Today, we’d like to introduce you to Antonio Huff.
Hi Antonio, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I remember getting my first camera back in 2015. I was working at Best Buy & Nikon was running a special promotion for employees to get a pretty good discount on a list of cameras. Knowing very little about DSLR cameras at the time, I chose the one that fit my budget. This was the Nikon D7100, my first real camera. For the first year, I would take my camera everywhere I went, taking photos of nature, the city, & my friends.
As time progressed, people began to ask me for portraits, graduations, real estate, engagements, weddings, & concerts. With each of these shots, I, of course, became more comfortable & competent in taking photos. I knew this was what I wanted to do every single day. Fast forward to sometime in 2021, my Nikon was on its last leg, with duct tape holding it together. I decided to upgrade to the Sony A7III. By this time, my camera is my life. It had been two years since I became The Divine Experience – creating my first business.
I knew this was my outlet & my way of sharing the love I had for life, with others. I could shine a light on a person, & show them the beauty that exists within them, & shine a light on someone else’s passion. I faced adversity when my camera bag was stolen in 2022, where I faced a choice – give up, or keep going. As you can imagine, I persevered. I slowly got new gear to replace everything I lost.
I continued to create each day, remembering why I started doing this in the first place. It is the thing that gets me out of bed in the morning. It is a way for me to connect with others and, & in turn, document this beautiful human experience. I still take my camera with me everywhere I go, & creative portraits are my favorite thing to create.
We all face challenges, but would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I believe life is a journey where the path will be smooth at times & bumpy at others. That’s the beautiful part of the adventure. It becomes my choice on how I view these ups/downs. At times, I have felt isolated when people say things like “you can’t make a living from art” or “get a ‘real’ job”. On the surface, these statements never bothered me, but deep down, when I faced adversity, I would begin to doubt myself.
There are months when I feel on top of the world, with plenty of opportunities coming my way. On the other hand, there are months when I have faced adversity when I had no opportunities. Working through the motions and the ebbs/flows of life has been hard for me at times. I have had to pick up side jobs, doing what I can to get by, but that’s where the fun lies. It pushed me, inspired me, and gave me new perspectives. Allowing me to keep moving forward – never giving up on my dream.
2022 was one of the hardest years of my life. Having my camera gear stolen, heartbreak, a car accident, & multiple deaths in my family. Picking myself up off the ground with each setback, eventually, I couldn’t stand on my own anymore – I was broken. With time, & support from my friends/family, I was able to bounce back, find peace, & get new camera equipment. After this, I knew there was nothing that I could not get through.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a 28-year-old photographer, videographer, creative, & business owner documenting the human experience with my camera. I document people, music/concerts, weddings, brands/companies, nature, emotions, historical moments, real estate, events, & anything that people create.
I’ve been behind a camera for almost a decade documenting OUR story. Shining a light on myself & each person that I meet along my journey of life. I love to tell people’s stories through images & videos to help future generations know that we were here & we lived – no matter how small or large the imprint. I have had many ups & downs along this journey behind a camera. Debating whether or not I should continue or find the simplest reminders of why I do what I do. I realize this point. This is the one thing that brings me back down to earth.
It gets me out of bed in the morning because I get to express myself & meet so many beautiful people. It’s through shared experience with others that I can see we all aren’t that much different than one another; we are all facing similar demons, & we need each other to connect & create with. Each of our stories deserves to be told. Throughout the years, I have seen countless people in front of my camera who are nervous at first, shy, & closed off. By the end of the shoot, I see their inner child come out & they seem free, like a bird.
Not afraid of judgment or overthinking their next move or word. It’s in these moments that I realize that an inner child with a pure heart & open mind is able to shine through & let go of any pain they may be facing. At least for a moment. It’s these moments that remind me why I want & need to keep going in my life. I may not know what tomorrow is going to bring, but I am going to connect with others & create from my heart each day & make my inner child proud.
I don’t know if there is anything that makes me extraordinarily special in this life, but to me – every single one of us is special & nothing on this planet can take that away from us. I will live every day of my life through the ups & downs, reminding myself of that so I may share it with each beautiful soul I encounter. Thank you for being here.
Before we go, can you talk to us a bit about how people can work, collaborate, or support you?
My DMs & email are always open for anyone. Whether it’s for a photoshoot, video shoot, collaboration, trade work, teaching opportunity, or simply just to chat. My Instagram is @thedivineexperience.
My email is thedivineexperience11@gmail.com. All are welcome. Sharing my name by word of mouth, checking out my work online, or buying a print helps a ton!
Pricing:
- Portrait session – $300
- Couples/engagement session – $400
- Events/Corporate – $200/hr
- Weddings – $3,000
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bio.site/thedivineexperience
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedivineexperience/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/huffxcvi/
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@TheDivineExperience11
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/42r4mpB6iRXnawZ5LADvRD?si=M3Dq5hd_Sui48es5TPaViQ
Image Credits
The Divine Experience
