We had the good fortune of connecting with Genesis Baze and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Genesis, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
Ironically enough, I was persuaded by my friends and family to start Pix By G. I was working in the Athletic Department for Stephen F Austin State University (SFA), doing strictly social media. During the summer of 2022, roles were reallocated, and I got asked to run the SFA Cheer and Dance Team’s social media. This was an exciting role to jump into, but I was terrified because I didn’t know what I was doing. Before long, I was planning their media day and learning how to use a Sony camera. After about 8 months of taking photos and traveling with the teams, I decided to purchase my own gear because I had fallen in love with taking photos of cheer and dance. A little back story, I spent most of my childhood dancing. I spent all 4 years of High School on the varsity drill team at Midlothian Heritage High School. I graduated in 2020, and my dancing dreams kind of just got crushed within a matter of seconds, it felt like. This job at SFA was the first time I was able to immerse myself and express dance in a way I always wanted to be captured. You have to have been a dancer to understand the art form of when and how to take dance action shots.
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.
Pix By G was started during my senior year of college. If that sentence doesn’t sum up some of the challenges, then maybe the next few will. I worked full-time as the General Manager at a local tea shop. I drove home to Midlothian, Tx (a 3-hour drive) nearly every weekend during the Spring semester to photograph dance competitions. I was a full-time student taking 15 hours of online class credit, including Chemistry and Astronomy. I completed 180 hours of field experience for my degree. Maintained year 4 of a long-distance relationship. At the same time, I was continuing to put in 20+ hours a week for SFA Athletics.
To say my final semester on campus was stressful would be an understatement. I look back on it all and ask myself why I decided to start my business then. The reality of it was that it was just the most convenient time to do so. Clientele was coming in left in right, and I wasn’t willing to shut them down for everything else that was going on in my life.
What sets Pix By G apart from other photographers is my experience in the dance world. Action photos were all that I was used to taking, and that was the face of my business for a while. I just recently got into portrait photography. My business is nowhere close to where I want it to be. I just recently launched my new website and have been planning a lot of social media content to get ahead before the next semester of school starts. I want to continue to work with schools and other companies in Texas to create visions and capture memorable moments.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I have recently moved North of Denton, so I have spent some time exploring. All of my friends from East Texas are actually planning on visiting soon, and some of the places I plan to take them are.
Activate Games- Plano
Glorias Latin Cusine- The Harbor in Rockwall
Ikea
Clyde Warner Park
My list is small, considering I haven’t lived in the city long. Even being from a town 40 mins south of Dallas! I would love to explore more and meet friends with the same passions and hobbies as me.
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?
The SFA Athletic Department deserves every shoutout regarding the success of where I am today. They pushed me to be better, challenged my creativity, and taught me everything I knew. Without their support and knowledge, I wouldn’t be where I am at today.
Kiersten Hart:
– Former student director of SFA Athletics Creative Video
– Current Grad Assistant for Athletic Media Relations Boise State Softball
Hunter Overholt:
– Program Director for SFA Athletic Digital and Social Media
Amanda Paver:
– Assistant Director for Strategic Communications
Sarah Williams:
– Director of Creative Video
Website: https://pixbyg.mypixieset.com/
Instagram: pix_by_g_
Facebook: Pix By G