Today we’d like to introduce you to CiCi Willis.
Hi CiCi, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I have always been a creative person. As a child, I wanted to be an artist but was discouraged from pursuing anything in art because I was expected to find a “real job.” Therefore, I first started working in healthcare because my mom had a medical illness and thought I would be best suited in that field. Later, after being the first in my family to graduate from college, I began working for the government, where I excelled but felt like I was literally dying inside because my creative outlook on topics did not translate well in government. However, I will say that I do believe that when it came to giving speeches to large audiences, the people in the room did seem to respond well to the comedic relief I provided.
However, during the pandemic, when no one was able to work, I decided to dust off my camera and this was when I found the passion that truly drives me. I had some videography and acting in the past, so photography wasn’t a huge stretch, but I found it to be exciting! My favorite part of photography is seeing how someone who doesn’t consider themselves pretty or a model can begin to see themselves in a positive light. I believe everyone should feel good about themselves, and that is why many of the people I work with do not consider themselves models. I, of course, work with models as well, but I believe that beauty comes from confidence, and that is what I am sure to give each and every individual I work with confidence. I started out doing free shoots to build my portfolio and taking smaller jobs that didn’t pay much to help out those with smaller budgets. I am always learning new skills in my craft and upgrading my equipment, and that has helped me develop the skills I have today and will have in the future. I am now working on being more active on social media for sharing my work and marketing.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It has been an interesting road. The first self-proclaimed model I worked with was a doozy. She and I worked very well together at first, but when I started taking photos of her that looked really good, her social media started to blow up, and so did her ego. 🙂 She started showing up late to shoots, and during our last shoot together, she presented me with a “contract” handwritten on a sheet of loose-leaf paper that basically said she is now the owner of all her images and that I work for her until she decides I don’t.
That relationship ended instantly, lol, and I wasn’t even able to post the images of that shoot because she did not give me permission to post them. When I told her I would not be signing her “contract,” she then demanded that I then take down all of the images previously posted on social media (my portfolio), stating she never gave me permission to post them and that she had no idea I had posted them although she had been tagged in all of the images and she had double tapped them with her approval. After that day, all models and non-models, were required to sign a model release before any shoot. Shortly after that happened, another model reached out to me on Instagram. She and I work together frequently, collaborating on different shoot ideas, and she is an amazing model. Her IG handle is @morelifehana. I would say from this I learned that small failures could lead to huge successes.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I do photography and videography, specializing in fashion and editorial style photography. I also do maternity and family photography as well as headshots. I am known for my energy at photoshoots. Because I work very hard to ensure my clients have confidence, I bring the party! And occasionally, when I’m getting great shots, I tend to jump up and down like a child from sheer excitement. I would say that anyone who shoots with me IS going to have a fun time and WILL have some amazing photo memories to enjoy for years to come. I also write as well. I write poetry, short stories, scripts, songs, and I also make my own music. I would say when it comes to creative things, I am a “Jackie” of all trades. I also self-published a children’s book called “Dread the Dragging Dragon,” which began as a story I made up for my kids. And finally, I have a blog at ciciblogs.com, where I share inspirational messages and stories.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
My kids make me happy. For whatever reason, they find me entertaining, so when I’m in the kitchen cooking and making up random songs about whatever I’m doing, they sit in the kitchen and watch me or sing along. The best part of a workday is coming home and hearing them yell, “MOMMY!” and seeing them run to hug me. The feeling I get when they do that cannot be expressed in words. So even when they occasionally stress me out when they don’t keep their room tidy or drop food on the floor, their excitement when they see me makes my heart melt every single time. I believe the positive energy in me is what brings out the positive energy in them, and let me just say I LOVE IT! Happiness is actually inside of all of us, we just have to appreciate ourselves enough to know it.
Pricing:
- Photoshoots start at $100
- Video shoots start at $150
Contact Info:
- Email: cicismedia@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.cicismedia.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/cicismedia
- Other: https://www.blurb.com/b/10065541-dread-the-dragging-dragon
Image Credits
Models by IG handle 1. my daughter 2. @jesania 3. @xoxtabsxox 4. @morelifehana 5. @rayna.simone
