Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lotario (Rio) Wilkerson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Lotario (Rio), looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Any thoughts about whether to ask friends and family to support your business. What’s okay in your view?

Personally having family and friends support me was a blessing. When I first started in photography some of my family members came together and bought me my first professional grade camera. Just because I had a camera does not mean I was a good photographer at all but regardless of that , my friends and family still wanted me to take pictures of them. Having them support is great because not only do I get to try new methods and feel the comfort of shooting with them but they also tell other family members , their friends , and their friends tell their friends , overall it’s great and I appreciate them. Special shoutout to my wife who supports me for all things concerning lotariography , she is truly my backbone and a big big help in this business.

Lotario (Rio), before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I first got into the photography industry when I was 16 as a hobby which quickly turned to a passion ; I was making videos and loved the feeling of nostalgia my whole life so finding another way to capture a moment in time was perfect. Over the years I studied lighting , poses , business management , etc. to further hone my craft and better my business. I provide a plethora of photography services , whether it be family portraits , professional headshots , or weddings. What I love most about booking with clients is the consult before the photoshoot; we talk about their ideas and vision they have for the shoot. I want the client to be able to look at the pictures after and see their personality. Here at Lotariography my goal is to have them feel comfortable during the process and to build a relationship , and not feel as if its just a transaction being made. I am proud of my overall continuing growth within the business. creating relationships with not only clients but with other business owners as well . Lotariography is steadily growing into so much more than just Photography by creating merchandise , creating PLACID Magazine , and offering print services. I thank God for blessing me with the skill and work ethic and have faith he will continue to bless me and this business . As long as I am following God I know I will be alright.

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

Dry seasons. Being a business owner , especially in the beginning , you have these areas where you’re not gaining much of anything ; new customers, more money , less exposure. Some of those days I had a thought to throw in the towel, but thankfully I have faith in God that he will bring me through each time and I’m strong enough to not succumb to a thought during hard times. I was at a point where business was slow and unfortunately I also lost my job in the same time frame. I had to pay bills , I just had a baby, I had to put food on the table. It was tough; I screamed , I yelled , I prayed and never stopped having faith that God would bring me out. And that’s exactly what God did ; Business was booming , I had more photoshoots that year and was able to pay for things we needed to pay for . God is amazing . Just have faith in God and yourself , don’t stop working and don’t give up.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I’m striving to be a photographer that creates many memories for a lot of people. Of course the Goal is to have a studio where I conduct business , but the mission will always be to have people smile and create memories. Growing up I always had a heart to help people and make people happy; and I love the sense of nostalgia I get looking on all the videos I create or pictures I have taken of clients or pictures I’m in with family and friends. Whether clients look back on their pictures and remember the experience they had with me or just remember the time of their life when they took the picture, I’d like to help out and create that memory with them.

Contact Info:

• Website: lotariography.com
• Instagram: @lotariography // @Rio_hoop // @placidmag
• Facebook: @ lotariography
• Youtube: I’m Rio

Image Credits
lotariography