remind myself of how far I’ve come. Looking at your own growth is a very strong form of motivation. What sets me apart from others is simply me being who I am. Seeing your work draws people in, but it’s you that keeps them. Your personality, your professionalism, & your ability to create a memorable experience. That’s what makes you fully stand out & bring people back consistently.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I don’t believe in luck. I believe in God, purpose, & destiny. God orders my steps & I trust that gut feeling which is him nudging me in the right direction. I also understand that everyone & everything that shows up in your life, whether good or seemingly bad, has a purpose that’s designed to push you towards your destiny.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.cbimagery.net
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/creativebeauty804 & www.instagram.com/cb804photography
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/Cr3ativeB3auty
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/cb804photography