We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful James Phelps. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with James below.
Hi James, thanks for joining us today. One of the things we most admire about small businesses is their ability to diverge from the corporate/industry standard. Is there something that you or your brand do that differs from the industry standard? We’d love to hear about it as well as any stories you might have that illustrate how or why this difference matters.
I started doing photography, in 2007.. this was before the start of more social consciousness. I was working with Curvy and Plus sized models in ways that others hadn’t at the time. Proudly supporting the models I worked with who weren’t industry standard. I was a lone voice in this belief of showing all body types at this time, to the point agencies are telling me I have a great portfolio but the models need to be skinnier for me to be seen as a serious photographer. I never changed my belief, and that’s made my work viral in the plus model and body positive industry. Over a million followers on Facebook.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’ve been a photographer for over a decade, my main business brand name is Photos By Phelps which caters to glamour and boudoir type imagery, and Avalon Creative Arts is more of the fashion and editorial branding.
With a lot of the models, I shoot with being Curvy or Plus Size this really helped to set my work apart from others who only wanted to shoot the more mainstream sizes. I do photography, as I mentioned, I specialize in curvy and plus models through my portfolio of work runs wide from fashion chic size to bodybuilders. The love of light and showing people their beauty on the outside that’s been on their inside.
This allowed me to have numerous magazine covers and fashion catalog work. Numerous photos have gone viral being used as part of inspirational memes for body positivity or black beauty.
How did you build your audience on social media?
I think my brand of showing plus size/curvy models in various themes not directly focused to their shape helped show that my passion of photography was more than just …”getting women in front of my camera”. Being a creative and connecting with the model before the shoot helps show I determined I am about the art and syncing up over a cerebral creative experience that bonds us together. The word of mouth from various plus models who needed a photographer who’s serious about their craft and delivers professional images. Nothing feels as great as the email or post praising my work and how comfortable the shoot was for them. You can feel the joy in the post and some even do testimonial videos while having teary eyes while they show their favorite shots.
This is what has caused my #photosbyphelps and my slogan “I make pretty people.. Prettier” have such weight in the body positive community because I stayed true and never sold out my ideals for the bigger buck.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
To show that beauty like the sky is limitless.. its about the drive inside that’s the real sign of beauty and passion. as a man who has cerebral palsy, I’ve been judged on my outside before I can show whats on the inside. Irony being that modeling is all about the superficial and I’m fighting for more depth to be accepted.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jpphotosbyphelps.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/photosbyphelps
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Photosbyphelpsfanpage
- Linkedin: https://linktr.ee/photosbyphelps
- Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dad_artist_blk
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/jpphotosbyphelps