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

Darius, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Looking back, do you think you started your business at the right time? Do you wish you had started sooner or later

This is actually a great question because I have been in this industry now for about 24 years and just recently had the courage and support to go full time within the last year or so.

I really wish that I had listened to myself some 20+ years ago instead of a lot of people that I thought I looked up to. I didn’t realize that everyone does not have the same dream or vision as me or other business owners. Some people are just wired up to be in a support role, which is fine, But I was never happy at any job where I had to follow the ideas of managers and supervisors that were only there to get a check at the end of the week.

I had one job in particular that I thought was awesome until the owner told me, out of his mouth, that I should never pick up a camera or try to run my business again because I was doing such a good job working for him, but at the same time I was struggling with bills and feeding my kids while he reaped the benefits of my hard work. Thats when I vowed to never give up and make Divine Grace Media LLC a reality.

Darius, 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?

Ok, So Divine Grace Media LLC, is a one stop shop for the things that most people overlook or wait until the last minute to book. For example, for a wedding a lot of people will book the venue, caterer, and get the dress/tux but forget about the Photographer/videographer or the entertainment (DJ) for the reception. Thats where I come in, I have a team of professional photographers, videographers and open format DJs that are available to ensure that you have a great event with wonderful memories to view later.

We also provide the popular 360 booth experience and photobooth with on-site printing.

Other services provided are Graphic designs, Live production, and we even do custom banners and T-shirts.

We also have a great network of other professional so if there is a service that we do not provide we have others that we can refer.

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

Wow, so starting out as a DJ everyone thinks that it is only a side hustle. No one ever took me seriously until I left home and was on a tour with a few artists or they turned on the radio and heard he on DJing live from the club.

They also thought that all I wanted to do with my camera was take pictures of beautiful women because I thought that all there was to being a photographer was boudoir and model shoots. That changed after booking my first wedding and seeing the face of the bride after I presented her with her photo album that I went to the local drugstore and had printed. The way she smiled and referred others to me for different events and children’s birthday photos I knew then that I had more to learn and work on. Now I pride myself in weddings and family portraits, I still do a little boudoir here and there. It’s based on what the client wants at that particular time. I like to provide whatever my client request.

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

Basically, I had to unlearn that everybody does not have the same vision that you have for your business. My mom was extremely skeptical about me leaving the medical field to go after my dream of entrepreneurship, but I had to bite the bullet and do it because I realize that she only knew one way and I wanted to be the one to start fresh, Now I see my 10-year-old niece sketching out designs saying she wants to have her own clothing line. I support that! I want to see more of the youth express their ideas and visions. Maybe if I had had that I would not be starting so late in the game.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.divinegracemedia.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/divinegracemedia/
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/Divinegracemedia
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/darius-lawson-194569130/
• Twitter: twitter.com/dgmedia22
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@divinegracemedia

Image Credits
All photos taken by Darius Lawson of Divine Grace Media LLC