Check Out Rhajaé Carroll’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rhajaé Carroll.

Rhajaé, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
It all began my Sophomore year of college at the University of Kansas. I studied Film and Media in the hopes of becoming a filmmaker. Quincy, my husband (boyfriend at the time), picked up a Fuji Film digital point and shoot on one of our many trips to Walmart. We spent that summer taking photos of our friends and family. They were terrible. The fact that things weren’t going how Quincy wanted them to lead him to buy lighting equipment.

We learned how to use it and our photos got a little better. They were still bad, but we figured we were on the right track. I never planned to be a photographer or run my own business, but spending that summer with a camera in my hands having our friends pay us fifty dollars to take birthday pictures or fun pictures for Instagram, lit a spark in me. We decided to use our names, Q for Quincy and Jae for Rhajae. I designed our logo after I learned how to use Photoshop in one of my classes. We spent a few days putting together our website and by the end of 2016 Q & Jae Visuals was born!

It was very basic and shabby and our clients were our friends and family, but they helped lay the groundwork for the business we run today. I graduated with my Bachelor’s of Film and Media in 2018. I worked at a local salon as a receptionist while doing photography in my free time. People talk about how God works in mysterious ways, or how the universe lines up in some divine order and shows them their calling. I would brush comments like that to the side.

But God and the universe really did show me that I was supposed to work for myself and that my business would be a success if I gave it my all. I had this great opportunity to speak to the kids at my Alma Mater, Sumner Academy about entrepreneurship. That same day, I quit my job and I’ve been working and growing in my business ever since.

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?
It has absolutely not been smooth sailing. Building my business was 100 percent trial and error. We were broke college kids with thrifted equipment. I knew how to use a camera but I had no idea how to run a business. At my very first wedding, we charged $500 for a full day. The venue was very dark and I struggled to get my equipment to keep up. The bride asked me to print the photos afterward which I was also totally unprepared for.

We used the Walgreens print center because my husband’s mom had a discount. It was a complete horror show. Afterward, I remember telling Quincy, that I was not going to be doing photography anymore. I felt really discouraged. In retrospect, I can say that I was struggling with Impostor Syndrome. Wondering if I was really good enough to call myself a photographer and if the photos I took were worth someone paying for. I found myself comparing my work to other photographers I came across and wondering why mine didn’t match up.

But my husband kept reassuring me that I’d get there. He’d say “Maybe if you had a better camera,” so we saved for a better camera. Then it was, “Maybe if you had better lenses,” so we saved and I did research on what lenses would be best. Bit by bit we made improvements. I added photography courses to my schedule in college and really studied my camera. That practice and determination to be better really helped get me where I am today.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in natural light wedding photography. I do family portraits, senior sessions, and other lifestyle events, but my heart lives for weddings. I would like to say I’m known best for my documentary style of shooting. My clients often come back and tell me how they were surprised at some of the shots I captured because they were unaware that I was there. I try to set myself apart from other photographers in being more hands-off.

A “fly on the wall” if you will. It is easy to get caught up in the pressure of the position that you’re in as a wedding photographer. You’ve only got one shot to get it right. Because there are no do-overs your natural instinct is to be precise and pose everyone for the perfect shot. However, this creates a rigid and forced feel that comes through in the finished product. By allowing the day to unfold without too much interference on my part, I’m capturing genuine smiles in natural poses.

I am very proud to have gotten so comfortable within my craft. I have learned to be adaptive and creative thinking quickly on my feet. I can shoot just as well indoors at 8 pm in candlelight as I can outdoors in the best and brightest of conditions. I can confidently market myself and anticipate the needs of my clients. I am always learning and growing and I am so proud of how far I’ve come with room to go further.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Hands down, this business would not be functioning without my husband, Quincy. He might not be behind the camera with me but he’s responsible for it being in my hands. Quincy is a driving force of constant motivation. He’s held down the fort when I quit my job to pursue photography full time with zero complaints.

Another big shout out to our good friends Dan and Danielle who allowed me to photograph their engagement and wedding with no wedding portfolio to show. They were my starting point, my first advertisements, my first website gallery, my sales pitch. They essentially kickstarted what is growing to be a long and fulfilling career. I owe another giant thank you to our dear friend and my second shooter, Cre’Shawn Brownlee.

I needed help and she picked up a camera and has never put it back down! She’s such a huge support and honestly an amazing human for picking up skill on a whim and being able to execute it so well. Lastly, I want to thank my parents. We lost my mom in October of 2021, she thought I was the best photographer in the world. There’s something about your mom and dad telling you they’re proud of you that can just warm your soul on the darkest of days.

I miss my number one supporter, but I know I’m doing my parents proud.

Pricing:

• Family portraits $250
• Engagement sessions $300
• wedding packages start at $1,000

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.qandjvisuals.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/qandjvisuals
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/qjaevisuals