Today we’d like to introduce you to Rashaud Thomas.
Rashaud, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
It all started when I was stationed in Guam 2014. I hit a hard time in my life. Break up, X girlfriend pregnant, no apartment, no nothing. All I had left was my Canon 5d Markiii. Starting from scratch. Living on the ship for the next two years gave me a lot of time figuring out what was I going to do with my life. As I sat on the beach every day after work, I started going around the island and taking pictures of landscaping. As I continued going around the island, I started posting pictures on my Instagram. I started seeing the feedback from the locals. Many people saying dope, or beautiful. It gave me great confidence in taking more pictures of the beautiful island. I started realizing that I was getting over my pain of a broken heart and nowhere to run to. The people of Guam gave me something to smile about with my talent.
Six months after being on the island, I noticed my Instagram following started getting bigger and a lot of love on my page. As I started meeting new faces on the island, I started getting gigs. Paid gigs. I couldn’t believe that just sharing my passion for taking pictures would lead me to weddings, birthdays, events, and working for the local news station as a photographer for a photo shoot (local magazine). The best feeling for me was waking up in the morning reading comments on my pictures. It all came to me when most of my images comments said dope or dope pic. I then realized that I wanted to call my company Dope Pics And Dope Edits. Guam, the local people had given me this name.
As soon as I announced my company name and the journey, I was getting ready to set forward on the ship. The island welcomed me and considered me local. Working with many men and women on my ship from GUAM. They started seeing my work in newspapers and magazines. That gave me all the hope in the world that I can do anything. As I got closer towards being on the rock for two years. It was time for me to hit the states with my talent. As 2016 came around the corner. I started the same process when I stayed in Point Loma for the next six months.
As I started doing videos for the motorcycle community, I was just getting more and more work. I started getting emails, and messages in my inbox. Just from taking videos of motorcycle events. I started getting hits for weddings, school shoots, etc. It was the best feeling getting contacted by people I didn’t even know. But my work started slowing down because my job made me go on long deployments overseas. I then started taking pictures of sunsets 1000s of miles away from home. I realized what I was seeing beautiful sunsets with a puffy cloud, the average person in the states weren’t going to see these kinds of sunsets, the rough seas, and what I did for work. As I realized I had a gift. I never gave up on taking breathtaking photos. Even though time was flying in 2018 was a rough year. I kept my head up and never let anything bring me down. As I’m on deployment right now. It’s time to bring my pictures to life on Metal Prints. Being different and standing out from other photographers in San Diego. As I get closer to the end of my deployment, it will be time to bring the photos I have collected overseas, calling my art “Away From You” gallery coming soon and the beautiful city of San Diego. I am Dope Pics And Dope Edits.
Has it been a smooth road?
Yes, it has been smooth, but I did have a lot of struggles in my life that taught me to never give up and push hard.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Dope Pics And Dope Edits is a company that brings your shoot or photos to life on metal prints. Memories that will last forever on a sheet of metal. Nothing wrong with printing on high gloss paper. But to take a once in a lifetime picture that will last forever. Heat pressing it on metal is dope. We specialize in prints, events, weddings, school events, etc. We do it all from video and photos.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
San Diego is a good city for business as long as you know your market and know what you’re trying to do. I wouldn’t recommend starting here unless you have family or friends here, you can stay with until you can get on your feet. Make sure you can have a job outside of your passion to support your traveling and gigs. But don’t let them scare you away because you can do anything as long as you put your mind to it.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 7575158412
- Email: dopepicsandopedits@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dopepicsanddopeedits/
Image Credit:
Deonte Delbridge, Kia Delbridge
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
