Today we’d like to introduce you to LJ Hamilton.
Hi LJ, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I grew up on a farm in Iowa riding four-wheelers, camping, and being on the Mississippi River every chance I got. When I was 24, I knew I wanted to experience more, so I moved to South Florida, where I worked various jobs and met many people. Everyone around me was trying to start their own business. It was so new to me and inspired me to think outside the box. I decided to go to film school, and ever since that moment, I’ve had a camera in my hand. I recently moved to Austin and am already in love with the city’s landscape and culture.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t been a challenging road. I took a risk when I moved to Florida with just enough money in the bank to get me by for about a month or so with one giant suitcase of my clothes. I ate peanut butter sandwiches for months until I could afford more food. I biked everywhere for the first 6 months, rain or shine until I could afford to drive my car again. Once I got a job waiting tables, I picked up every shift I could, and things started to turn around. I went back to school for massage therapy and personal training. It was a good gig for a while, but my heart wasn’t in it. After a couple of years, I decided to go back to school again for film. I hadn’t had any experience with a camera, but I would be good at it, and it would give me the freedom I was seeking. I was right, and I can’t imagine doing anything different.
As you know, we’re big fans of Visual Works. What can you tell our readers who might need to be more familiar with the brand?
I’m currently a freelance photographer building my business. I’ve had different clients, but my true passion is product and lifestyle photography for outdoor & adventure brands & health & fitness brands. What sets me apart is I live the lifestyle of the brands I want to work with, so I understand the mindset of what people are looking for in a product or how people want to feel.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I was a very active kid running on the farm. My brother and I would go down in the woods or out in the barns and pretend we were adventurers looking for shelter or challenging new ways to cross the creek. We were always riding on or driving motorized vehicles. Whether that was a battery-powered, battery-powered jeep big wheel, a dune buggy, or a four-wheeler, we did it all. I played basketball, softball, and volleyball most of my life, but skateboarding and snowboarding were where I felt the most alive. There was so much variability and freedom that came with riding on a board.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/_visualworks
Image Credits
LJ Hamilton (Lindsay Hamilton)
