We had the good fortune of connecting with Cedric Gutter Jr and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cedric, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
By day, I’m an engineer and my focus shifts to photography every evening and nearly every weekend. Adding competitive fitness training to the fold has thrown in additional set of challenges. It takes it’s toll but I’ve learned to prioritize things that are important to me i.e time with my amazing wife and business partner and time with our 2 kids which is who we do it all for.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

One thing I’ve learned in photography, is that details matter. Most people don’t understand the time it takes to edit a photo nor would notice minor changes in detail, but to me that means everything. The amount of time spent scrutinizing what seem to be meniscal details takes an immense amount of time that requires late nights and early mornings.

I believe what sets my artwork apart is my desire to want clients to see themselves in a different light and leave their photo shoot feeling more confident then when they arrived. Giving someone the opportunity to see themselves from a viewpoint that they’ve never seen themselves from is the goal with every client.


If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

Ok so let me give my pre-COVID response.

First, we kick off the day with fish and grits at The Breakfast Klub Cafe. (Extra sugar in them grits please!).
Then we take in the sites of H-town. Being that I am a photographer, I like to visit landmarks and different hidden gems in the city for photo session including the hundreds of graffiti art locations across town, the bayou and the nature preserves.

If anyone is coming from out of town, you know they’d want to see what that Galleria do! Maybe squeeze in a session at the FOMO Factory because the camera goes where I go.

At some point we’d grab a bite to eat at The Turkey Leg Hut. I’ve never been but it’s definitely on my to do list.

Depending on the time of year, we’d catch a professional game. My Fort Worth patnas would probably give me grief, but Houston has some of the best sports franchises in the country. No matter what sport you choose, the atmosphere is always lit. Especially if a Dallas team is in town. Go Cowboys!

There’s always a concert of event at The Miller Outdoor Theatre or Discovery Green to take in.
Lastly we’d finish up on either bikes, trikes, or scooters across town to give guests a chance to see the city even more up close and personal than being in a car.

We’d end it by sending them home with a potato of their choice from the amazing Stuffed Baked Potato Factory for the plane ride home. The itis is inevitable.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My first shoutout would be to my wife, who pushes me to become a better man no matter how hard I push back. She’s an optimist that always looks to help me accomplish what seems to be the impossible. She’s my own personal flask of liquid courage that helps me see the greatness in me when I don’t always see it in myself.

Next, I would like to shout out my church family at WOGCF for trusting me to lead the marketing and media ministry with absolutely no experience whatsoever! This is where I discovered my passion for photography and graphic design.

Website: theonyxview.com

Instagram: @OnyxViewPhotography

Facebook: OnyxView Photography

Other: info@theonyxview.com

Image Credits
Cedric & Mia Gutter Jr of OnyxView Photography

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