Today we’d like to introduce you to Sean Atkins.
Sean, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I am from Southeast San Diego and started working around the camera in Highschool at Helix High with my friend Mekhi Stevenson, who started a company named OCDTV. I always helped with lighting but never fully pursued camera work until I moved to LA in 2016 to run track and pursue my education in electrical engineering at California State University Los Angeles. Here I went to school with another San Diego native, James Scott (Skeez), who created the independent music label NLYTEN (en-light-en). I initially designed the website for NLYTEN and noticed that we needed content so James gave me his camera to capture some content for the site. I started off taking pictures for cover art and portraits. Eventually, I taught myself to edit pictures and videos through photoshoots and vlogging NLYTENs first performance in LA. I started taking pictures for any and everyone that I knew in San Diego and LA for free just to get experience and learn how to work James’ camera.
Eventually, I bought my first camera from a pawn shop, a Canon t5i. My work started getting around campus and people paid me to do any kind of visual work that required a camera such as birthday shoots, headshots, clothing brand promotion, and music cover art. I used the money I made to invest back into my craft where I eventually bought a stabilizer to start shooting music videos. Music Videos became my favorite type of visual art and I started shooting many artists in NLYTEN such as Sleez, Drew Burgundy, Skeez, Lovetoliii and eventually Mekhi now M2poppin, that got me started with OCDTV in high school. Being surrounded by artists, creatives, and businessmen has helped me build a network that has expanded from San Diego to the Bay. I rebranded my Instagram as Kidsnipe now snipevizualz and began to post my work from clients that I have worked with throughout the past couple of years.
This last summer during Covid, I was working freelance where I continued to build other brands and music until my mother passed away. Although I am facing many challenges in my life, I plan on continuing to build my brand as a freelance photographer/videographer, NLYTEN, and OCP (Overly Competitive Productions). My drive and inspiration come from my mother who has taught me to show empathy for others, become independent, and persevere by any means. As of now, I am working closely with NLYTEN and Overly Competitive Productions to not only build young entrepreneur’s brands but to inspire young marginalized artists to express themselves through their art and persevere the challenges that they have been facing their entire lives.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has not been a smooth road. While living in southeast San Diego after I went off to college, my mother had a stroke that was nearly fatal. This caused me to balance my mom’s necessities in San Diego while I was in LA, along with track and school. While doing photography and videography throughout college, I could not work as consistently as I wanted to because Electrical Engineering has consumed all of my time at school limiting my creative productivity. However, school came first and it was what helped me contribute to my mother’s struggle back in San Diego. I struggled with getting help with photography and videography after reaching out to many other content creators in San Diego. Throughout college, I have struggled with a place to stay and work while going back to my hometown because my mom was struggling herself by barely finding places to stay to accommodate herself. These things affected my editing workflow, ability to focus on my creativity, business, and my health.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am a freelance videographer/photographer. I take refuge by helping others build their brand and expressing myself through the camera lens. Like I have mentioned before I work closely with artists from the independent record label, NLYTEN, and I currently work with Overly Competitive Productions. I am known for photoshoots and music video shoots. I am proud at the fact that I taught myself how to use a camera, edit, acquire equipment, learn to use the equipment, and teach others to how to cameras for their own business ventures. As an individual and freelance artist, I take pride in helping others build their brands/businesses such as my good friend Emmanuel from Unassociated, Simon from Almaz Playground, and Skeez from NLYTEN. What sets me apart is my work ethic, business etiquette, and ability to learn anything that is thrown in front of me.
What were you like growing up?
I was always a curious, empathetic, and intelligent kid. I started playing with cameras and technology back when I first started walking. I played with my mother’s polaroid and took interest in science and athletics. I was always an athlete to this day playing baseball throughout my youth, then football and track in high school. While athletics is where my heart has always been, I have always aspired to invent the next biggest innovation through science and engineering. I never wanted to sell myself short especially with God blessing me with all of my talents. I’d like to consider myself multifaceted.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/_kidsnipe_
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/snipevizualz/?hl=en
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/kidsnipe1
Image Credit:
Kristopher H, Kidsnipe
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