Today we’d like to introduce you to Austin Grimes.
Austin, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve had a camera in my hand since I was a baby with my mom constantly taking pictures off different point & shoot film cameras and always getting photos developed. I started messing around with cameras myself, taking pictures of everything I could, and eventually began to take film and photography seriously around 12-13 after taking a film class in middle school. As a kid, it was sports all day, every day for me, and that was always my main passion and focus. Once I got into high school, I made it into the 4-year film magnet program, and after 2 years in, my love for photo/video eventually began to outshine my desire to pursue a career in sports. Instead, I thought I’d try to make something great out of my love and skill for photography and film and put all of my time into that. One of my favorite things this world has to offer next to photography & sports is music. Before graduating, my friends and I created a clothing company, and immediately out of high school started throwing small shows for the brand with artist around Florida and eventually throwing concerts with bigger artist at different venues in Orlando. This led to me working with a lot of artist and other creatives around Florida whether it’s through photoshoots, concerts, music videos, cover art, direction, editing, collabs, etc. Immersing myself into this world, blending my two favorite things, made me truly realize what I’m most passionate about and what I want to do for the rest of my life. It’s led to me throwing shows and helping others throw shows with some of my favorite artist. It’s led to me being able to work with very many genuine, talented people in all different types of ways. Some I’m lucky to call good friends. Most importantly, it allowed me to better my craft and see out a vision (or multiple visions) to build something great off something I genuinely love with the awesome people around me. This is honestly what I see myself doing forever after learning how to make something great of it and understanding the business side of it all better. I have no plan of turning back on this, this is something I see myself doing forever. I really owe it all to my friends and family all around me that support me, they’re what pushes me to do better every day and turn every small thing I do into something huge.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not necessarily been a smooth road. Growing up without a father and a very small family. My mom, sister & I definitely went through a lot of changes and some financial struggles, so it definitely wasn’t easy growing up and nothing was handed to me. I realized from an early age that I have to work hard and if I want something, I have to go get it myself. I appreciate those smalls things growing up that may have seemed negative at the time because it shaped me as a person & I made some of my dreams and goals a reality because of that mentality, and I still think that way every day. Struggle can be a good thing in the long run. Throughout my life and mainly throughout the past 5 years, while following my passion, a lot of friends of mine have passed away from various things. One person was one of my best friends Gabe, who I’ve been friends with since film in high school, and that really put me in a slump for a little bit. We collaborated on very many projects together and always helped support each other through any possible thing we wanted to build. He was one of the smartest and most talented individuals I’ve ever known, and I learned a lot from him. He actually was just about to become my manager as a photographer/creative director before he passed, and I wonder all the time what things we’d be accomplishing if he was still here. The biggest bump in the road has been when I was living in Los Angeles in January 2021 chasing my dreams I woke up in the hospital after having a seizure and shortly after learned that I have a tumor in my brain. I was forced to come back to Florida and get a brain surgery done after we found out the tumor was cancerous. I had to go through two brain surgeries and two full recoveries throughout the year 2021, and now I’m here in the summer of 2022, completely trying to rebuild my life, living in Orlando trying to get things back on track. Luckily, the surgeon at Duke in NC got, I’d say about 95% of the tumor and has put me in a great position to just monitor things and pray that the rest goes away while also giving me the ability to get back to the normal life I was living before all this happened. This insane situation that some would consider traumatic has honestly really changed my entire view on life and has given me so much appreciation of everything, and I mean EVERYTHING. I came out of my second surgery not able to look at a normal building or a normal tree, or a regular person the same. I now appreciate every single detail, and that applies to everything. It’s made me really thankful to be here, alive and breathing. Also, as crazy as it sounds, the attention to detail has really applied to my work and made everything much better. The way I view this world is just very different, and I definitely appreciate this terrible thing I’ve gone through for that. No matter the struggle I’ve gone through, I’m going to persevere and make the absolute most out of every second I have on this Earth and do it with a smile on my face and with constant thankfulness. I can’t wait to one day be able to speak to people like me and inspire them to power through and not let something like this, or anything for that matter, ruin us and our happiness.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a photographer/videographer who specializes in all types of photography, mainly portrait, event, and street/landscape photography. All types of film and direction experience for short films, documentaries, podcast, and music videos. I’d say that I’m most known for my portrait and street/landscape photography but especially for my event photography from the concerts I’ve captured. As I also said, I’m known for being a reliable hand to help put together concerts and events anywhere needed as well. I’m most proud of my film photography, and it may just be because photography is what I love most, but I definitely am proud of my work, and I treat it like my baby, constantly looking for ways to better it. But as much as I am proud of it, I am insanely critical of myself and can be hard on myself sometimes, so I always think things can be better. I guess that’s a good thing though.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
The one piece of advice I can give to anyone creating anything or thinking of creating something is DO NOT CARE ABOUT WHAT ANYONE THINKS. Make exactly what you want and do it exactly how you want it. Don’t not care what a single person thinks and do not listen to anyone’s opinion. Do things your way and don’t look back, constantly put out content, and just keep getting better and better. Don’t let likes or comments or anything get in your way because none of that matters, and it feels really good when you see people look back and realize how dumb they were for doubting you. Oh, also, make as many connections as you possibly can and always be genuine with people. Connections and strong relationships mean more than anything else in any business and, honestly in this world as a whole. So, get out there, network, and build a lot of relationships in whatever field you’re in.
Pricing:
- Photoshoots – $150-$200
- Event Photography – $200-$400
- Music Videos – $200-$500
- Cover Art/Flyers/Posters $100-$150
- Creative Direction/Filmwork – Price Neg.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.etsy.com/shop/OverPowerPrints
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/austinoverpowers/
Image Credits
Vincent Romano
Austin Grimes
