Meet Justin LeVett | Photographer

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

Hi Justin, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Starting a business is a huge risk, you’re kind of going against the flow of the normal everyday world. Starting to be your own boss, and doing your passion for a career has more risk than you know.

If you’re not taking a risk in business you’ll never accomplish your goals. Everyday is a risk, sometimes small, other times more exciting. When you take that step outside of your comfort zone you are pushing yourself to become better than you were the day before. Creating order from the chaos of everyday life to capture moments in time with my camera is what I live for.

Risk taking is where I have fun. I create my best work when I am having fun. Early in my career I found taking risks, mostly by the places I would end up to get the shot, was great training for later in my career when the risks were to walk into a crowd and be able to talk to anyone. Then being able to run a photoshoot with people I haven’t met, and make them feel comfortable enough to take great photos, even when they don’t like having their photo taken.

To run a photoshoot from preproduction to delivery. You have to put yourself out there in order to get that rush, meet some new people, collaborate on a fun project, do awkward well, get the shot and make your client’s life easy.

When you take a risk and step outside of your comfort zone, that’s when you will see great results that you wouldn’t have seen playing the game safe.

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.
I have been shooting professionally photos for a while 18 years. The journey hasn’t always been easy, and I have learned a lot along the way. The early years, those years where you are building the foundation for your business were the hardest. Those were the years of needing to be a sponge and soak up as much knowledge from those who know more than you do. They were great moments of learning how to be a photographer in this market. I have learned so much, how to work with a team to create a great finished project, in how to treat and be there for your clients in order to build long relationships with them.

What gets me out of bed every morning? Being able to provide for my family by doing what I love.

The fact that I get to create photos everyday and make a living doing it, still blows my mind, I am very grateful for that opportunity. It makes me excited to show my daughter that she will be able to do what she loves and get paid for it. Ultimately that is the best scenario, figure out what you love in life, and then figure out how to make it a career. That is what I strive to do everyday.

I love being the guy that is everywhere, and can capture photos of what ever my client needs, and sometimes surprising them with the photo that was never set up, but ended up being the winning image of the day.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
To get me going in the morning, I am a coffee geek, coffee shops all over town are great. I have a few favorites: Sweet Bloom in Arvada, Lakewood, or Westminster ( all 3 locations are great), Black Eye Coffee, SloHi Coffee, or Corvus Coffee are the spots to check out.

Favorite places for food: Belfiore’s Italian Sausage in Wheat Ridge, The Universal in North Denver, El Jefe in North Denver, Cafe 13 in Golden, Park Burger, and definitely Sweet Cow Ice cream.

For fun anywhere in the mountains with a trail and mountain bike will do. I do love a good day of riding at Trestle Bike Park at Winter Park. I love being outdoors breathing in some fresh air, slowing down, and taking in the beauty that is Colorado.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Oh man! There are so many people that have been there to support me along this journey. Where to start?

First off, my dad, Will LeVett, has been a huge inspiration in my life. He is a graphic designer. and artist. He has shown me that with a lot of hard work, and using my gifts to create everyday, I too can be a vocational artist. My mom, has always been there to support and teach me some organization in order to stay on top of juggling 7 hats.

I have had a great mentor over the years. Scott Dressel-Martin has been a great person to talk about how to be a great photographer that takes care of his clients, and puts others first. I have strived to be like him, as a businessman and as a photographer.

Website: www.justinlevett.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/justinlevett

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinlevett

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justinlevettphotography/

Other: www.instagram.com/thatlevettart

Image Credits
Justin LeVett Photography