We recently connected with Jerry Williams and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Jerry with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
I grew up in a small town Pinckney Michigan where there you went to school you graduated you went to work, college wasn’t in the picture because most people didn’t have the money to do that. I learned early on from my parents that if you wanted to succeed in life you had to work hard, they worked hard all there lives my older brother was working building houses at 16 years old my older sister went to work at a Convalescent center straight out of high school I went to work at a plastics factory at 19.
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?
Growing up in a small town in the 70s and 80s this is before the internet lol you had to create your own fun weather it be baseball football etc. I was never good at any sports that I tried which was track and baseball, I fished with friends enjoyed nature camped with my parents. I enjoyed the holidays because that’s when are family’s would get together for food and family pictures. I loved photography for many many years from my first camera 126 cartridge film to a 110 cartridge film to finally a Canon FTB manual camera in 1974. I was able to get my first camera with a computer in it in 1976 a Canon AE-1 I still have it to this day. I added a Mamiya 645 medium format bigger negative camera a short time later. I practiced often because film was cheap in those days got into shoot weddings and family portraits for 7 years.
I got into digital photography about 20 years ago when film got very expensive to process and to my surprise I understood it, going from less expensive to more expensive cameras I now have a full studio and really enjoy shooting again.
I love the contact with people to see their reaction when they see them selves in a beautiful image that we created for them.
I am focused on making my client happy with images that they can be happy with and enjoy for many many years. I create art with light and shadow with very little retouching.
I am very driven to help my client to create something they have never seen before can be happy with plus be so proud of what we made they are excited to put that photograph on there wall for all to see.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Photography is a growing art there is so much more opportunity out there now to create good images with that being said it is also a very tough field to make a living at you MUST have a passion for it or otherwise it can be very hard for them. It is a very long road but if you stick with it it is very rewording.
Three things to remember Learn how to use read and work with light of any kind, get to know your gear what ever you decide to use, you have to love to work with people and be VERY understanding no matter what.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
My parents taught me if you want to successful in anything you do you have to work for it be kind to all people never give up no matter what. They also taught me nothing worth having is easy life isn’t fare but if you keep a positive attitude nothing is impossible.
Contact Info:
- Website: sharpimage101.com
- Instagram: sharpimage101
- Facebook: Jerry Williams Photography
- Twitter: @sharpimage101
