Today we’d like to introduce you to Joshua Matthews.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My name is Joshua Miller, from Atlanta, GA. Born in 2002
Let’s flashback to my junior year of high school. Growing up, I always adored tech, and something as simple as going to Best Buy or AT&T was exciting to me. The older I get, I began to really get into tech.
Having the newest phone, iPad, or gaming console… I had it all. It got to a point of when Christmas came; I really didn’t know what to ask for. So this is when the idea of a camera came into my head. I browsed and tried to see what I should go for.
Brought the idea up to my mom, and she instantly declined at first. When Christmas came, she surprised me with a full canon set. Since everything began to be dull, this actually brought some light to my eye. I’d like to call it a memory maker. Told some of my friends about the camera, and next thing you know we’re taking pictures everywhere we go. making little vlogs and things such.
At that time, I treated it as a hobby, and although it was a hobby it was something that I really did want to try and learn to use. Here comes Covid March 2020. With everybody being home and me no longer in a physical school. My best friend and I one day out the week, we’d head into the city and just spend the day out and about. This is where I did my very first photo shoot.
From there, it was a creative awakening for me. from that point on, driving places and seeing spaces that would be great locations. I bookmarked them on my phone for later use. Taking photos of my friend opened up to more friends and eventually, I had a good amount of photos under my belt.
Flash forward to Jan 2021, I made an official Instagram handle “shotsbyjcmill” but, for whatever reason, a part of me was not comfortable with the work. I’d received plenty of compliments and shot countless friends, but it was just a voice in my head saying wait. Now looking back, I wish I hadn’t waited so long. I didn’t officially discuss that handle amongst peers until Jan 2022. long time right!
Thankful for the opportunities and friendships I had been given due to being a photographer; it was finally time. In Feb 2022′ the page was launched, and ever since that day. I take serious pride in my work. It gets my creative juices going, and although I was always confident in my work. Like anything else; doing something for an extended period, you begin to see the quality evolve. that it did.
Making a name for myself around savannah state’s campus as a new photographer. It’s so much room for I want to grow and that I will.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Genuinely it’s been a smooth road. The main challenge was me. Being comfortable in my work. There wasn’t fear but this is a point in my life where all of this came purely from me.
The photos, the choice of scenes, and the edits. All of that is me. Referring to myself again. The work has always been complimented, but that wasn’t enough for me. Even having people in the photography world compliment it, the one person holding me back was me.
I would never know the great feeling of putting in work if it wasn’t for me pushing myself out the door. One of the greatest days thus far.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
So I’m a college student. Currently, 20 going into my junior year at Savannah State. Majoring in computer science with the hopes of working a big brand job I looked up to all these years. Photography is something I do primarily on the side, but somedays it is the highlight of my day.
I don’t ever expect to stop shooting, and I’d actually like to expand my craft. I say expand and not perfect because there is always something you can improve upon. Meeting the people I have met because of photography, there is a bigger picture. Whether it’s shooting on a bigger scale, editorial, or expanding into videography I’m here for it all.
My style of shooting is a mix of solo and group shots. No gender bias, weight, or any appearance-related. If anything a lot of my thinking is on the fly. One thing I will say, edits aren’t pre-determined. After each shoot, I like to spend time with the photos. I figure out what direction I want to go in, and it’s never just one.
I’m proud of my creative mind. It grows with every shoot and I’m thankful for it.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
My family. Although we’ve experienced ups and downs throughout the year; I’m extremely grateful for my parent’s ability to pull through. Simply my mom buying the camera, that’s a blessing. That’s a blessing that I was able to turn into a business venture.
My dad has always bestowed knowledge upon me. Lessons that I hold dear to my heart. Treat people with kindness, do right regardless of who’s around, and always remain you. Wherever they are in the world, I will always have my family, but in the end of the there’s me and I shouldn’t let anybody change me.
Some wouldn’t call it luck but the way I carry myself and how I am has been a big part of the right place, right time situations. You never know when you may come across somebody or be given an opportunity. Can’t plan for everything so always being prepared is how I live my life.
Pricing:
- 1 Person (Non-SSU Student) – $100min
- 1 Person (SSU-Student) – $75
- up to 3 people (Non-SSU) – $140min
- up to 3 people (SSU Student) – $120
- up to 5 people – $180
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shotsbyjcmill/
