Check Out Justin Willis’ Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin Willis.

Hi Justin, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always had a love for photography most my life, I just was never sure if I would take it seriously. After the passing of my father, I knew it was time to throw all my chips in one basket and chase my dream. I was scared because what if it didn’t work out, then I realized that life is too short to be stuck on a what-if.

I ended up going back to school to finish my degree in mass communications at Colorado Mesa University while also starting my photography business! I’ve been able to go places that I’d never thought I’d go, I’ve also gotten to meet people I’ve never thought I’d meet! It’s been a wild journey and I’m just blessed that it’s taken me this far.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’d lie if I said it was smooth and honestly speaking it’s been like a rollercoaster. Trying to find my niche in today’s art world was one of my biggest struggles because I would just compare myself to others.

This killed a lot of my creativity and motivation because I would see all these other photographers with great work and I’d feel like mine wasn’t good enough. I watched a TED talk by Joesph Gordon-Levitt about how craving attention can make you less creative and a quote that stuck with me was, “If your creativity is driven by a desire to get attention, you are never going to be creatively fulfilled.”

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a photographer/Videographer and I specialize in taking portraits. I would say what I’m most known for is taking great candid photos. Something I’m most proud of is the connections I’ve made and the people I’ve met.

Something that sets me apart from others is my ability to tell a story through pictures. I believe that every photo should tell a story and I pride myself in doing that.

Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I would consider myself a risk-taker because I did something that forced me out of my comfort zone. Last summer, I was able to make my business my main source of income!

That was the biggest risk I’ve taken because I believe the biggest danger to anyone is playing it safe. Don’t be afraid to try something new, don’t be afraid to stand firm on your prices, don’t be afraid of failure, and most importantly don’t be afraid to take a risk.

Pricing:

• $150 for a 20-30-second sports workout video
• $150 for 2 hour photo shoot which includes 25-30 edited photos with RAW
• $350 for a 30-45 second event video
• $200 for a family photo shoot which includes 25-30 edited photos with RAW

Contact Info:

• Website: Juswillis.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/juswillis?igshid=dWIwNjNvdnlxcWo5
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@Juswillis?si=pNH_tbGYVoBTG8Dq