We recently connected with Isaac Westbrook and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Isaac, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about a time you helped a customer really get an amazing result through their work with you.

Two years ago, my close friends Rashad, Ken, Kelsey Hayes, and Saneesia Hayes whom I recognize as family, were looking for a photographer to shoot a family group photo in Briarwood Park. They never had any photos that included the whole family. The family was running out of options and time until they mentioned my name to take photos. When I got the call to take a family group photo of the Calloway’s, I was happy and honored to do so. I shot in multiple areas in Briarwood Park for the Calloway family. After an hour of shooting and a week of editing and deleting photos. The family was highly impressed by how the photos came out. It was a beautiful photo of a family that truly loves each other. Two months after the family photo, my birthday twin Stephanie Ward-Jones passed away (Rest in Heaven). She was the heart and soul of the family. She was a mother, sister, aunt, grandparent, and friend to everyone. However, I appreciate being able to capture that moment for the family while she was still alive. Though it took a lot of editing by erasing and retouching, every moment while making the photograph memorable in my eyes and the family was worth it.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I worked at a bank and met another co-worker/friend who was in the photography business name Elissa Martinez. She was one of the people who got me started with photography. She specializes in engagement and wedding photography. She helped me by giving me a few basics of photography and what cameras to choose from. I was so hooked on photography that I began to self-teach myself everything there is to know about photography through Youtube and social media. Then, I used the techniques I had learned from the Audio & Music Ministry team at my church. The willingness to help people, to give back to the community, walking and talking in God’s word, and the encouragement and support of my family and friends helped form my photography brand IkeWest Photography. I have been in the photography game for four years, which has truly blessed my life. All the praise goes to God because I would not be where I am without him. God has opened many doors I thought I could never walk through alone. Because of the support of my wife, my Mom, my Dad, and my family, I service my photography business to anyone who needs a photographer. I specialize in family, portraits, sports, business, maternity, stage, and graduation photography. I try to do everything because it helps me to shoot better and be more creative with my style of photography. I have only been doing portraits, stage, and sports photography lately.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

It was last year during the summer; my photography business was running very slowly. I was not getting any content out because I had no clients, gigs, or special events to photograph. I was getting very desperate on trying to find anything to photograph to showcase my work. On my way from my full-time job, I noticed a Big Three Event that week in Frisco, Tx. It was a family event that was free for everyone only that week. I knew it was a long shot because, to photograph the Big 3, you had to be very experienced in sports photography and have credibility for your work. In both categories, I had nothing to offer but my personal skill, which I was very confident in. I knew I had to make that first step, so I reached out to the organizer Johnnie Williams about helping to photograph the Big 3 for free. As I prayed, he responded 30 minutes later about my approval for photographing the event. I had to thank God while in my car. I prepared myself for that event by looking at YouTube videos for shooting at sports events. Johnnie was impressed by my photos from the family event that he wanted me to help photograph the Big 3 in the DFW area each time. After that event, it led me to photograph for the Jazz Riverfront Festival every year in September by Curtis King. Curtis King saw something special in me, which allowed me to help work with him at various events. That was nothing but God putting the people in my life and giving me the tools to create my work to show others.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

What helped my reputation within the photography market was the connections I had made to prove that I was no average Joe behind the camera. Photographing for the Big 3 event and The Black Academy of Arts Jazz Riverfront Festival opened doors for me to photograph various events and public figures. As I said before, God played a huge part in creating a way for me and giving me the tools I needed to succeed. I had to use the tools that God gave me and put in the work to build my photography platform and grow.

Contact Info:

• Website: ikewestphotography.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ikewest_photography/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ikewestphotography

Image Credits
IkeWest Photography