We had the good fortune of connecting with Norman Oates and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Norman, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
As far as I can reminder I was entrepreneurial. I started my first business at 11yrs old as the local lawn and shovel removal kid in my neighborhood. Ive always enjoyed making money but as I became older the allure of business ownership came from the freedom of my schedule. Being able to decide when id like to work and have the flexibility to be present for my children and wife, not stuck to a fixed schedule was ideal for my life.

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.
What I love most about what I do is the interaction with others, I see a lot of talk on social media about introverts but I’m extremely extroverted. I love interacting and socializing with others and I believe that energy is felt amongst my clients. Some of the best compliments I receive are “Norman made me feel comfortable on my wedding day” or “at our portrait session” and I believe that’s what sets me apart from others. Becoming a full time creative was certainly not easy it took me 4 1/2yrs to quit my job and when I quite I was making less as a photographer than my full time job but I had my 40hrs a week back and that was everything to me. Freedom within my days was worth more than money but I also knew if I dedicated those 40hrs to myself and brand I could outperform my 9 to 5 and I did just that the first year as a full-time creative. One thing I want people to know is that persistence is key, many of my fellow creatives that I started with, who were just as talented quit far before me and I feel that is the only reason it didn’t work out for them. I gave my business enough time to grow and flourish into something sustainable.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I recently realized my Mother and Grandfather are who introduced the art form of photography to me and made an impression on me at a young age. I remember once saying “I don’t know why I wanted to be a photographer” because no one in my immediate family did it professionally, they were all hobbyist. I later found to realize that “everything counts” and their love for the craft, even though they never made a cent from it sparked my interest as I became older.

Website: NormanOates.com

Instagram: @noatesphoto

Image Credits
Norman Oates

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutHTX is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.