Today we’d like to introduce you to Shantel Auguster.
Hi Shantel, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My introduction to photography actually began with me being in front of the camera.
I started out as a YouTuber back in 2012. I loved the process of filming and editing, and just the concept of creating content for viewers. I slowly transitioned to being behind the camera during my junior and senior years of high school. I was an active member of NJROTC and our instructor would let me borrow his camera to capture photos at drills and sporting events.
I saved up and bought my very first camera, a Canon Rebel T6, in college. I attended the University of Central Florida in Orlando; therefore, I had a great advantage of bringing in clients as it is a very populated area. My photography really took off upon becoming a brother of Alpha Kappa Psi Business Fraternity.
I had the wonderful opportunity to network with other photographers in the brotherhood as well as in the Orlando community and really learn from the vets. During my time in Orlando, my photography mostly consisted of club photography in the downtown area, as well as portrait and street photography.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No road is absolutely smooth. It takes repaving and resurfacing as time goes by.
My time in Orlando had abruptly come to an end at the beginning of the pandemic. I had worked at Volkswagen at the time and was laid off from them after just purchasing a brand new car from them two days prior. UCF began closing campus and shutting all campus activities down so I really had no reason to stay. I ended up breaking my lease at my off-campus apartment and heading back home to DUUUVAL.
Moving back to Jacksonville took some time adjusting. I still had to find a job so I could continue paying my bills. My clientele had decreased drastically after moving from Orlando, so I started to lose all interest in photography. I even had thoughts of selling all my equipment just to provide for myself. Just saying that actually reminded me of when I bought my very first MacBook.
I had shipped it to the Apple store near me and when I went to pick it up, I had to return it right there at that moment just so I could pay my rent. That was a very humbling experience that I do not wish to go through again.
As of today, I am learning to take on more opportunities that have been presented to me instead of shying away. I actually had tweeted this the other day, but I believe I have imposter syndrome. I tend to doubt my talents and creativity as an individual and that can be very detrimental to something you are passionate about.
Accepting this interview was a great step in reversing my thought process because it showed me that somebody does see me. Somebody is looking at my work and sees the potential that I have.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Recently, I have been interested in car photography.
I attended a car and bike show in Jacksonville hosted by Trick Daddy and basically built up the courage to put my name out there. The guys who were displaying their cars were coming up to me and asking for my business card and were in awe of my Instagram page. They were tagging their friends under my pictures and sharing my work all around. I can’t explain how that made me feel.
I always try to dabble in various types of photography in order to be versatile. I really want to get into sports photography so hopefully, I can connect with someone and shadow them at the Jaguars stadium during the upcoming season. I also hope to tap into videography once I upgrade my camera equipment.
At one point, I had lost interest in photography completely and I really think that’s because I made it into a business and lost sight of why I started. I started because it was a hobby. Just something to do for fun; for my own enjoyment and I think having a hobby is something we are losing in our society.
Not everything has to be for financial gain all the time. That’s how we become uninterested and get the idea that we “have” to do it just because it pays the bills.
I’d like to take this moment to thank VoyageJacksonville for featuring my story along with all creatives and entrepreneurs of the Jacksonville community. It’s great to shed a positive light on this city that we call home. #DUUUVAL.
Contact Info:
- Email: proficientimage@gmail.com
- Website: https://linktr.ee/proficientimage
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/proficientimage/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ProficientImage/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/proficientimage
Image Credits
@ProficientImage
