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

LeTony, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s jump right into the heart of things. Outsiders often think businesses or industries have much larger profit margins than they actually do – the reason is that outsiders are often unaware of the biggest challenges to profitability in various industries – what’s the biggest challenge to profitability in your industry?

The biggest challenge is getting your voice heard. But in the same sense, we must learn how to make our voices heard.

Fear is always the most significant obstacle to overcome in any challenge we face. It keeps us stuck in the same place if we don’t choose to face it.

I was always afraid of marketing and cold selling to prospects because of fear of rejection. In that same fear, the idea of giving quotes that reflect my actual value always left me frozen in my tracks. That fear costs a lot not only in finance but mentally and emotionally.

We can’t be afraid to be heard and to showcase our worth because talent doesn’t do it alone.

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 help people connect to the world thru the art of professional photography.

Photography is more of a journey than a career. It never ends, giving us a lifetime of opportunities to learn.

I had no intention of becoming a photographer. I didn’t find photography; photography found me. It was something that I stumbled into by refusing to pay for a photographer to help market the T-Shirts I was designing at the time. So instead, I was given a starter camera ( A Nikon D3300), found a $5 course on Groupon to learn the fundamentals, and the rest is history.

I mainly work in portraiture and real estate photography, and I’m also starting to try my hand at fine art photography.

What sets me apart from others is the ability to run a business without making it feel like a business to my clients. No one should be feeling uptight but rather comfortable and having fun.

There are several moments for me to be proud of, from showcasing my work on several billboards around the city to working with internationally known celebrities.

I don’t care what the circumstances are; photography is something I love. It’s not something I only want financial gain from, but the ability to connect with others on an intimate level, build chemistry and create something magical. It’s one of the few things that make me feel alive.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

It’s the ability to express yourself using your medium in a way that others can relate to. The best art is the art that evokes emotion. Human beings are naturally designed to crave a sense of familiarity, and the artist’s job is to curb that appetite.

Art is what makes people say, “I know that feeling,” which subconsciously lets them know that they aren’t the only ones who feel that way.

It’s not worth doing if there’s no feeling behind it.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Taking the leap of faith is a highly romanticized idea. Please take that statement with a grain of salt lol.

Seriously, there’s nothing wrong with chasing your dreams as long as you understand that the journey will not be easy.

When I left my job in 2021, I was pumped for the 1st few months until things started to slow down. There were some extreme highs and some extreme lows. The highs always felt good, but the lows would break me apart mentally into bouts of severe depression. I had to find resilience in keeping a straight and narrow focus on the goal and not the circumstances leading to it.

The road to success doesn’t look like a golden brick road leading into a beautiful sunset. That road will have a few potholes, and that sunset will have a few rain clouds.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.differentminddesigns.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/differentminddesigns
• Facebook: facebook.com/differentminddesigns

Image Credits
Models featured: Marlen Esparza, Carl Crawford, Jackson Jeffcoat, Willie Jefferson, Trae Tha Truth, Big Slim (Slim Thug), Juanita Smith, Kinnidi Alexiss, Raevyn Rogers