We were lucky to catch up with Alonzo Wilson recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alonzo, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?
I would say my lack of caring. Sounds crazy, right? What I mean by this is that when I’m in a room with individuals who don’t look like me, I just don’t think about them in relation to my work. I’m aware that, as a Black man, more pressure is put on us in society and that we may not have the same amount of grace as people who don’t look like us. Therefore, I have to make sure I’m in control of my emotions and the way I articulate myself in different rooms. I’m aware of different stereotypes, but it’s always fun to showcase my talents and the blessings that God has given me because it throws a lot of people off.
When I mention that I’m a Black man from Detroit who attended Cass Tech, it’s like red flags go off. However, when people hear me speak and look at some of the things I’ve done, it’s shocking to them. Ultimately, it’s all about knowing my personal goals and not focusing on the people in the room. I don’t stress about who’s watching—I just deliver results.
In high school, I met my mentor, Dr. Bridges. He has had far more experiences than I have in environments where he was the only Black man in the room, and he gave me guidance on how to navigate these situations. He spearheads a program called Pathway to Excellence for young Black men. He taught us how to navigate society and maximize our life journeys. I give thanks to him.
Building my resiliency through many situations has been a key driving factor. I know why I’m in certain rooms, and I know what I’m looking to get out of them, so that’s the main thing I focus on instead of people’s appearances. I don’t purposely try to be the best or think that I’m better than everyone because no one is perfect. However, I know myself and what I have to offer, so I just bring my authentic self to the table, and it has paid off.
This important skill has really shown during my transition to college and attending a PWI. There have been instances where I’ve been viewed as a threat, and my value has been undermined. I had to remember that these are personal issues of other people’s and have nothing to do with me. Yes, it’s difficult, but I have to prevail—with the assistance of God.
By all means, when I say I don’t care, that doesn’t mean I don’t care about the people in the room. I just don’t care about the negative implications that can arise based on how I look or how they look. I keep my eyes on the prize. What I do take note of is other people’s backgrounds. Having cultural awareness is more important now than ever. There’s a lot of division among people, but I find myself to be someone who can connect with others, regardless of what they look like. I have a genuine interest in everyone’s background. It doesn’t matter to me where you came from—it’s about your story. Everyone has something to offer.
Most of the time, the perceptions we have of people are wrong, which is why we have to get to know them before assuming anything. We can miss out on genuine opportunities or simply hearing someone out. Overall, to be effective when I’m the only person in the room who looks like me, I remind myself of my background and the people who have assisted me. I remind myself of everything I’ve gone through to get to where I am now. I remind myself of the blessings that God has put in my life because He knows I can deliver. I remind myself of the discipline and resiliency I have built to achieve success. I am here for a reason, and I will always take advantage of that.
Two of my favorite verses that I constanly remind myself of are Romans 8:31: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” and 2 Corinthians 12:9-10: But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” God is always on my side, and love is in my heart in every room I step into. I bring myself while appreciating others in a positive way.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I specialize in luxury portrait photography and consider myself a portrait specialist. Now, what does this mean? Over time, I recognized an unmet need in the photography industry. Many clients have experienced a lack of hospitality and fail to receive enjoyable, high-quality images when celebrating special moments. Additionally, there’s often little guidance provided to individuals investing their time and money in photography services. I believe no one’s investment should be in vain.
This realization led me to niche down to birthday photography and milestone-related events. Most people book photoshoots to capture special moments in their lives that they can never relive. Because of this, my mission is to provide clients with the best possible experience, guiding them on how to maximize their investment in both me and themselves.
What does this look like in practice? I clearly outline what clients receive when they book with me, and I meet with them to discuss how I can bring their vision to life—or even help them create a new one. I connect my clients to free resources I’ve curated to ensure they have a seamless experience. One of my favorite touches is bringing their favorite snacks to the session and playing their favorite music, creating an atmosphere that ties the shoot together beautifully.
My image quality is also a standout feature, as I’ve taken many steps to refine my craft and learn from other photographers. I think people often forget that photography is an art. Many pick up a camera and start shooting but overlook the importance of studying and practicing the craft. Photography has become a passion of mine because of the unique process: capturing the perfect composition through the lens and editing in post is exciting every time.
I started my photography business at 14 to financially support myself. My dad purchased a camera for Christmas and initially, I wanted to use it for YouTube. However, I soon realized that it wasn’t my passion, and my camera began collecting dust. At the time, I faced significant struggles living with my mom, but one day, I had a realization: cameras aren’t just for videography—they’re for photography too. It’s something obvious I still laugh about to this day.
I began doing photoshoots in my mom’s kitchen, moving furniture around for every client. Due to my dinancial struggles, much of my equipment was funded by my ex-girlfriend, who is also an entrepreneur. At our age, you could say we were hustlers. Generating income and setting my own hours was new and exciting for me. However, as a young entrepreneur, I often spent money on material things. When my business hit a slow season, I took the last bit of money I had and invested in a mentor.
I like to call this my “training arc.” My mentor, Jaylin, a local Detroit photographer I admired, introduced me to the concept of a business model and helped reshape my approach. At the start of 2023, I re-launched as a luxury portrait photographer, focusing on delivering an elevated client experience. It’s been an incredible journey. I went from charging less than $200 per session in my mom’s home to working in professional photography studios and being employed by top companies and earning upwards of $1,900 from a single client.
