We were lucky to catch up with Jonathan Burton recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jonathan , thanks for joining us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?
Success is hard to define. Is it based on income or status? If you had asked me last year, I would have mentioned material things. You know, the typical lavish lifestyle we all dream about at some point: mansions, fleets of cars, and brand-name clothes. However, through my growing relationship with Christ, my ideology has changed. Success is not a destination but a journey filled with missteps. My mom always says, “To achieve, you’ll fail numerous times, and true success is getting back up when you fall.” I picture success as fulfilling God’s purpose for my life. I’m doing meaningful work while being content in any season. I am a full-time photographer, traveling the world, working with various clients, and bringing glory to God.
The only way to be successful is through unwavering obedience to God. By devoting your life to his will, you’ll thrive in any area. The book of Psalms states, “Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night……Whatever he does prospers” (Psalms 1:2–3). Moreover, you cannot sit around and wait for God to do all the work; he expects all your effort because “faith without work is dead” (James 2:26). Whenever I feel overwhelmed about the future and where I want to be, I turn to Christ. He always reminds me to take it one day at a time, and he’ll guide me in the right direction.
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?
My passion for starting a photography business stems from my dad’s love for the art. Growing up, I would cycle through photos from his photography business. I saw pictures of Muhammad Ali, city skylines, and some of his clients. Many years later, I bought my first camera in 2019, a Canon Rebel T2i. I mostly shot family and developed my style through trial and error. About three years later, I upgraded to a Fujifilm xt3 and started my business.
The authenticity of my work sets me apart. I can shoot in the moment, photographing clients as their true selves. My goal as a photographer is to capture the essence of the entire scene. Moreover, I am a true creative; I thrive under pressure. I love going to locations without planning. This method prevents me from overthinking, keeping the shoot fun and smooth. One thing I’ve learned after many photoshoots is that the best photos are the ones I didn’t think about. It is always that angle I did not give much thought or a quick spur-of-the-moment shot.
I always look for ways to experiment and develop new techniques, so I started shooting film. I picked up a Canon Ae-1 last summer, and it’s very refreshing. Film is organic with unique and imperfect characteristics. The photos are real, grainy, and textured. I love it! The process is a lot slower compared to shooting digitally. There are only 36 shots per roll of film, so everything counts. I have to use a detailed approach, visualizing photos before I take them. Depending on the client, I might shoot film. It is an enjoyable switch from my usual style.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
There’s a book I picked up for $2 at a local library. It’s absolutely one of my favorite books that I own. It’s a photography book called “LOVE” by William Marrow. The book is a collection of photographs spanning the 1980s and 1990s by various photographers. It displays what love looks like in many different forms: couples, family, friendship, and religion. One of my favorite shots is of an older couple; they’re both blind. The title of the image was in Braille. That was such a creative way to capture their story. “LOVE” perfectly mirrors the style I try to create with my art. It embodies what photography is in its purest form. Real.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
The timeline in my head. We all have timelines for when we expect to graduate, own a house, buy a car, etc. Whenever I didn’t reach goals at a particular time, I felt like a failure, but it’s not true. Life comes at different paces; some receive blessings sooner than others. My older brother, Keybeux, is the perfect example. He never quit his dream of being a musician. I saw firsthand the dedication, compassion, and time he put into his craft. I watched him go from cooking up songs in his bedroom to a CNBC interview and a BIC commercial. I used to beat myself up for feeling behind my peers, but I always think about Keybeaux’s story. In his song “Late Bloomer,” he raps, “Don’t judge me, I’m only human. Slow start; never too late. My head straight, just late bloomin'”. All my late bloomers out there, ignore that timeline in your head. Take it one day at a time, one foot in front of the other; God has a blessing around the corner.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.quincysgallery.com/
- Instagram: quincysgalleryhtx