We were lucky to catch up with Vernell Dillingham recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Vernell, thanks for joining us today. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?
Everything I do revolves around legacy.
Several years ago my grandfather (James Howard Dillingham Jr.) and my Uncle (James III) ran their own business in Newport News, VA. It was a computer security business. They ran it successfully for seven years. My grandfather passed away in July 2003. When I began getting into film and photography. and I was told to get my LLC, the family name was always going to be there. I thought about how I was going to present it. I thought about Spike Lee and Tyler Perry, how they have their names on all their projects (A Spike Lee Joint), (Tyler Perry’s) as an example, And many of the greats always stressed the importance of ownership. I decided to honor the men of my family. So Dillingham Film & Photography was it.
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 am originally from New York. Even though I watched a lot of TV and Movies as a kid. I never thought about being in the industry. I actually fell into it in 2006 when I moved to Cincinnati, OH. I joined the TV Ministry at my family’s church. I bought a small digital camera and started just taking pictures. The choir director told me I had a future in photography. I started really diving in. I got into acting and Independent films in 2009. I was blessed to be cast in my first film called Grandma’s Hands by Terri L Bea and Street of Gold Productions. Then my first web-series called Capes, a parody about superheroes. In 2010 I began writing my first feature film Play the Role, which I am currently in pre-production with NAACP Image Award Nominated Director Alan Brooks.
I have been privileged to work several red carpet events as a videographer with Living Day By Day Magazine Media Correspondent Lakeba Wallace and Khrys Styles of World of OneBlkWmn Entertainment.
As a Photographer, I have been published 15 times. I have been a photographer for Schanell Marie Carol’s Untold Truth Fragrance and Unapologetic for Men Cologne since 2019. I have been able to work with several beautiful models and they have been published and became Brand Ambassadors. I have also been the Photographer for The Temptations, Midnight Starr, SWV, Jeffrey Osborne, Commissioned, and The Manhattans.
Alright – so here’s a fun one. What do you think about NFTs?
I like NFT’s. If this existed years ago. I believe a lot of athletes could’ve been better financially way back in high school and college.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
Being to bring your imagination to life. You have so many ideas and thoughts in your mind and to able to put them on a script or capture a vision in a photograph is amazing.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @mrdillingham
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DillinghamF.P
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vernell-anthony-dillingham-23236384/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/VADillingham
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9tBmNvWGlsmtnbLc33nATg