We were lucky to catch up with DeRhon Moffitt recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, DeRhon thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you walk us through some of the key steps that allowed you move beyond an idea and actually launch?

Starting out as a photographer was a blend of divine intervention, perfect timing, and taking a step out on faith.

Growing up, I was always creative. I’ve always been a complete extrovert and a performer. I was always in performing arts or something that allowed me to flourish on stage, but I had a passion for learning how to create things that would be visually appealing to people. From being an actor to a singer/rapper, performing just came natural. So, the chance to step out of the spotlight and shine in the background was oddly invigorating.

When I graduated from college in 2012 (shoutout to the University of West Florida), my dad had started a graphic design business and bought me my first DSLR. His reasoning may have been a little selfish, but it was the seed that I needed to turn a dream into a reality. My dad knew that I had a creative “eye” and believed that I had the ability to create the “right” shots, and it opened up the possibilities to be more in control of developing my creativity further than I could on stage or in front of the camera.

It all began with learning how to use my equipment and learning how to properly compose shots. I kept my camera with me everywhere I went. I took pictures of everyone and everything – from parties with the homies to car meets to portraits of my family to random stops at the beach. If it caught my eye, I was ready to capture. My first real shoot with a client was with one of my best friends. He was a model/fitness trainer and needed some headshots/portraits to send off to an agency. It took me from a hobbyist to a photographer, helping to develop the gift and turn it into a skill.

After my first shoot, my business kind of blew up quickly. I went from just shooting to learn to being paid to photograph people and events. I had to figure out how to run my business, how to book clients, how to market myself, how to provide exemplary service, and how to create meaningful art. But, I thank God for His grace and letting me fail forward and still be successful as a beginner.

DeRhon, 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?

Allow me to introduce myself – my name is Ronnie Moffitt! I am a photographer and a full creative!

Photography, for me, is about unveiling moments and crafting stories through uniquely curated experiences.

I got into photography in 2012 and have been shooting portraits and events ever since!
I am originally from Florida (Destin/Pensacola – 850 stand up!), but moved to San Antonio in 2016.

Starting out, the photography market in Northwest Florida was centered around family portraits and weddings. It was a heavily saturated market because the location is perfect for tourists and families, but it isn’t the most accommodating for creatives who want to be different and push the boundaries. My desire to be creative pushed me to be disruptive and to challenge the status quo – leading me to shoot and edit differently than my peers.

I fell in love with club photography and event photography because there was more freedom and creativity associated. I had the opportunity to shoot numerous celebrities and musicians – including Lil Wayne, Future, and Nick Minaj – along with other local talent in the area, which helped to push my own personal style and define myself as a photographer.

After moving to San Antonio, I was blessed to become the head of social media and production at our church in 2017. I started out just as a social media manager and content creator, which allowed me to use my photography skills to compose shots from services and events as use them in our marketing materials. I had the opportunity to develop my skills shooting events and manipulating light even more, as well as getting to travel around San Antonio and other cities using my gift.

Being in the photography community in San Antonio has allowed me to meet several of the best photographers I’ve ever met, which has pushed me to be even better in all aspects of the business. I’ve become a published photographer in several publications, created beautiful art for clients and models, and been able to become sought after for my work and services.

When you work with Ronnie Moffitt, you’re not just getting photos – you’re getting your story told and moments captured to be remembered a lifetime!

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative/artist is the chance to create something that will live on forever. My personal goal is to create something that will become art in my client’s home.

Every time I get a chance to be booked as a client’s photographer, I selfishly want to produce at least 1 single shot that my client turns into a canvas print or a poster or some kind of wall art and hang it up in their home or in their office. I know that getting it posted on social media is great and getting to see it digitally is incredible, but having my work become a piece of art just hits different. It’s a blessing for someone to value your time, talent, and effort so much that they want to put it on display.

Creating a moment for someone is really what I do it for.
Some people want to go viral. Some people want to be rich.
I want my art to be remembered.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Life is all about learning how to pivot.

I’ve had to learn how to pivot several key times in life.
The first major pivot was when my parents got divorce.
Being a middle schooler and having to learn how to navigate through the shift into a new normal while traversing the heartbreak of losing your family and all you’ve ever known requires a pivot. Through that entire 4 year transition, one thing remained constant – my faith in God.

My mom is a preacher and even in the midst of a divorce, cancer, and losing our home for a year because of a hurricane, she always maintained the disposition that God is all we need.
After years of heartbreak – God healed.
After years of disappointments – God was still there.
After normal changed – God didn’t.

The best lesson that I ever learned was to stay flexible in every situation.
Let God write your story and always be ready to shift.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/ronniemoffittphoto
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RonnieMoffittPhoto
• Other: Personal IG: http://www.instagram.com/ronniemoffitt