Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Vencent Dorcilien . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Vencent, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

Andrew Bernstein is one of the longest-serving NBA photographers. His work appears in thousands of newspapers and magazine covers worldwide. Andrew B. has shot many iconic photos such as the 80’s Magic Johnson showtime lakers, Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls era, The Shaq & Kobe dynasty, and many more iconic moments till this day. I came across his work when he and late NBA legend, Kobe Bryant, partnered in his first-ever book titled The Mamba Mentality: How I Play, capturing Kobe’s 20-year career and Andrew Bernstein’s book, NBA Hoop Shots: Classic Moments from a Super Era. Since then, I’ve become a sponge learning about him and the industry whether it’s podcast interviews, watching documentaries or movies, studying photos, reading books and magazines, etc.

Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process?

I began diving deep into sports photographers that interested me. Atiba Jefferson is a student of Andrew Bernstein where he found massive success shooting portraits for the NBA and many front covers for SLAM Magazine. Gary Land photographed Allen Iverson’s career for eight years. Nathaniel Butler, who is also a senior photographer for the past four decades for the NBAs. Manager of social media for the NBA, Jim Poorten, aka “Jim Ice” is the man when it come to capturing behind the scenes moments for many NBA athletes.

What skills do you think were most essential?

Outside of shooting the action of the game, the most essential skill in shooting sports is photographic storytelling, the art of conveying stories. One of the best pieces of advice I’ve learned when I started shooting high school basketball is to find moments outside the games of basketball. That’s where moments are valuable. You want to capture context with every shot taken. We’ve all heard of the old cliche “A picture is worth a thousand words.” However, it’s spot on! Photos are supposed to create a sense of emotion and affect the viewer more clearly and quickly than the written word. I try to narrate to my viewers something unexpected to truly capture their imaginations.

What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

Learning on your own can be quite a challenge if you don’t have a mentor. It was rough when I started. I was self-taught. I made many critical mistakes. Having professional mentors help you avoid common pitfalls, criticize to invest in your success, and they will provide structure and guidance to your development as a photographer. My mentor is Erin Mizelle. She’s the best at what she does. My biggest recommendation to any photographer starting in this industry is to find someone who will take you under their wing to help you be the best version of yourself and help you be successful.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?

My name is Vence. I’m a photographer based in Miami, Fl. Before my photography journey, I earned my master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Nova Southeastern University. I didn’t have a passion for it over time. Fast forward, photography is my new passion. I’ve been in the industry for three years and covering sports for about six months now. My sports journey started October 2021 from capturing Ball is Life East Coast Squad in St. Petersburg, Florida, to now traveling to different states, capturing top high school basketball teams, tournaments, and players.

My interest in photography started as a hobby first and then eventually turned into a business in 2020. I offer photographic services from events, studio photoshoots, basketball coverage, and many more. My clients, supporters, and followers will always get the best outcome out of me. I aim for high standards of excellence for my clients. The best thing about running my business is when clients turn into friends from building trust. I’m proud that I didn’t regret my journey in getting to where I am today. I’m excited about what’s in store for me in the future. In the words of Coodie Simmons, director, and producer of Kanye west documentary, Jeen-yus, “God writes, Jesus directs.” We’ll see where he takes me with my career!

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

One of my top goals is to be an official photographer for the National Basketball Association. I want to photograph the biggest stage of them all, The NBA Finals. I want to experience that feeling, the roar of the arena. The confetti drops. The celebrations. The presentation of the Larry O’Brien trophy. The Intimate photos of players families. I’ve already manifested that anything is possible. Not only that, but I’ve already put it out there in the universe. It’s already on my vision board.

I’ll never forget the words of Comedian Steve Harvey on an episode of Family Feud, “Imagination is everything. It’s the preview to life’s coming attractions.” What’s in our dreams isn’t there by accident. It’s a sign from God we have to act on them now. These are the gifts that God has for you and only you. This is why the process of my journey will lead me to that goal.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is when I think about it, a camera has taken me places I never imagined. It opened many doors of opportunities for me. When you love what you do, it never feels like work. Don’t get me wrong, you’re still going to have to work, however, it’s a different feeling than working a regular 9 to 5 job.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.vencentdorcilien.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/visualvence.photography?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Image Credits
Visual Vence Media