Today we’d like to introduce you to Joella Byron-Dixon
Hi Joella, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I fell in love with photography at a young age. My mom was a professional photographer for years, and she began mentoring me and teaching me composition when I was about 13 years old. I first practiced photographing nature, landscapes, and animals. I gradually started taking photos of people and fell in love with portraiture.
I was just a hobbyist for a while, only taking pictures for my friends, family, and acquaintances. It wasn’t until around 2020 during the Covid pandemic that my love for photography was reignited and I took the dive into a full-time business venture.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Starting a business during the pandemic was not easy! I had to start a fresh portfolio from scratch while the entire world was essentially shut down. I had to remain patient, determined, and trust that it would all pay off. Thankfully, I had supportive family and friends in the community who were willing to work with me so I could build a solid foundation for my business.
Post-pandemic, once I started getting a regular flow of clients, I struggled to nail down what my “style” was. I knew that portraiture was my number one passion, but I felt I couldn’t identify a specific niche that suited me. A friend of mine encouraged me to “just make art for the sake of making art”; it wasn’t until I took their advice that I realized my portraits based on creative concepts were where I got the most fulfillment.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I started with a focus on traditional portraits (senior photos, families, headshots, etc.) and event photography. In 2022 I expanded into photographing live music as well.
My passion for photography stems from my admiration of people and their individuality. I think every single person I photograph is beautiful in their own unique way, and I feel so much joy when I’m able to bring that out in a photo. Whether it’s a musician performing on stage, a client getting updated photos, or a creative collaboration between me and another person, I’m always in awe of how everyone brings something individual & special to my job.
I love to see people blossom in front of my camera, especially if someone is camera-shy or lacking in confidence coming into a session. I always strive to make every client feel safe and comfortable during their time with me, and accessibility is always a huge priority!
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
My first photography commission was in 2016 for a charity benefitting Toledo Fire Departments!
I was hired at 17 years old to photograph firefighters to raise money for the Live Your Dream Foundation, which was founded in memory of fallen firefighters Steve Machcinski and Jamie Dickman. Firefighters & paramedics posed for photos to be featured in the “Live Your Dream” charity calendar, and proceeds went towards providing fire departments across Northwest Ohio with basic aid like linens, mattresses, & food. It was because of this experience that I made it a priority to work with charities and non-profits regularly, and it heavily inspired the slogan for my business: “Giving back to the community through photography”.
Pricing:
- Portraits: $275
- Creative portraits: $300
- Event photography: $150/hour
- Live music photography: $75
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.photographybyjoellc.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/photographybyjoellc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhotographyByJoella/
- Other: https://www.wtol.com/article/news/toledo-firefighters-pose-for-live-your-dream-foundation-calendar/512-14ce542c-4b12-45a0-a72e-5794019a2ae0
