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

Matt, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

When I began my journey to being a photographer, it was the beginning of the digital camera era. I had learned on film, and suddenly found myself learning a whole new system. I was fresh out of college, and like most, flat broke. I spent the good part of three years working multiple jobs to buy the equipment needed to start the business without overextending myself financially. After all, to succeed in “the big city” meant people knowing your work and your name in time before social media.

It was roughly six years from start to success. Work would ebb and flow for years before becoming steady, but I’d also learn how the industry worked along the way and forge relationships that have now lasted for decades. Taking the time to build a firm foundation was the most tedious, yet rewarding part.

Technology, specifically access to information like YouTube and such has definitely accelerated the learning curve, making it easier to enter the industry, but a lot of newer photographers are learning longevity isn’t often built quickly. By that, I mean, it will take patience and perseverance to get a solid foothold and maintain. Nothing worth having is built overnight.

Matt, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Matt Blum, and I’m a photographer based in Dallas, Texas.

I’m basically a mercenary at this stage of my career. I’ve shot for major publications and corporations for over 20 years, and travel the world to do it. When I have free time, I focus on creating fine art, as well as pushing to expand my business even more. You’ll get a different perspective of who I am depending on where you follow me. Facebook, Instagram, and my website all offer varying degrees of my work. I am all and none of them based on the day.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I’d say March 15th, 2020 was a time most people found a reason to make a pivot or major change. I, personally, had all my commercial clients disappear into thin air. People were afraid and unsure of what was going to come in the following weeks and months. It was a strange time. I have always been fairly frugal, but I also wanted to make sure if it continued beyond a couple of months, I would be ok in the long run. I had a passion project I had been tinkering with in my spare time while traveling pre-pandemic. It was fine art photography, but they looked like abstract paintings. I had spent three years fine tuning the process and was really enjoying the results prior to the shutdown. Covid essentially gave me a reason to share them with the world.
I created the alias, MATT TTAM and put out 100 limited edition prints for $100 each. Surprisingly, they all sold in less than two weeks. A short time after, a gallery in Paris reached out about framing one that someone had purchased and wanted to know my “painting” process. After I explained it was in fact a photograph, they asked if I had more. They brought me onboard and sold four pieces in a matter of days. MATT TTAM was born.

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

The best source of new clients…is old clients. Nothing has more power than word of mouth, especially when it’s from people who know you and have firsthand knowledge of your business.

Contact Info:

• Website: blumphotography.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/blumphotography
• Facebook: facebook.com/mattblumphotos
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/mattblumphotography
• Twitter: twitter.com/blumphotography
• Youtube: youtube.com/mattblum
• Other: mattttam.com