Today we’d like to introduce you to Cameron “Cam.II” Willoughby.
Hi Cameron “Cam.II”, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I believe my story is similar to many residents of Los Angeles. My dream was to be somebody. I grew up seeing the star power of Hollywood and wishing I could be on the red carpets and on award show stages, etc. My mom always told me to work hard and use your talents and you’ll get there. My question was, what are my talents? My journey started after college, not knowing where my life was going. One day I thought to myself, I want to be a creative director. I wanted to come up with the content that would be produced in a photoshoot and video shoots. Like this thought literally came to me at a restaurant dinner table. Imagine me stuffing my face and thinking about my career. I used to call my friend, who would soon become my mentor J.Evans of J Evans Visuals, and ask him to photograph me and help me bring all these ideas to life. Not only did he help me but he started teaching me the basics of photography. With that knowledge, Prinze Cam Creative came to life! My family bought me a camera for Christmas that year and the rest is history. I started begging my sister Camile Ariane Make Up, who is an established artist in Los Angeles, to take photos of her and her clients and she’d let me and my family and friends were extremely supportive. It helped me get the practice in and three years later, it’s lead to paid photo sessions and a growing business.
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?
Not at all. My two biggest struggles were networking and not being proud of my work. I am a really shy person and have had self-esteem issues in the past. I used to have problems opening my mouth and talking to people. Imagine me meeting a huge celebrity, I’d probably faint. One of my really close friends introduced me to a designer that needed a photographer for his event and it forced me to network, speak to people, and get out of my shy mood. Networking helped me get more clientele, which gave me the needed practice. Ever since then, I’m proud of myself and my work.
As you know, we’re big fans of Prinze Cam Creative. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I recently launched my official website www.PrinzeCamCreative.com. I specialize in Portrait and Style photography. The thing that sets me apart from others is the eye that I have. I believe I capture emotions and features that not many people can. I go into every session thinking, what if I were the model? I’d want every photo of me to look amazing and different from my ordinary look. I’d want to feel blessed to have hired a photographer and not just have my friend take a picture of me on my phone. Seeing the positive reviews and smiles on my client’s faces makes me proud of my brand. It’s a feeling like no other. It tells me that I’m doing something right. I offer quality services at an inexpensive price. I don’t believe in charging thousands of dollars for only five photos.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Covid-19 was a blessing for me because I was able to do so many shoots with all that downtime I had. It taught me that there is no crisis that can break my soul or stop my talent. I won’t lie and say Covid hasn’t stopped certain shoots from happening cause it has, but a real creative finds a way. It taught me to think outside the box. People only see the image and content, but not how and where it was created.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.PrinzeCamCreative.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/PrinzeCamCreative
- Facebook: Facebook.com/PrinzeCamCreative
- Twitter: Twitter.com/PrinzeCamPhotos
Image Credits:
Camille Ariane Make-Up Camille Ariane Brows Rare Woman LLC
