We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jamie Bates a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jamie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with 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 am a portrait photographer. However my work is very different from your average portrait photographer. I specialize in fantasy portrait photography. I photograph my clients mainly in my studio, and using a type of “green screen” process, I am able to cut them out and seamlessly impose them into custom made fantasy backgrounds. This type of composite photography is normally seen in commercial work for large companies and advertising, however I’m able to offer it at the consumer level, creating artworks that immerse my clients into their own worlds, creating realistic fantasy scenes with the client as the main character. The only limit is their imagination, and the final product is a gorgeous portrait that allows my client to “become part of the art on their wall.” I have not found many other photographers that offer this type of work at this level, and I am so happy to be able to offer this unique type of work to my clients.

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 was born and raised in Uxbridge, Massachusetts, I have been an artist (painting, drawing, etc.) since childhood, and I’ve been taking photos since middle school. I graduated from Framingham State University in 2001 and New England School of Photography’s Professional Photography Program in 2003. Blending my love for the darker things in life with digital photography, my fantasy composite portraits are a unique product that very few photography studios are offering to the public. I absolutely love working with my clients to create one-of-a-kind portraits that they can proudly display for generations to come. I realized my dream of opening Wicked Depiction Photography Studio in 2018, and the rest is history! I think my clients love how unique my work is. It’s not the same ol’ portraits we grew up with hanging on the wall. I love that there really is something here for everyone…because everyone has dreams, and fantasies. If you want to be a princess, I can make you a princess…if you want to be a vampire, or a video game character, I can do that too. The diversity really makes me happy. I want my potential clients to know that whatever it is they’re into…they’re welcome in my studio. I love celebrating all of my clients because they are all so beautiful and diverse. The studio is a safe space for everyone to come and feel empowered, and have fun pretending for just a little while. My favorite part of my job is ALWAYS the reveal. When clients come back into the studio to see their final edited images on the big tv…I love watching their eyes and faces light up when they see themselves in these artworks for the first time. It’s a mix of childhood wonder, self love, and awe all at once. I LOVE that I can help facilitate someone feeling good about themselves.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me the most rewarding part of my job is knowing Ive helped to boost someone’s self concept. I’ve had so many clients come in and tell me they HATE photos of themselves…and leave feeling empowered, beautiful, and special. There’s something about putting someone into an artwork where they are living out their childhood dreams…maybe its being a fairy, maybe its flying the Millennium Falcon…and when they see themselves as their favorite heroes or character archetypes, it just does something to them. It brings back the magic. The world we live in today isn’t always a beautiful place. And all of us are feeling the strain of it somewhere in our lives. I love the fact that I can take someone who is stressed, tired, anxious…and I can give them a product that they can look at forever, and every time they look at it, it will bring them a spark of joy, of hope…of faith in themselves. It really IS a kind of magic.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

My best source of new clients has always been referrals/word of mouth. Having an art background, and not knowing much about business or marketing, I find myself struggling with that side of the business. Most of the clients that come into my studio are feeling very nervous and self conscious. I find that treating them like a friend, as opposed to a potential sale or a “client” puts us both more at ease. One of the most common things I hear and see in reviews is that I tend to make people feel comfortable and that comes from me just being myself…I like to joke and laugh, and keep things very casual. I think that when clients feel at ease they take better photographs…and when they see those photos they’re going to tell their friends and family…they’re going to say “oh my god I was sooo nervous but Jamie made me feel like we were just two friends hangin’ out” and that seems to be the key factor that keeps my clients coming back, and referring me to people they know.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.wickeddepiction.com
• Instagram: wickeddepictionphotography
• Facebook: wickedepiction