Today we’d like to introduce you to Jaylon Becker.
Hi Jaylon, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I first got into photography when I was around 15 or 16. What really drew me in was the feeling of capturing a moment, showing people the photo, and hearing their reactions—when everyone’s looking at something you created and saying how good it is, it hits different. I decided to try going to school for it, so I moved to Kansas for college, but after about three months, I realized school just wasn’t for me.
I moved back to Columbia and started working in restaurants. Not long after, I met my girlfriend, and she had a camera she wasn’t using. I picked it up and started experimenting—taking photos of nature, people, whatever caught my eye. Then in August, I met someone who’s now a close friend. He was into cars and invited me to a local Irmo car meet. That night changed everything. He introduced me to some car owners, I started snapping photos, and when I shared them, they told me they were really good. The energy and adrenaline from that meet made me realize that car photography was something I really wanted to take seriously.
From there, people encouraged me to start posting my work. It took a little while to figure out my style, but once I did, things picked up fast—I went from 300 to 1,000 followers in just a month. That was the start of something real for me.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. There have been a lot of ups and downs along the way. One of the biggest challenges has been figuring out who I am as a photographer. With so many photographers out there, finding my niche and really defining my brand has been—and still is—one of the hardest parts. I’ve also had to push through imposter syndrome and resist the urge to just copy what everyone else is doing. Learning to trust my own style and vision has been a journey in itself.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m an automotive photographer and videographer—I specialize in capturing cars in a way that tells a story and highlights both the details and the emotion behind them. It might sound a little strange, but one of my goals is to make my new work become my “bad” work. I was told early on that when your latest work starts to feel like your weakest, that means you’re truly growing. So I’m always pushing myself to improve, to raise the bar with every shoot. That’s when I’ll be most proud—when what I once thought was great becomes just a stepping stone.
What really sets me apart is how I connect with people. I truly believe people buy into people first. I make it a priority to build real relationships with my clients and make sure they enjoy the process. Even if it’s quiet during the shoot, I want them to feel comfortable and confident. At the end of the day, the energy and care I bring to each project shows in the final product.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
My view on risk-taking is that it’s absolutely worth it. It really comes down to this: if something doesn’t work out, are you willing to get up and try again? That’s how you find out if you’re truly a risk-taker.
One of the biggest risks I’ve taken was when I had barely any money to my name, but I still found a way to make it to car meets. I remember one time specifically—I had only $80 left, and I spent almost all of it just to get to a meet. I risked running out of gas, but I believed deep down that it would be worth it. And it was. That’s the kind of risk I’ll always take—the kind where my gut tells me it’s part of the journey.
Pricing:
- – Standard package $150: For $200, you’ll receive a professional car photoshoot with the following: • Up to 1 hour of shooting at 1 location • A variety of shots, including exterior, interior, and close-up details. • Full set of high quality photos • Delivered via digital download for easy access
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_Jaycinema_/#
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Jaycinema-56
