Today we’d like to introduce you to Rio Watkins.
Hi Rio, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My story started with my grandmother. She bought me my first camera. That gift planted something early. I was already into YouTube and multimedia, and by my senior year of high school I was confident enough to teach my class, which says a lot about how naturally creating and sharing information came to me.
In college, photography became my way in. I started taking more photos, learned events and people, and built friendships through the camera. In 2018, I shot an anniversary that became my first big professional gig. Even then, I wasn’t convinced I wanted photography to be my job. It still felt more like something I loved than something I should build a career around.
Then 2020 changed everything. I moved back to Detroit during quarantine. After struggling to find a job or a clear career path, I picked the camera back up just for fun. Around the same time, I was spending nights playing spades with my grandmother, some of my favorite memories.
In May 2021, I lost her to COVID. That loss hit deep. I found myself coping by going out, drinking more than I should, and talking to strangers at bars. But in that unexpected season, I also found community. I met bartenders, security, DJs, and people who eventually became real friends. Nobody even knew I did photography at first. I was just part of the vibe, always outside, always welcomed.
That’s what led me to start shooting at Deluxx Fluxx. I was there every weekend, consistently building my eye, my style, and my presence. By 2022, I quit my job and committed fully, shooting every day and letting the work and the relationships build momentum.
Since then, I’ve been grateful to capture moments for brands and moments that once felt out of reach, Visit Detroit, SoHo events, Red Bull, the NFL Draft, PLC, and more. And places like Spotlite still feel like home, the kind of space where you walk in and it’s family.
Even when I sometimes feel like I’m not growing fast enough, I remind myself how far this path has taken me, from a grandmother’s gift to a life shaped by story, culture, and community.
Now in 2025, I’m focused on what’s next. I’m building my own events for 2026 and developing a bigger network of people, spaces, and opportunities, something that helps others connect, collaborate, and grow through the same kind of community that helped shape me.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Financially, it hasn’t always been steady. One of the hardest parts of being independent is the month-to-month uncertainty. I can have great months where everything clicks, then slower months that test my discipline, confidence, and planning. Learning how to budget, stay consistent, and keep building even when income fluctuates has been one of the most real challenges of the journey.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a Detroit-based photographer and the founder of RioViisuals. I shoot events, nightlife, brand activations, and community moments. A lot of my work lives in that space where culture, music, people, and real life all collide. I’m not just there for a few nice shots. I’m there to catch the energy the way it actually felt.
I’d say I specialize in event and nightlife photography, but I also love capturing the city in a way that feels honest and cinematic without trying too hard. I’m known for getting the moments people don’t want to forget, the reactions, the motion, the small stuff that ends up meaning the most.
What sets me apart is I’m really outside with it. I understand the spaces I’m in because I’m part of the culture, not just documenting it. I know how to move in a room, catch the right moment fast, and still make people look and feel like themselves. The goal is always the same. Make the photos feel like the night, not just prove I was there.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Just hanging out with my cousins event weekend, really was the best part of my childhood and also watching anime
Contact Info:
- Instagram: RioViisuals