Recently, I graduated from Cass Technical High School with both my associate degree and high school diploma. I currently attend the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. College has broadened my goals for my business, especially with the abundance of opportunities at the University of Michigan. I’m currently working with the Zell Lurie Institute at Ross to refine my business even further. I’ve conducted some stakeholder research and looked into industry insights to win a grant for my business.
For 2025, my goals are to gain more clients, improve my practices, and continue enjoying my entrepreneurial journey. Being a young photographer and entrepreneur has been a conversation starter, opening doors to connections and opportunities to capture memorable moments for others. Watching clients’ reactions when they see their images on my screen never fails to make me smile.
Photography has truly saved my life. It’s an art form that I’m deeply passionate about and one I intend to nurture and cater to forever.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Looking back, the qualities that were most impactful in my journey were my creative mind, receptiveness to feedback, and effective use of digital and physical resources. For those who are early in their journey and looking to develop these qualities I’ll share some insights.
Many people believe they don’t have a network, but your family is actually your first and most immediate network. You never know who someone knows—right now, you could be just a few connections away from one of the most famous people in the world. Family, friends, or acquaintances can connect you to valuable resources or even invest in your dreams. It never hurts to ask around.
I’ve found myself gravitating toward people older than me because of the maturity and experience they bring to the table. While this may not be the case for everyone, I recommend finding mentors who have real-world experience. They can provide unique insights that you may not have considered. Having someone you can text or call for advice is incredibly valuable.
If you’re someone who always thinks they’re right, that mindset will hold you back. Growth requires humility and openness. Be a listener. Pay attention to feedback, and actively apply the lessons you learn. This is how you evolve.
If someone connects you to a resource and you find success with it, follow up with them and share your results. People want to see you succeed—it makes them feel good, and it strengthens your relationship. However, don’t treat people as transactions. Be intentional, vulnerable, and genuinely interested in their lives. People can sense authenticity, and building meaningful relationships is essential.
Life can feel saturated, so it’s important to differentiate yourself and embrace your uniqueness. There’s likely something special about you that you haven’t fully explored or leveraged yet.
For example, I’ve always loved speaking, and once I started public speaking, I received a lot of praise for the way I articulate myself. This inspired me to take it more seriously. Try new things and reflect on what feels natural and fulfilling to you. The things that set you apart are often your greatest strengths.
Social media is a powerful tool. It has allowed me to connect with people in my field and learn new skills, both personally and professionally. Instead of spending hours scrolling and laughing at videos, use social media intentionally. Reach out to local professionals or individuals you admire.
Ask if you can meet at a coffee shop or schedule a Zoom call to introduce yourself and ask about their journey. Taking initiative and being a communicator is key. This might feel intimidating at first, but it becomes routinene with practice. You can rehearse your introduction with friends or family, and there are plenty of YouTube videos that offer tips. However, nothing beats real-world experience.
Discipline is the backbone of growth. You need a routine that fosters consistent improvement. You may be tired of hearing this, but success doesn’t happen overnight—it’s a journey filled with big gains, small gains, and even days where it feels like you’re not moving forward at all. There will be moments when you want to quit, but that’s when discipline matters most.
Ask yourself: How bad do I want it? Why do I want it? Keep these answers close, as they’ll fuel your persistence. Surround yourself with people who hold you accountable, and hold yourself accountable too.
When self-reflecting, be kind to yourself—you’re not a robot. Balance is key. Set specific hours to work on your goals, and establish cut-off times for self-care and relaxation. Maintaining a healthy work-life balance will help you stay productive and fulfilled.
These are some of the things i did to develop and improve my qualities and I hope my insights helped you!
Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?
My character has been my biggest area of growth in the past 12 months. Although I’m only 18 about to 19 in January, I have experienced so much. I have made mistakes and hated my tendencies. I’ve had issues that could’ve been prevented. However, there has been this great juxtaposition to all of that. Coming to college I knew I would be fully independent. I’ve always considered myself independent but college is where you’re really on your own. This was exciting to me because I had already practied things that adults should do early on. I believe that I grew up fast. It’s interesting to think about because the cost of experiencing things like being an entrepreneur and just developing this mindset was finding enjoyment in being a child. I had to prioritize other things like having transportation, food, and clothes. Doing what I did so early on costed me my childhood and put me into a mindset that separated me from others. Many things just wasn’t relatable to me. However, there were a few set of friends who I really hit it off with. Still, it was always the seriousness that I carried. I say this to speak to juxtaposition that I mentioned.
Taking my relationship more serious with Jesus Christ has been the most transformative thing in my life. Everything that I once knew was different I had to carry myself in a new manner. More blessings started to occur, and more hardship, but I knew that God was the only one that I could lean on. My girlfriend and some of my Christian friends have been pivotal in my spiritual journey. I’ve been involved in a Christian organization called Cru and Cru Trotter as well as attending church. These relationships allowed me to gain new perspectives on things and really rewire my mind. Growing up, I’ve always hated reading because stories were boring to me.
However, the Bible was the only book that I could really get into due to the immense amount of life lessons that it contains that is still applicable to today and speaks about a lot of the things that we go through. I assure you, ever since I decided to dedicate my life to Christ and grow in faith, my entire character has changed for the good. I feel more positive now at peace. I feel more optimistic and loved. I feel reborn. This year has been my most productive year and I attribute that to God.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://alonzowilsonphotography.mypixieset.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alonzowilsonphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alonzowilson.photography/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alonzo-wilson/
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