Today we’d like to introduce you to Preston Powell
Hi Preston, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I grew up in Idaho, in a really small town called Moore, ID. The school I attended was in Arco (about 10 miles away) and my class had a whopping 20 people. I grew up in that town and attended school there until I was 13. My parents then divorced and I moved to Shelley, ID with my mother and brother. I was prominently doing all the sports my parents signed me up for while I was younger, but after the divorce, and spending time finding myself in my teen years, I developed a passion for dance.
Dance took me from the lowest point in my life, to some of the highest points in my career. I was able to perform professionally in countries like China, England, Scotland, Belgium, and the list goes on. While traveling as a dancer, I fell in love with capturing the landscapes and architecture of the different places we would go. At the time I didn’t have a fancy camera, and was only capturing images on my smart phone. They were really good for smartphone photos haha.
It wasn’t until I was leaving college and found myself struggling to find work I loved and ended up using a small tax return to buy my first camera (a Canon Rebel T5 with the kit lenses). I started driving all over Orem and Provo, UT capturing sunsets, landscapes next to the lake, and anything that didn’t move haha. It was right after I had left college that a dance colleague of mine through my college career asked me if I would be interested in taking her engagements. I said yes, shot their engagements beautifully, and realized only after I had delivered their gallery that I had shot everything in the smallest format they couldn’t even use them to print announcements, and that almost caused me to quit out of pure embarrassment.
However, I persisted, kept shooting, kept trying new things, learned the videography realm, and telling myself that giving up wasn’t an option. It was a sentiment my dad shared with me before he passed that has kept me moving forward and chasing something greater than myself. He had told me in a message “… You are going to change the lives of millions of people, I just know it!” and ever since then, I have taken that in stride and continue to showcase my talents. My dad was a business owner and a very independent man. He started his garbage pickup business when I was around 2-3 years old. He instilled a sense of entrepreneurship in me at a young age. Because of that instillment, I started my business, Preston Powell Photography, in 2017, which also caters to video clients as well.
Since 2017, I have had the extreme pleasure of working with incredible local clients like Utah Aids Foundation, Utah Pride Center, Lucero Hair & Wellness, Rocky Mountain Power, and many many more! Not only do I have some of Utah’s best businesses an organizations as clients, I have had the opportunity to work with local and national celebrities an personalities such as Hailey Payne, Stephanie and Ezra Sosa from So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing With The Stars, Ru Paul’s Drag Race Queens Eureka O’ Hara, Monet X Change, Symone, Elliott with 2 T’s, and Joey Jay, Vegas’s Penn & Teller, Todrick Hall, Thelma Houston, and more.
Through working with nightlife clients I have garnished a sincere love of the creativity and craftsmanship of the Drag scene here in Utah. One of my first, and longest, client relationships I fell into was with one of my greatest friends and colleagues, Ted Nichols (fka Gia Bianca Stephens). Ted was an incredible drag queen here in the Utah scene for 15+ years named Gia Bianca Stephens. Being part of the queer community myself, I attended one of their shows by invite here in Utah called Quorum of the Queens and fell in love with the craft. So much so that I, myself, am a drag queen myself aside from my photography and videography business. My drag persona is Zoe Zigman Stephens and I perform all over the Wasatch front. Being a former dancer, and now drag queen, I have found myself working with some of the most talented and creative individuals here in Utah, and across the country. The creative realm is where my heart truly resides!
My success lies in the 600+ people that have trusted me over the last 8 years to capture them and their special moments, whilst providing unforgettable, and fun experiences. I have partnered with incredible creators and businesses to help grow our clientele and increase my knowledge in the ever-changing space of photo and video work.
I have been a full-time business owner and creator for 4 years now, and it has been nothing short of an incredible experience. I am beyond excited for what the future has in store, and the new faces and friends I am yet to meet!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
If anyone says running a business or being 100% reliant on yourself and your talents is easy, would most definitely be lying to you! My philosophy is that hard work brings great character, and if you find yourself swimming in the shallow end for too long, you won’t understand how to navigate the deep end, or empathize with those who are. I’m not stating that I intentionally find hard work to do, but finding that good work is never easy. Starting my business came out of necessity and not necessarily passion. But my necessity turned into a passion in ways I never thought it would.
In 2017 I was working as a phone salesman for a company that significantly lacked moral values. That same year I found myself itching for creativity and that’s when I started Preston Powell Photography LLC as a means of evading a rather tumultuous environment and road ahead. Once I left that company, I ventured to more creative positions to help fund my creative outlet. I worked for a company that helped find talent for the halftime shows of all the major College Bowl games, and ended my corporate career as a physician recruiter in one of the top agencies in the country.
Those skills came in handy as I was faced with challenges in my business, much like the sales skills I gained in those positions helping navigate client conversations where money and business took the front seat.
I found myself putting more time into my business during my full-time job and that led me to believe that I should step away from the corporate work and focus on my business. Well, that very next year I was in such a bad financial position that I ended up having to drive for Uber and Lyft. Don’t you worry, I was able to use those driving jobs to land clients and gigs such as photographing my first corporate event for Planned Parenthood, and shortly after photographing the Park City Fashion Week main runway show, just by talking to the passengers I would pick up.
2020 then comes around, and I know what you are thinking, Oh NO! And you would be right haha! In 2020 I was working as a physician recruiter, as mentioned above. After 2 years of being there, and the pandemic hitting our industry the hardest, I had the immediate impression that instead of riding the roller coster on the down slope, I needed to jump ship and go full-time with my photo business while I still had good standing with my employer in the event I needed/wanted to go back. That year I chose to make the biggest leap of my life, was the year I made the most money for myself in my whole life.
Our trials are simply propelling us in the direction of success if we are willing to solve the problems that come with it.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a photographer and videographer that specializes in creative portraiture, and LGBTQ+ weddings and elopements. Being a gay man in an increasingly conservative world pushes me to preserve memories and historical remembrance of our communities achievements, impactful moments, and timeless stories.
The queer community is such a unique and beautiful community full of life and love. These individuals help drive the creative backbone of our society. Giving them the opportunity to capture themselves or their moments in a light that tells their story is truly an inspiring experience.
I have acquired a deep love for creating meaningful artwork and portraits of someone’s alter ego, or drag persona. I have equally acquired as much love for capturing the trueness that is the marriage of two people fighting against all odds against them.
My work is more about preserving someones story and legacy, because there may come a time that those stories will help foster change for the better.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I would love for any of your readers to take a moment and visit our website www.shotbypowell.com and follow us on social media @prestonpowellphoto. Please feel free to share your stories with me and let me know if I can be a facilitator in capturing your unique self, or any of your cherished memories.
Pricing:
- Portrait sessions start at $200
- Wedding packages start at $1700
- Video and storytelling services start at $250/hour
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shotbypowell.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/prestonpowellphoto & www.instagram.com/zoezigmanstephens
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prestonpowellphoto
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@prestonpowellproductions7080
