Today we’d like to introduce you to LyVell Gipson.
LyVell, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I ended up in Los Angeles by divine intervention. I am originally from Delaware/Virginia Beach, An East Coast guy who went into the Army fresh out of high school hoping to escape my surroundings back home. God had other plans for me because shortly after being deployed to Iraq I was involved in a suicide bombing accident that left me in a coma. With over 44 surgeries on my belt, I had to learn how to talk, read, write and walk. I thought that would be the end of my story, young black man, wounded in Iraq and awarded a Purple Heart.
But my beautiful daughter changed my life and the rewrote my story. The mother of my daughter is from California and she wanted us to move so we can be closer to family now that we had a daughter of our own and that is how I ended up in the City of Angels.
I’ve always had a deep love for film so I decided I would go to school and get a degree in Film. One thing led to another, I bought my first Canon and now here I am, 11 years later. I love the idea of being able to capture moments in time with a single photograph. Bringing peoples vision to life is rewarding in and of itself.
Has it been a smooth road?
The film/photography industry is a tough one to break into and the grind and hustle never stops. It’s constant, it’s fast-paced and comes with its set of challenges but if you truly want it, you’ll find a way.
Being a freelancer means you are everything. You are the accountant, the social media person, the advertiser, the manager, the photographer, the editor…everything. Over time that starts to wear you down and leaves you feeling defeated.
Learning how to be understanding of your client’s needs and also remaining firm about your own standards especially financial needs is a hard act to balance. It’s something I constantly struggle with even till this day.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the LyVell G story. Tell us more about the business.
Through LyVell G, I offer a wide variety of services primarily focused on photography, film, and editing. Photography can range from creative projects all the way down to weddings. Same goes for film. I have worked with many up and coming artist on their music videos and it’s become my specialty over time.
I am proud that I don’t limit myself in what I offer. No project is too small or too big, I pride myself in being flexible and accommodating to all my clients.
LA is filled with photographers who are willing to work with you but many only do lifestyle shoots, or portraits or fashions and so on. I have a strong belief that if you are great at working the camera, you can deliver on any given project no matter what the object is, which is what I aim to offer.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
The only downside to our advancements as a generation is how accessible everything is. Basically everything is self-taught now, more and more you encounter people who didn’t go to school or get any formal training, they just started winging it.
The downside to this is the financial aspect. You have kids fresh out of high school who are willing to do a gig for free or little pay just to get that experience which is great, however this poses a problem for someone like myself who did go to school, who has put in 11 years of hard work and is now having to really negotiate prices with potential clients.
Cost of living in LA is insane and I’m constantly trying to figure out ways to improve my craft, grow my clientele and really let my work speak for itself. Their is room for everyone in this business it just takes so much effort.
Over the next few years, I think us more seasoned vets are going to have to really adjust our target market to fit the needs of the industry.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.lyvellg.com/
- Phone: 310-994-2103
- Email: lyvellgipson@me.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lyvellg/?hl=en
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Maggie Lockridge
August 14, 2019 at 03:24
LyVell is an admirable young man. I admire his sacrifice, determination, Patriotism, and love of his daughter.
JohnAndrew Felix
August 23, 2019 at 04:46
I met this young fella while skiing in Aspen a few years back, and was very impressed with him then and have been watching him grow ever since. a very inspiring Veteran indeed.