We were lucky to catch up with Isaiah Scroggins recently and have shared our conversation below.
Isaiah , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. In our experience, overnight success is usually the result of years of hard work laying the foundation for success, but unfortunately, it’s exactly this part of the story that most of the media ignores. So, we’d appreciate if you could open up about your growth story and the nitty, gritty details that went into scaling up.
When it came to my photography it took alot of patience on figuring out what I want to focus on shooting. Starting in my freshman year of high school fortunately I had plenty of time to explore those options. I knew I loved this art even back then and gradually took in any knowledge about it. Wheather it was learning from fellow classmates, to my teachers, to photographers that made a living of this I just made mental notes everytime, the good & bad. I first started out shooting sports photography for my school to still be connected to football, basketball & track & field cause I loved those too. I built up a audience over that cause of my Dedication to showing up at every game getting everybody pictures. From there word of mouth really helped me out, especially after high school. Shooting with my family, friends family etc. Over that time before I really shoot around the DFW metroplex. I found what I like to shoot and its different mediums I found beauty in. Which also helped me grow cause people can book me for a multitude of different styles of shooting. With that being sports, events, studio, lifestyle & more. In 2021, I explored more by shooting the party scene in Dallas as well as shooting the model/runway as well. With me being a model my own self really helped me guide through on who to talk too and work with along the way. Overtime to this present day just of my following in the party scene, has had me reach levels that I see are now possible. Now having my work on different brand websites, shooting for magazines, continuing my work ar functions & being paid for it after all this time. Now if your someone thats getting into photography at any age really, the best thing if you want to make a buisness out of it is to first find your “Why” in what you shoot as well as your “What” & “How”. Definitely Communication is key and being a great people person on scaling up this goes for videographers as well trying to succeed. Also always keep learning & take time for yourself to create and never force.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I’m Isaiah Scroggins, born & raised in Dallas, Texas. During childhood for me growing up I was introduced and influence by anything art wise. From drawing, animation, music, filmmaking etc. With that I would eventually start my journey into this art world with photography & then model in high school. I always knew I wanted to do that but the question is always when I will step my foot into the door for the opportunity and so that was the beginning of one of the biggest things in my life, was that & how I continue to do this after high school into building clientele and business. I shoot runway, commercial, editoral, lifestyle, brands, events & sports. Thats what services I do and focus on. For my photography when someone sees the style of it thats what I want people to see. They already know its scroggins photography just by looking at it and knowing what I do. Thats also what im most proud of cause people have told me they notice the style or how its shot and thats one of the things I fill sets me apart from the rest. I have a ever growing style when it comes to my editing and just how I capture the moment. When it comes to anybody I work with I always just want to be that safe space & a photographer that will let a model breathe, specially, if they’re trying to get into modeling or never modeled before.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
People telling me they got into photography or modeling because of me. Seeing me travel, always at a function, doing business with different people & brands, & just working what I created so far. Also bringing people together, alot of creatives I know tell me, they would’ve never met another one like them if it wasn’t for me opening up that space. To me thats everything because my goals are bigger then myself.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
With this Industry running into adversity or problems is inevitable. We all don’t go through the same things but problems are problems, and the biggest thing is how are you going to pivot and adapt when, its challenging. I know for me the biggest thing has been making sure im financially good on working. There was a time when I would have those creative blocks and I still do every now and then, but I had to learn that I don’t need 20k to make my work look good or for people to book me. I just need to use my resources and what I can afford. To trust my own process and then the money will gradually go up. It took me a while to understand that for myself and a friend to tell me that shoutout Jorge. Another thing is when I do my group shoots I really put my own self into the task to understand and work with a multitude of personalities and making sure wheather im shooting 5,10, 15 people that I get the shots needed & move on. That helped me adapted more on shooting people with alot of personality and the ones who you have to bring out of.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: obeyzay00_ scroggins_photography
- Twitter: obeyzay00_
Image Credits
@huf.diamonds
@gettyimages
@lowellmalinis