Today we’d like to introduce you to DeMarco Graves.
Hi DeMarco, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
To start, I was born in Nashville Tennessee where a lot of my grandfather’s side of the family lives. I was raised in Kansas City, MO. I’ve always been interested in photography when I was little. My uncle, Don was a professional photographer he did different photography but settled on weddings still does portraits and family photos here and there. But I grew up watching him picking up as many skills as I could I had a bunch of the disposable film cameras you buy at Walmart.
And one camera my grandfather let me use I always got excited around family reunion to see my family and see what our photos look like when they came back from development. But fast forward to high school, I attended Paseo of the fine and performing arts around my junior years. I started taking photography and videography seriously. So, my senior years. My mom got me my first DSLR camera and I went around taking pictures of my friends and classmates that last week of us being at school. And before and after our graduation services then I started my business “Graves Perfection” and got my first paying client. Thanks to one of my oldest friends and brother Ja’Kevion he mentioned my business to a friend of ours it was for a lingerie shoot I was nervous.
One it was my first real shoot and two it was my high-school crush so the whole shoot my brain is just lighting up like 4th. Now, fast forward 5 years I’m getting booked more but it’s for more lingerie shoots, so I start to think to myself why don’t I make myself an all-around photographer. I got my first wedding shoot, baby, engagement, and many more people started to love my style and ideas now moving on to the present. My company is known a lot more thanks to the support from my family, friends, and people that genuinely loved my work my mom has been behind me for years. Always believing in what I wanted to do.
I have my own studio partnered with my longtime friend and brother, Michael Reed over at Reeds Wholesale he runs a liquidation business and it’s doing awesome people need to check out his warehouse. But honestly, I got here because of the support of people that I call family friends that became family and friends that are true friends.
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?
Smooth road?
What road is smooth when creating your art if a road is smooth all the way with no struggles you can’t call it art, there’s no passion in it, no feeling. My struggles were definitely financially, time, believing in myself, depression, equipment, and just existing but I’m glad I went through these struggles because they developed my character.
Same with building a business if a business has no struggles during its entire construction you need to take a closer look at it because that speaks on its character. It’s the life I rather do business with someone who has had struggles it’s inhumanity to struggle somewhere in their life. It shows you climbed, clawed, and crawled your way to where you’re standing and can say I built this
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I created Graves Perfection to be an all-around photography service.
I specialize in mainly Modeling, lingerie, and wedding photography but I made self-learn as many different photography categories as possible still learning more. I’m known for my style and creative ideas. What sets me apart from other photography businesses I still do prints, canvases, albums, etc. You name it I believe in using natural light during the day rather than a flash or strobe.
I want readers to know that I take my time on each photo to bring that perfect moment, or memory to life so when you receive your photos you will look at them in a new light and see what I as a photographer see’s in the world.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My Mother: Lovonia Graves she supported me in my business and told me “college isn’t for everyone but go and see for your self” and I did I didn’t see the benefit of me spending thousands of dollars and years on a degree for a job that I wasn’t guaranteed to get.
My Grandfather: Joseph Graves. He’s been my father figure since I was born and I’ve watched him run his own classic car business for years so I’ve learned some business skills from him and life skills and raised me to be a gentleman.
My Grandmother: Rosina Graves for always worrying about me and raising me in catering/dining etiquette.
My little sister: JoAnna Williams for spreading my business sharing my posts and believing in me.
My Uncle: Don Graves for teaching me basic photography skills and giving me tips.
My Friends that became Brothers: DeMarco Williams, Bobby Jackson, Jalen McMiller, Michael Reed, Ja’Kevion McLeod, Ryan Terrel, and many more it’s too many
My Friends that became sisters: Meka Harris, Monica Harris, Precious Monique, Keitoya Williams, Jaynice Williams,
My Friends Mother’s: Jessica Thomas, Crystal McCoy, Keshia Jeffrey,
And many more people.
Pricing:
- Modeling $250 1hr session 25 edits $150 for 30min session 10 edits
- Maternity 1hr 30mins session 25 edits $300
- Weddings $1,500-$5,000 depending on the tier you choose
- Birthday shoots $175 1hr session 15 edits
- Boudoir $500 2hr session 30 edits 2. 13×19 portrait prints
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/graves_perfection/
