https://steemitimages.com/DQmcyN4TiUfcKNKWjHHJfUFYvVofxKywHrScTuhn6wALdCG/benjamin-davies-287077.jpg

There’s one word that just gets me so pumped…

Underdogs.

Newcomers dropped into a gauntlet full of gladiators,
ready to fight their way to victory.

I've spent 3 years in New York and I learned that all creators are underdogs.
From the starving artists to the hustlers-
we’re all staring in the face of Goliath with nothing more than a slingshot
and sheer courage.

Quick (But Awesome) Story

If you’re reading this,
you too can probably relate to a time where you felt like the odds were against you.
I know I can...

It was roughly two years ago.
I was thinking about starting my very own agency.
And I knew as an independent I would have to offer something unique.
Something that was going to compete with bigger creative agencies.
But I had absolutely no industry experience.

So during Christmas of 2015,
I was scrolling through Instagram,
That’s when I discovered this incredibly talented photographer named Rodney.

I was instantly taken by his work.
He did street photography and had only been shooting for a couple of years.

What's crazy is that he developed a really cinematic signature style
with the most BASIC photography equipment ...
I'm talking an amateur Canon camera with two generic lenses...
But damn his aesthetic was so DOPE.

He was in the same boat I was,
competing in a world full of bigger creatives with better resources-
with nothing more than dedication to his craft…
He, too was an underdog.

The Start Of A Legacy

During this time, I was a men's stylist and a creative director.
A lot of my early work involved producing photo shoots for menswear and lifestyle brands.
I knew that I would need an original photographer to offer the whole package.

After connecting with Rodney,
we decided to collaborate and break into the fashion community.
The thing was,
his type of cinematic photography was rarely seen in fashion…
Turns out, that’s what made him so unique.

When a popular NYC designer caught wind that I had a new photography team,
He invited us to his exclusive Fashion Week Runway show that winter.

In fact, Rodney’s photos stood out so much
that the designer requested all of his photos after the show and published them online.
If you know photography,
Then you know getting published is a huge accomplishment.

And the coolest part?
Rodney had never even shot fashion photography before.
He had never been to a runway show in his life.

Later that Spring,
I brought on another indie photographer to cover more ground.
From there, I added Anthony Laurienti and together,
we became the ultimate “dream team.”

Suddenly we were getting featured by companies like Microsoft, The New York Rangers & New York Knicks, Timberland and more:

[NY Knicks shooting guard, Justin Holiday & Knicks sideline reporter, Rebecca Haarlow]https://steemitimages.com/DQmQds49rpGGE2KHkPpgeSQncAPQPAfkRq3bpZdAcsaAWWj/knicks.jpg

[The New York Rangers]https://steemitimages.com/DQmS6F3vtwpGdmG61gUoRD2T6ysvP7iuH6jppRQ91aaTjLz/IMG_20170205_153705_574.jpg

[Son's of Anarchy's Theo Rossi]https://steemitimages.com/DQmVkc3wcmidzozRQEHgwQhpEfimzoAVgPsNRq3H3TQF4n9/IMG_20160717_113944.jpg

[Lexus USA]https://steemitimages.com/DQmNwgVKBkmYivCVxFeUfk267ScWeCqjhAwDHPQ38zye1wr/lexus.jpg

[Timberland]https://steemitimages.com/DQmP9iRgLyCBSRwjxU7RDhw5h7eJTVwacfymG7njGSsrUZp/timb.jpg

This Is Just The Beginning...

It gets me so hype when I look back at our story.
We established an incredible portfolio in just a year and some change...
without the sparkling credentials and equipment that costs a fortune.
All we did was share a dream and kicked ass until it became reality.

I look back at where we came from.
Where we are now, and how the success happened so fast.
I realized my true calling is more than working with brands.
If I changed the game for two photographers...

I can’t help but wonder: How can I do the same for MILLIONS of other creatives?

Well, if I build an app for them that works just like Steemit,
I can do just that.
That’s why my latest project can help millions of other creatives shine.

You see, I’ve worked with tons of creatives who felt invisible.
And felt that they would never make it as big as the influencers in their crowd.
But with a platform like Steemit,
even the underdogs can make influencer money!
Now I can help level the playing field for creators everywhere,
By empowering them to afford the resources needed to compete.

To put things in perspective…
I just wrote an article last week that made over $1,200…

What if Steem was around when me and my team started our journey?

We could've purchased better camera lenses; maybe a MacBook.
We could've ditched our part times jobs.

I know I can’t go back in time.
But with my new app in the works,
I’ll be able to help creatives like photographers and bloggers fund their craft-
And turn their passion into profession.
Shoutout to these guys for inspiring me to change the world.

https://steemitimages.com/DQmRYzC3jyruZ8grqhTSaZjk79HWDQMGcCKF67QAbzRWCjE/DSC_0333.jpg

Btw.
The prototype for my new app is coming along well!
You guys want to see a sneak peek?

I was planning on posting some screenshots next week