Meet Jacob Dark | Photographer. YouTube Content Creator. Warrior.

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

Hi Jacob, what do you attribute your success to?
Determination. I know what it’s like to lose control of everything; to feel like the world is in your hands, and have it all taken away in the blink of an eye. I’ve been in that dark place and refuse to ever go back.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I worked in call centers for years while being somewhat of a shopaholic when it came to electronics and studio gear. I was a hip hop/rap artist back in 2003 and have a lot of great memories from those days, so I decided to put together a new studio with the intent of finding local artists, producers, and engineers willing to start a team. Along the way, I bought camera gear for taking album cover shots and shooting music videos. It didn’t quite pan out the way I’d hoped and because I couldn’t find enough people serious about making moves, so, I decided to sell everything off and move on. BUT, before I did, I shot a “How To Build a Home Studio on any Budget” video, uploaded it to YouTube, and forgot all about it.

Two years later, I was talking to a coworker about music and studio gear and remembered the video, so I thought I’d have him check it out. To my surprise, when I pulled it up on my phone, the video had 90K views! I was stunned and decided I was going to buy more gear so I can start shooting videos again. I’ll admit, I could’ve put in more work as I continued to upload about 4-7 videos a year, mostly focused on my jobs at call centers.

That brings us to the year everything changed, 2017. My credit score was high, I’d just financed a new car, landed a new promising job, when out of nowhere a rush surged up the back of my head, destroying everything I once knew as life. After a year of lab tests, medical expenses, and unanswered questions, I was finally diagnosed with Meniere’s Disease, Vestibular Migraines, and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome. Debilitating illnesses with more symptoms than I can count completely robbed me of all control. No cause, no cure, life as I knew it was over.

After repeatedly being denied disability and failing multiple work attempts, I found solace in photography. I couldn’t do much at the time so I took pictures of plants around my apartment complex, day after day until I eventually figured out manual settings. With full control over my camera, I started taking pictures of people and eventually, got so good the bookings started to follow. The 2020 Fall season was my first fully booked season and things have been amazing since.

In January of 2021, my first YouTube sponsor reached out to me offering a free copy of their product in exchange for a video review. That video has done so well it’s opened the door to multiple sponsors and my YouTube channel is now partnered with some of the biggest brands in recording studio gear. I once again have a purpose and between being a Photographer and YouTube Content Creator, I’m consistently busy and life is finally, back on track.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My wife. Through all the turbulence, doctor’s appointments, financial hardships, and emotional downfalls I’ve been through, she was always my rock and without her, I probably wouldn’t be in the position I am today. My success is her success and part of my motivation.

Website: https://jacobdark.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jacobdarkphotography

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/jacobdark