Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Vince Rockwell. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Vince, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
I burned my boats.
From the beginning, a cubicle never sat right. Being told that there was only ever one correct way to do something very much brought out that “Well f*ck you, let me show you” side of life.
I spent 7 years in Active Duty, and while not terrible it became very clear towards the end of my time in that life wasn’t for me. So I got out, spent about 6 months sittin’ naked in a bean bag chair eatin’ Cheetos and then got to work. I enrolled in the Art Institute of Houston as an Audio Engineer but jumped to the film program soon after. Late night Youtube videos and Film Riot can really change some shit, right!?
It was like I hit the ground running, and was the deepest my Attention had ever been Deficited…that’s not a word but you get it. I couldn’t stop. Didn’t want to. So for the next 10+ years I basically lived with a camera in my hand. Film sets, concerts, commercial shoots, worked as a TV Producer. You name it. I was in it.
After some corporate creative gigs, and getting fired from my last one because I told the CEO he and his team lacked cohesive vision and clarity I had to make a choice. We had just bought a house though and I wasn’t about to just roll over. So I made the decision to take away all my other options and focus on my one universal consistent, which was photography.
No matter where I was at or what I was doing, I was always taking pictures. When it finally clicked that photography was my reason for being here, I had the same feeling I did when I first started.
Been 3 years of dedicated effort and brutal self honesty to how I can provide best for my family and my community.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I’m focused on telling stories in the best way I know how. Which at this point is dangerously close to becoming a cliche but I suppose that doesn’t make it any less true.
I learned this year that my particular style is a “Lifestyle Photographer.” I just wanted to show people in the environments they were most comfortable and could feel themselves in front of a camera. People have been incredibly kind with their words about how well I’m able to portray my clients, and how I “captured them perfectly.” And that is one of the highest praises. I don’t want forced, I want authentic.
I’m also in my second year of having a 1000 sqft studio here in downtown Ludington. I host Media Days here for local sports teams (but can also travel to you!) and also rent my space out.
For 2026, I’m gonna continue trying to find the best ways to separate myself from everything else out there that’s being offered. There’s always work to be done, and I think that helps keep me from looking/feeling stagnant. It’s been nice being able to shake some things up around here too and help change the standard of what’s being created. I don’t want anyone to feel they have to settle, and that there are still people out there who are trying to bring everything they can to each session and not just optimize their days and squeeze as many sessions in per day as they can. I book one session a day typically. And that’s so everyone gets the best version of me, and the best light possible.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Looking back, I’d have to say the three qualities or skills that were most impactful for me were that I was too stubborn to quit, always trying to be an asset vs a liability, and offering to work for free if it meant I was able to learn something.
You can actually ask people questions and more often than not, they’re excited to help. But you can’t just take. In all things, you have to give more than you receive. I’ve done so much free work over the years because it got me in rooms with people I wanted to spend time with and learn from.
Bonus Quality to keep in mind: Don’t be a Richard.
Turns out, if you’re cool to hang around with, have good energy, and you’re stoked about the work you’re doing it’ll take you places.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I am constantly looking for creatives and brands to work with! I’d love to start developing a team of costumers/seamstress’, prop and set designers, HMUA’s, writers, models, actors, cosplayers, assistants, techs, etc that are all just willing to trade time and want to create things for the sake of creation. Or to even start building the team so we can just move collectively from project to project so more people can make a living from a creative life.
As much as I’d like to compensate monetarily for time, it doesn’t always work out that way. But if we can create things that help build out your portfolio’s, I’m all about it. Commercial work is always fun, but it’s usually the creative stuff that gets the most attention and leads to more commercial work.
You can email me at [email protected], or add me in IG or TikTok at @vince.rockwell
Contact Info:
- Website: https://vincerockwell.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vince.rockwell/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@vincerockwell
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