Today we’d like to introduce you to Widgy Normil.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started taking landscape pictures with my phone for as long as I can remember. It was fun for me to capture nature’s beauty, precisely the things that people’s eyes wouldn’t catch as they go about their day. It used to be my only reason to see the sunrise as well as the sunset every day. I used to be a light chaser. I would find new places and things that draw people’s attention and emotion. However, it didn’t happen just yesterday. I have been playing with point-and-shoot cameras since middle school. My mother and my sister used to be my models every summer. It was not much of a passion back then; it was more like finding content to fuel my creativity in Photoshop. I didn’t publish anything I had back then until I attended college. That is when I saw the art of landscape photography. Even at that time, it was just the fascination of catching lights through my phone lenses. Everything changed when I found my church home. They had no media team to capture the many events that occurred during the services. It was at that point that I realized I could take pictures on a much larger scale. So, I grasped the opportunity to explore and grow my passion for photography. I didn’t know anything about professional cameras at that time, but I knew I had to upgrade from the phone. During the first couple of years, I spent hours watching different styles of shoots and camera-guided videos on YouTube to get a better understanding of where I wanted to take my gift. Fast forward six years later, I am now a content creator taking photographs of weddings, various events/parties, maternity shoots, headshots, and I am also working with upcoming small businesses by helping them with their branding.
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?
If I said the road was smooth, I didn’t learn the fundamental lessons and skills needed to carry me to the next level in the business. Starting something from scratch is never easy, mainly when you have limited resources and very little support. I must admit I also was a bit shy and lacked confidence in my work. I struggled with booking new clients, frustration, pricing my work, and finding my audience. I thought just because I had the title of a photographer, people would automatically gravitate to me. That was not the case. I remember taking photographs of just any object to post to show that I am active and busy shooting daily. Though I had a few people in my circle who volunteered to model for me as often as possible, it still wasn’t enough to attract audiences. It was devastating. I was still new out there, and I was hoping that I would have caught some attention. It wasn’t the case, unfortunately. Frustration started kicking in after the first year of shooting because I began to see this as a dead-end career. At the time, I had only accumulated $500 in earnings. I was getting discouraged. I started telling myself that I could fall back on my church’s media work. I thought I had made the wrong choice of pursuing this dream. My leaders (pastors) wouldn’t let me settle for it. They encouraged me every chance they got, whether through a spoken word (ministering to me) or even having me take pictures of them after services. That is why I am forever grateful for my church family (Holy Temple Holiness Church of Deliverance, Florida). During this period, not only did they lift me in prayer, but some of the youth volunteered to model for me to help me showcase new faces for my portfolio. To take it a step further, my Pastor Bishop Thomas E. Douglas started taking me along with him to various community events, where I could put my gift to use. He then introduced me to the COO and later the EVP of the BoardroomPR, who then recommended me to a local photographer who owns Dream Focus Photography. That year I started doing many corporate events with him as he took me under his wings and taught me the tricks of the trade. Within that same year, I had the chance to meet another photographer who also helped me out. He was covering a lot of weddings, family/couple’s portraits, and headshots sessions. He invited me to come along and work with him on several occasions. I have always been a fan of learning new styles in the world of photography. He then briefly coached me on finding my place in the market and creating live bookings. His advice took me a long way. I’m grateful that God allowed me to meet these individuals. With my wife motivating me, my Pastor’s financial background and advice and coaching from those two gentlemen, I started putting value on my work and began running ads and attracting new clients. Since then, it has been a breeze.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a content creator/photographer. I specialized in Portraits (maternity, family, and couples), events (corporate, parties, etc.), and weddings (formal and elopements). I am based in Fort Lauderdale, Fl. I am known mostly for my unique portrait style. What sets me apart from others is that I make it my duty to capture every moment of my client’s special day. I go above and beyond for all my clients.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Throughout my journey, I have learned that praying without ceasing is a must, patience is essential, and staying humble will get your name buzzing in rooms you haven’t walked in. If it wasn’t for the grace of God, my wife pushing me daily, the teaching from my leaders, and the people he has placed in my life I wouldn’t be here today doing what I do best. With six years of entrepreneurial experiences, I don’t only run a photography business, I alongside with my wife, are running the following businesses together: Widgy Normil Photography, Normils Scented Candles, and Normils Custom Prints. If I can sum up my story in one sentence I would say, don’t give up on God because He will never give up on you. Prayer carried me through.
Contact Info:
- Email: widgynormilphotography@gmail.com
- Website: https://widgynormil09.wixsite.com/myportfolio
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/widgynormilphotography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/widgynormilphotography/
- Twitter: https://www.instagram.com/widgynormilweddingphotography
- Youtube: https://www.instagram.com/widgynormileventsphotography
- Other: https://msha.ke/widgynormilphotography/
Image Credits
Widgy Normil Photography
