We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Falon McCormick. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Falon below.
Falon, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
I am a freelance photographer and a a filmmaker. I want to explain the story behind my mission as both a photographer, and filmmaker.
Since I was young I have had a infatuation for story telling and visual arts. At one point I wanted to be writer, then a teacher, then a journalist. I eventually found my passion in filmmaking and photography where I learned that I can tell stories both written and visually. With those stories I like to try and send a message, whether it is full of positivity and hope or deep dark and ugly.
I lost my Grandfather, Cousin (Who was more like my big brother), father, and grandmother, all within my adolescent years. And with that, I have the same maybe 3-5 good photos of them I can refer back to when trying to remember them. I wish I had more. I wish I had more candid moments of them. So, I fully see and believe the importance of photos of special moments and loved ones. I know it sounds dark and dreary, but in all reality, you might not remember their voice or laugh, but you can remember what they looked like in that point of their life. So I guess the story behind capturing moments that will last forever, is, One day, that might be all you have. So please just cherish your time together.
As for my filmmaking. I have always stood up for mental health and wanted to make an impact on spreading awareness. My award winning film ADDICTION follows a woman through her journey of a night where she is wanting to use and is looking for support while battling the demon inside of her. I have seen mental health be romanticized, sugar coated, and downplayed. And I want viewers to feel uncomfortable, feel unease at what they are watching. Because mental health is not easy, or pretty, or simple. It is complex, and messy and I would not wish it on my enemy. I also do this with my self portraits. I use photography as an outlet to hopefully illustrate what is happening inside my mind. I believe this is so important, because it’s real, and it’s raw.
Falon, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I took my first photography class in 7th grade, and when entering my freshman year of high school, I was encouraged to take an Audio Visual Production class. I fell in love with the idea of visual storytelling. I used to think I loved just taking photos, but I realized after studying filmmaking, I just love being behind the camera.
It has taken me a long time to finally be able to start my photography business. I had a lot of detours and bumps in the road. I am an artist at heart, so I love the work that I do when it is full of passion, and compassion. Here in Casper, Wyoming, the market is very saturated with photographers. Which is a wonderful thing, however, this can make building a clientele a bit more rough or take a bit longer. With that being said, Last year I was finally able to spread my wings and work full time in my photography business!
I offer a large variety of services, from business video ads, and product photography, to wedding photos/video, and senior portraits. My biggest goal is to make sure my clients are fully satisfied with what they receive from me. I charge by photo instead of session, and the client gets to choose the photos they love best with multiple styled edits to choose from. I do this, because I remember receiving a bunch of photos from the photographer and only liking a handful. I felt it was a waste of the photographers time editing so many photos I would never use, as well as possible wasted space of images I will never use. So by helping clients in receiving exactly what they want, can be more friendly for their budget, as well as satisfying their needs. I also try and make things work for most budgets. I allow payment plans, as well as allowing clients to purchase more photos from me at a later date if they are unable to afford as many as they want at that moment.
I think what I am most proud of in regards to my photography business, is all of the wonderful people I have gotten to meet and the friends I have made! I used to lack a lot of confidence in myself and my work, and to know that clients not only love my work, even the unedited photos, but they want to keep me around also? That’s so magnificent to me! So, just know that I do not take anything about my work for granted. I absolutely love helping people. And I absolutely love making someone’s day!
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
For myself personally. I am an artist. I have an artists mind. I see things differently than most. You can see a man standing at a bus stop, and not think anything of it. I will see that man at the bus stop and will be creating an entire story around him in my mind. “What is he thinking? How did he end up here? Where is he going?”
I remember being told when I was fairly young, “You have a natural eye.” What does that mean? I can take a photo of a particular subject, and just know what angle can make it look good. Photography is definitely a taught skill. But, it can also take some natural talent to really delve into the depth of artistry. A lot of non-creatives I think have a hard time understanding that you need to be in a certain mindset to create. It’s easier said than done to just pick up the camera and go shoot. If I have no vision, then what am I to create? I have friends who do photography solely as a way to make money, they aren’t passionate about the artistry, but they are passionate about money. And for me, I have learned that although, money is a driving factor in my life, I don’t want to be a rich and famous photographer/director/filmmaker. I just want to love what I do and be able to survive financially.
I also remember my mom and friends asking if I would want to do photography as a means for money, Like running my own photography business. And though I love doing this, and I love the opportunities it has brought me, The drive to make money with my photography has also hindered my creative side many times. Because now, If it’s not a paid gig, I’m probably not going to go shoot on my own. This is something I’m trying to work on. But it has definitely been a double edged sword.
Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?
They don’t teach you how to land the job in school. I wish I knew the legalities of owning a photography business a lot time ago. I probably would have started much sooner. I wish I could have someone sit me down, and walk me through the marketing process, how to file my taxes, The best way to brand myself. Ya know, the whole running a business thing.
How do I write a CV? What should I include in my portfolio? How do you make a reel? I have to SPEND money to MAKE money??? Absurd. Now my website is $360 a year but It runs so slowly because I have so much content that I have to completely redesign it. I have to reach out to every lead, like, I am my own sales person everyday? Exhausting.
I honestly think the resource that has helped me the most is talking with the Small Business Development in my home state. They have given me a lot of advice and resources. That’s how I found out my website was running too slow, and how to brand myself and my business name better, and it was a free marketing analysis. As a female entrepreneur, the Wyoming Women’s Business Center has also been helpful in helping me get commercial/contracted jobs.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mccormickphotography.zenfoliosite.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mccormick_photographywy/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/McCormickPhotography0502/
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/falon-mccormick-901142233
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/@Falonito1218
- Other: https://falonmportfolio.wixsite.com/portfolio
Image Credits
(Top 2 images of me) Smiling- Michael Lockard Action shot of my shooting- Toni Cordova