Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew Pitts.
Hi Matthew, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started doing photography in August of 2020. It’s actually funny because after we got married my wife and I had a ton of ideas about how to really work on some productions for poetry which is by far our most performed medium of art. But with venues shutting down and performance opportunities becoming more scarce we wanted to figure out how to get our work out there safely and with some impact. With that I purchased my first Canon DSLR for about $350 and just started shooting with some of my friends from the artist community. Through the years I’ve gotten the opportunity to have my work in art galleries, and shoot with some really cool people but it all started with needing to build a visual platform for our work.
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’ve been really blessed to work in a community with some really amazing artists from Ohio, Michigan, all the way to London. Many of those opportunities were kind of a matter of the right place and right time. But for the most part the opportunities and spaces my photography and videography work has gotten me into are a byproduct of some really diligent study and work I’ve done. Getting the “10,000 hours” in your craft can at times be a struggle but it’s always intentional. I’ve definitely applied for grants that I didn’t get, and for galleries I didn’t get into. A frustrating “struggle” can be finding reliable collaborators project wise. Time is really the biggest commodity so failed collaborations can be disappointing if only for that fact that that time could have been used to build something else. But ultimately I’ve been incredibly fortunate and to find great artists to work with.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a multimedia narrative navigator. I write and perform poetry and have done so for National Slam team performances as well as internationally. I am also an internationally published photographer with placements in “Today”, Poetry.org, PBS, and most recently Vogue. Lastly, I am a short film maker and documentarian with works featured in local galleries and film festivals as well as an exhibit at Arizona State University.
It’s kind of hard to really pinpoint what I’m most proud of but honestly anything that I get to work on with Ajanae Dawkins, who is a brilliant collaborator, generational writer, and happened to marry me back in 2019, is really a gift.
Honestly I think what sets me apart is that I’m always looking for the narrative. Whether it is the photoshoots, the poems, or the films, I’m always looking to find and the Tell the Story.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Playing basketball in the cul de sac across the street from our home. My brother and I would spend hours just playing ball either against each other or neighborhood kids. It was surely the first thing I put 10000 hours into and while I dont use it much now feel like every memory is a lesson I still apply to this day.
Pricing:
- Video Projects are done an a consultation bases. The Consultation is a 30 minute virtual session for $50.
- Photoshoots are done on a consultation bases as well.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattywiththecam/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1EizSLoyaK/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mattywiththecamfilms
