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

Alright, Austin thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

Serving other people is how you will be successful. Believing in other people’s vision is how I got multiple opportunities to learn from others. I currently serve with a Christian nightclub called JoyFul Noize in Orlando, Florida. I’m not being paid to take photos or capture video. Because of the owner, Bryce G, his vision is what is allowing me to serve without expectation of receiving. It’s not about what I get in any sense. Due to this mindset, it afforded me so many opportunities to learn from Bryce & the culture he is building. Not only am I a studio photographer & filmmaker, but I’m also an AV technician and have learned how to put on a great event. People want to leave a mark of legacy. I say do it by helping other people’s vision. But also, there’s a balance. If you have vision, go and accomplish it. Maybe you will gain a vision that will entice others to join the mission.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m a person who has my head up in the clouds. I’m constantly wondering & daydreaming about ideas. One of my endeavors was to be a comedy filmmaker on YouTube. Over time, my vision changed the more I experimented with my own art. I found my photo and video style. The core of what I do is capturing the person or brand and I showcase a part of their story they want to highlight. My brand is called Dattaffy, which evolved from an Xbox gamer tag. My style has vibrant color with cinematic tones.

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

Showcase resilience?? Haha I most definitely can. How can I forget the time someone asked me if I “was even a professional.” I pursued my business the first time, but I did not lean into my style or have the confidence to double down on what I wanted. I agreed to a video shoot for a non-profit. I did the video according to what I thought they wanted. I delivered the product and was critiqued heavily. She didn’t tell me upfront what she wanted. To be blunt, I don’t think she knew what she wanted. She shredded my confidence by asking if I was a professional and tore my work apart. It took me a moment to bounce back. Once I did, I swore I would get clear on the things I wanted to create. I’m currently promoting my work on social media & collaborating with other people. I worked with DJ Cam. The work I delivered was astounding to him. The feeling was astronomical and reassuring.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

Just because someone can take pictures or film something, doesn’t mean that creative can or should. The film and photo industry works the same as any other. A person who specializes in something will be great at it. Someone who does everything you will likely be disappointed. The specialist will know the expectations and what the project will take. They’ve done it multiple times. They’ve learned what works and what doesn’t. Their portfolio will reflect their level of work. If their portfolio is too different, you will not know what you’ll be getting.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dattaffy.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dattaffy/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dattaffy

Image Credits

DATTAFFY