Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Cedric McCray . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Cedric thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

One of the services that I provide are photo shoots for comp cards and portfolios for young ladies who are dreaming to become models. I have came across those who get it right because they have the right folks in their corner and those who gets it wrong because they have the wrong folks in their corner. After seeing this behavior time after time. I remember thinking somebody need to help them to change that because if not they are going to find out the hard way. It I started talking to the ones who was getting it right and doing my research on what all needs to happen for young ladies to become successful so that I could at least give them some good advice. Now at the time it still didn’t dawn on me to create a program that could give them all of the tools that they needed to be successful as a model. They would thank me and even reach back out to see if I had anymore information and each one of them said you should give a class because folks need to know the right way to go about becoming a model. I was thinking well I’m sure there’s folks out there that can show them the right way but the truth is not alot of folks would be willing to and definitely not for free. I was thinking well I guess it going to be me. I started chatting with some friends that are in the industry who from a professional stand point that are doing things the right way and asked them would they want to help me to create a free program for young ladies who are looking to follow their dreams of becoming a model for free. They all was very excited to be apart of this program that we named Models Designed for Success. I’m a super excited for each and every one of this young ladies who’s going to benefit from this program.

Cedric, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m so glad you asked me that because just a few weeks ago a client came into the studio for a maternity shoot. I really wasn’t thinking much of it at first because I was so excited that she came in.Then all of sudden she drop the bomb on me! That she was due in the next 36 hrs, I was like uh-oh, what if she goes into labor today, before I knew it… I said, not about to happen here at PtP357 Studio, not today. As we both laughed. After her belly started to move I became real serious about not doing her shoot but she was not having it. So and I know this is cliche but the customer is always right, we ended up doing a full blown shoot, makeup, hair, and 4 changes; 2 of the shoots ended up being outside. My client was determined not to miss this opportunity to have these memories for herself and to share with her child, My wife Cassey L. McCray who’s a license cosmetologist and my makeup artist for my clients was there to help make sure that our client received everything she wanted for her shoot so that helped me to feel more at ease about all of the changes she wanted because someone who is a mother herself and who I trusted really helped me and our client to get through this experience smoothly. That very next day on a Saturday something told me to reach out to her about the photos and before I typed 2 numbers, she sent us a picture of her healthy baby girl! It was a happy moment and for a quick second a scary one because the thought crossed my mind that it could have happened in the middle of our photo shoot. Our clients become family in the time that they spend with us during their wedding, event or a photo shoot… that’s important because people are allowing us inside of their most intimate and sacred spaces. She was in the hospital for a few days and I sent her the photos to view so that she could see the vision that she had,which was to be able to share photos of her pregnancy with her child, just like that helping our clients to meet their goals is why I do this everyday and why I will continue to do it until I hit retirement age. Bottom line is, I love what I do and the community that I build while doing it. It’s amazing and I thank God for this gift every morning.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

When I think about the question what lesson that I had to unlearn my education comes to mind. Now I believe in higher learning if you choose a field that you absolutely are unfamiliar with but have a passion for because lets be honest here and say that higher learning in America is expensive. No one talks about that part so I had to learn that the hard way. I was told like most people was told,which was that getting a degree will give you everything in life that you need. On that thought I went out and spent $32k on school for Photography, now don’t get me wrong if you know nothing about Photography than yes get the education that is necessary to obtain your dream of becoming a professional photographer but in my case. I already knew every lesson that was giving in those classrooms. I could have written the book myself. So, for me and for anyone else who already know the lessons before the teacher have the chance to teach it. I would say to those individuals that if you make the decision to go for your degree go for something that is going to really challenge you and that you are very passionate about, do your research to make sure that it’s worth the cost of admission.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Photography was a hobby for me at first but it was something special about seeing the world through a lens, seeing a piece of myself in every photo, special in a way that I can’t quit put into words. But, for all of you that may come across something special, a hobby that you get to see a piece of yourself in everytime you create and for those of you who haven’t yet found that something special, I will try. Using my gift in a way that shares with others, it changed how I view the world and myself in it. Bringing out the best in someone else especially when it’s on one of the most important days of their life, like a wedding, an anniversary or a head shot for that brand new career that they’ve about to start. I am here to tell you that it turned my hobby into my passion with the mission to help change how people see themselves. One of the best moments that I had and continue to have today is in my creative journey called Photography, being able to witness the smiles that come over a clients face and how their eyes light up when they say Wow… is that me? I look GOOD! In that moment I am clear on what my mission is, and that is to create more moments like that one.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ptp357studio.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptp357
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptp357studio
• Linkedin: https://www.Linkedin.com/company/ptp357-studio
• Yelp: https://m.yelp.com/biz/ptp357-studio-conyers

Image Credits
Cedric McCray