Meet Daylon Johnson | Writer, Photographer, & Filmmaker

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

Hi Daylon, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I’m from Lancaster, Texas, a small suburb outside of Dallas. As a kid, I was in plays that my mother wrote as well ass some school plays. In junior high, I got my first film camera and in high school, I moved to digital cameras and eventually a video camera. I took journalism classes and decided to major in journalism in college. As a writer, I was always moved by stories and when I went to college in Mississippi, I took a real interest in the way people’s lives and backgrounds shaped who they were. I knew that I’d want to tell those types of stories one way or another. Now I use writing, photography, and video to do just that.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
In photography and videography, I try to give the best experience possible to my clients. Whether that be a music choice during the shoot, an extensive interview about the goals of the shoot, or working with my business clients on strategy to capture their potential clients’ attention and hopefully move them to act.

I take a lot of pride in seeing where my clients are able to go after they leave me. I’ve seen some go from creating local momenta to literal worldwide movements. Word-of-mouth advertising lets me know that I’ve accomplished my main goal of satisfaction but when I can help others to get a larger stage, I know that I’ve outdone myself.

I wouldn’t say that anything has been easy, but I haven’t had to struggle as much as some of the other entrepreneurs I know of. I’m still a full time fireman and paramedic, so time had always been my issue. Add the fact that I have three children, and it becomes very difficult to maintain a consistent business schedule.

I’ve learned that prioritizing time is an art and a skill. There’s no one way to do things and just because something worked on Monday, doesn’t meant that it will work Tuesday. My work is ever-evolving from how I pre-plan to how the art is delivered, to how it’s presented after I deliver it. The best thing to do is to try and evolve with it. It seems like if you miss a day, you’ll be left behind.

When people see my name on a film, or book, or a set of photos, I want them to know that time and attention to detail went into whatever it is. That whatever they’re about to experience is going to be worth their time.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
There’s a lot to do in the DFW. I’d start in Arlington. There’s Six Flags, At&T Stadium, Globe Life Park, and Texas Live. Sundance Square in Ft. Worth is a nice relaxing outing, and The Stockyards if you want to play cowboy for a couple of hours. I grew up hanging out in Dallas so the list is almost endless there. You can go out to Trinity Groves for a nice outdoor kickback or hit the West End for drinks. Deep Ellum may not be the safest place lately, but it’s a lot of fun if you’re not scared. Bishop Arts has a new face so that’s a good area to do some shopping and get a bite to eat. One of my new favorite places is Epic Central in Grand Prairie. They have a little bit of everything over there: a light show, great restaurants, an indoor waterpark, go karts, a rec center etc. It’s got everything, so you could honestly spend week there and not get bored.

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?
My parents, Richard and Debra always made sure I had the confidence to do whatever I wanted to do. “You can do whatever you put your mind to” was a common phrase in my house. I owe that, and much more, to them.

Dr. Jerry K. Domatob helped me to take my writing and photography seriously. He was the one who got me to pay attention to stories and showed me how important it was to be able to tell my own. It’s because of him that I understand that artists shape history and it should be documented properly.

My wife, Courtney, encourages me to be bold in my work. She always says, “Well if you’re gonna do it, DO IT!”

Website: https://Www.Daylonjmedia.com

Instagram: https://Instagram.com/daylon.johnson

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaylonJMedia?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@daylonjohnson5804

Image Credits
Daylon Johnson Photography