Mocha Market: Business Directory

Dallas Allbritton

         

MM:  Tell us a bit about yourself (hometown, college, work experience).

My name is Dallas Allbritton and I was born in Beaumont Texas, and grew up in Los Angeles and Compton, California.  I attended Southern University in Baton Rouge LA and have worked in various cities across the US and in a few countries during my tenure in the US Army.

MM:  So when did the entrepreneurial bug bite you?

I think it bit me before I was born!  My father and his brothers were all entrepreneurs.  My father owned several different types of businesses and I began working for myself as a kid (cutting grass and doing odd jobs) for my neighbors and family.

MM:  What’s the history of Writing With Light Photography? How did you get the idea?  When did it start?

Writing With Light Photography was born out of process & pressure.  As a matter of process, my skill level developed and advanced from taking pictures as a hobby to developing and printing my own b/w, color & slides images.  This soon evolved into setting up a complete darkroom in my home, all because of my desire to get better in my “hobby”.  The pressure came when I was asked to photograph a friend’s wedding.  I was now shooting for than “fun”.

MM:  What makes Writing With Light Photography different from others photography companies?

I’m not trying to make a “mint” off of every image sold to a client and I want to hang photographs on the walls of every home in Nashville. The 1^st reason is professional & the 2^nd reason is personal.  There are two basic types of photographers in the market today.  One is a professional shooter who has knowledge, high quality gear and a store front.  His skill is deserving of top dollar fees and his overhead requires that he charge more to cover the cost of keeping the doors open. The other is a “desire to be” professional with a high resolution digital camera and some basic skills and understanding about taking pictures.

My difference is that I began developing my skills and abilities in 1988 when I picked up my first film camera.  I advanced to the digital era in 2005.  I also have “zero” overhead, while having the best professional grade equipment for location and studio work.  While I do not have a conventional store-front studio, I do have a boutique studio in my home (two indoor spaces and an outdoor space used for all conventional imagery efforts).  This allows me to provide the same level of quality as the conventional store front, but free of the conventional overhead associated with professional grade images.

MM:  Name a few books that you would recommend to others? Why would you recommend them?

The Bible - For personal and professional development, business management, as well as the development of people skills.

Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson - To maintain and recall the basics of capturing an image

Master Lighting for Photography by Christopher Grey - There is more to lighting a scene than most realize and no pro shooter knows it all.

Finally, any book that you can understand on how to use Photoshop.  Every professional shooter will sooner or later need to use this program in their digital darkroom.

MM:  Do you use a particular app, or piece of software that makes your life easier Examples:  Google docs, Evernote, etc.  Or is there a particular podcast that you listen to for inspiration, motivation, ideation? Why?

Creating a photograph is like making a movie, you (or your client) has an idea that is captured/created in the camera.  Some of the idea may be lost to the editing floor, but the final product will reflect your desire and ideas.  In photography I use a host of programs to create the final image.  Those programs include but are not limited to Adobe Photoshop; Adobe Lightroom and a host of other editing & management programs.  I am also a member of PPA & (Professional Photographers of America) & IFPO (International Freelance Photographers) where I have access to a variety of training & development tools.

MM:  What’s next for you and your company (new projects, products, expansion, etc.)?

I am currently in the editing and development stage of a 3 year project for a calendar that will be released this year about Nashville. The calendar goes beyond the conventional focus placed on the city (tourism & country music), and focuses on something most Nashvillians ignore, their (our) uniqueness.

MM: If you could give one piece of advice to someone that’s thinking about starting their own business, what would it be?

Study, study, study and study some more about the industry you are entering.  Knowledge beyond the glitz and glamour is needed before launching into the deep.