Exploring Life & Business with Emanuel Terrell of Piedmont Blue Enterprise

Today we’d like to introduce you to Emanuel Terrell. 

Emanuel, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Piedmont Blue was created in April 2017. I went to school and graduated with my Bachelor’s of Science in Film and Media studies from Eastern Michigan University. From broadcasting my own radio show on campus, creating and editing videos, to writing and producing television scripts, I really enjoyed learning behind the scenes of the entertainment industry; I always struggled to find my passions because I always excelled in schoolwork, and it wasn’t until I took my first Film Appreciation class my freshman year of college where it all clicked. I moved from filmmaking into photography solely because of the many elements that combined together. (It also helped the whole production process phase of photography, was actually easier than only doing videography work.) Photography means a lot to me because it’s actually expressing yourself but on a digital level, whether you are in front of the camera or behind. I created Piedmont Blue because at one point in time (after I had graduated from college), I was stuck in a job that I had no certifications or specializations in and I knew I wanted to focus more on opportunities for myself that I was passionate about. I literally had a degree but did not land a job in my field. One approach that I learned from my professor that will always remain in my head while studying arts and filmography was that “if you want to make monetary gain in this field you will have to know both sides of the “arts and business” in this industry. I never thought about the business side of what I wanted to do for my career. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Being a small business entrepreneur definitely has its advantages and disadvantages. Since I didn’t have a business background, I had to learn everything through trial and error. (And when I mean everything, I mean everything, because even today I’m still learning something new!) Coming into the industry I only knew a couple of people locally from Detroit and also in Ypsilanti and I’ve had some surface-level conversations with them, but most of the time I did things all by myself. I still do a lot of things myself when it comes to running my business. It might be a pride thing, but there is nothing like knowing how to do something and taking the time to accomplish a task that you once thought was impossible. For example, I created, maintained, and regularly update my own website. This is one of the examples where when I originally started photography, I didn’t have a portfolio, I was just winging it and using my experience from my degree. I definitely needed a website or online portfolio to easily showcase my work. I’m editing on my computer at Starbucks one afternoon, and this guy noticed my camera on the table and asked me if I was a photographer. I told him yes and he responded by saying that he had his own business too as a coder/website developer. I needed someone to build and create my website (and I figured from scratch would be the best option), so this guy seemed to be the quick solution to my issue. When I went to inquire more on his services later, (gave him an outline of specifics about what I wanted to have and needed for my website,) and he said that he could do it. However, the one thing that made me change my mind about working with him was that he wanted to charge an exorbitant rate for (in his own words during our consultation), “basic, basic, basic.” If you know anything about me personally or even looked at my photography the people, I capture are anything but “basic!” Many of my photos in my portfolio are vivid, bold, colorful, and most importantly, the people are beautiful, so while I’m sure he was a qualified website builder/designer, they were not the right fit for me to invest in. That’s when I figured I might as well figure out how to create my own website by myself, and with technology now there are so many options for how you want to present yourself and your business to the world. It took a couple of months, but overall, I was so proud of myself for creating my own website, and I still love it to this day. 

Like many entrepreneurs before me, the saying is true! Entrepreneurship is not for the WEAK! You will fail, and you will succeed based on a number of factors. Success is never guaranteed, and it definitely is not instant like how we now see on social media. I typically try to stay away from being on social media because of how easy it is to compare your work with others’ work in my industry. Imposter syndrome is real. Depression is real. I think I’ve experienced both in some way or form throughout my journey. You most likely won’t have everything together, but rest assured things will be coming your way. I believe in God, and I know I have faith in myself and my abilities to do the best work that I can, and treat every customer with the respect that they deserve because that is what I am in business for. 

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
“Be you, stay true, Piedmont Blue” is a slogan that I created for my photography business because I want to capture people in their simplest and most authentic form through my lens. I fell in love with taking portraits of people, so primarily I capture editorial portrait work, graduation, maternity and newborn, and even branding images for upcoming entrepreneurs. With every client, I want to capture the essence of nostalgia growing up within my early teens in Detroit on which is named after my block Piedmont Street. I want my clients to look back on their photos or videos and remember that feeling of joy when they were capturing with my business. That’s the same joy I remember from my childhood and it’s only right to recreate that experience every time. Customer Service is such an important aspect in my business, and without a doubt, I still keep in contact with my clients well after a shoot is over. 

I think what sets me apart from other photographers and creatives is that I am a down-to-earth photographer that wants to make sure you succeed whenever I am doing business with you! My work primarily features African Americans, but I work with everyone! I have worked with so many small businesses, non-profit organizations, and local entrepreneurs who don’t always get the spotlight but guess what, they are just important as celebrity brands/clients, and I’m happy to help you reach your dreams too! If you have an idea or concept for a shoot, I would definitely be able to accomplish what you are looking to achieve. 

Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
Absolutely! I learned that it’s okay to not be okay. You don’t always have to be “on” (as a photographer), posting online every day, or playing the catch-up game on social media. (I was never in competition anyways). My slogan is really personal to me because I do things my way while staying true to myself in what I want out of life. It sucks that I had to take a step back and realize this during the pandemic, but it makes so much more sense now. 

Entrepreneurs, please take care of your health, mind, body, and most importantly spirit. There has been so many mental health issues going on within the world nowadays because of the fact that most people (including black entrepreneurs) overlook their health to do chase a hypothetical bag. I believe in both Western medicine and holistic medicine and all forms of self-improvement dedicated to improving our lives. It is foolish to think that we are machines that can keep producing more and more and more without dedicated rest. I’m also learning that I need to reach out to the people in my community, the ones that I cherish in my life, because life is too short, and we all have lost someone important. This pandemic disrupted my life much like many, and I learned that it happened for a reason. We gotta look around and support our communities better. We have to look at ourselves and do better period. 

Black Entrepreneurs get such a bad representation, and I genuinely want to change that. The goal is to eventually close the black wealth gap compared to other businesses. Black small business owners have to build a foundation and stick with it. It takes persistent determination, sleepy nights, early mornings, and major sacrifices in order to follow your dreams. I would have never thought that I would want to own my own business back when I was a teenager, and now here I am at 27 years old, about to continue my own photography business and in the process to create another, one that will eventually unite entrepreneurs within the community altogether. 

Pricing:

• Lifestyle/Editorial: $175
• Maternity: $175
• Graduation: $125-$175
• Group Package: $250-$350
• Events: $275-$400

Contact Info:

• Website: www.piedmontblue.com
• Instagram: @piedmontbluent | https://www.instagram.com/piedmontbluent/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PiedmontBlueENT/?ref=pages_you_manage
• Other: https://www.piedmontblue.com/portfiolo

Image Credits
Piedmont Blue Enterprise, LLC.