Life & Work with Jeremey Dyches

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeremey Dyches.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started off as an artist and had a scholarship to an Art School right after graduating high school. I decided to take a gap year as I wasn’t completely sure if I wanted to commit to Animation studies. During that gap year, 9/11 happened, and I come from a very patriotic family with every grandparent, uncle, and father all having served in the armed forces.

So I naturally stepped into what I felt was my obligated service. During my 15 years in the military, I pursued photography as a hobby. Eventually becoming an amateur photographer for the Coast Guard. After leaving the Coast Guard, I spent the last six years of my service with the Army National Guard in a Combat Medical Unit. There I would become the unit historian and document all our training, traveling, missions and ceremonies.

While in service I was able to acquire my BA in Photography, and from there, I moved on to obtain my Master’s in Video and Film Production. I decided to pursue photography and video production full time, after everything I was able to accomplish in the military, and the opportunities presented to me on movie sets. I had the pleasure of working on Big Fish (2003), What we do is Secret (2007), Trumpet my Return (2008), The Conspirator (2010), The Last Song (2010), Low Winter Sun (2013), and CBGB (2013).

After 2013, I got divorced left working on movies, and focused on my independent work as a photographer. I went on to work as a creative portrait photographer, portfolio development for actors/models, and then forced my way into fashion work. By 2018, I was being featured and published, working with clients such as Vans, Stance, Standard Issue, Think, and more high-end clients such as Gucci, Louboutin, Chanel, Dior, and Carman Marc Valvo.

During Covid, all production came to a halt but my business partner and I decided to continue working and producing content exclusively for international publications. Because of our consistent work effort and dedication to brands and producing editorial content, as soon as the travel bans were lifted, we immediately found work in Palm Springs, LA, NYC, and Nashville.

In 2021, Nashville became a second home as we started finding more and more work opportunities to produce content. We started with a wedding, then moved on to shooting specific locations for fashion brands, and marketing campaigns.

Today, we are officially a full-service Photo/Video production company, working on everything from music videos, dance videos, advertising/marketing, campaign videos, pilots, shorts, and feature-length movies.

I honestly attribute my time in the service to my resiliency, adaptability in a pandemic, motivation, and structure to maintain confidence to succeed.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The first and biggest obstacle for me was transitioning from the military to becoming a civilian again. I completely forgot who I was as an independent artist.

I lost sight of what my personal interests were as well as what inspired me. I had to rediscover myself and identify who I was outside of the military. I was alone, with no one to help me, no one to give me goals, plans, or structure. I had developed and recreated everything, about myself.

It took a while to reestablish myself, but after digging deep, breaking free from the stereotypes of masculinity, such as refusing to ask for help, talking to a therapist, acknowledging and coming to terms with being disabled; and then working towards building a more sustainable lifestyle around the disability.

Once I was able to remove the toxic distractions I was able to refocus and channel the displaced energy into something more positive and productive.

I picked up my camera again and just started shooting everything I could.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m primarily a storyteller with still images. My work tends to speak to many with a different but similar narrative. I try to convey a story or meaning with everything I do, especially editorial work. As the platform tends to reach more than just a marketing campaign or portfolio display.

My style tends to come from a place of vulnerability and passion. The moment you can let go and embrace healing tends to speak to the viewer more so than just trying to create what you think they want to see. Patronizing viewers is never a good thing as it tends to be more destructive than good in many ways.

As for my style of photography, it differs from my video work tremendously, my photography has a bit of a vintage Eastern European influence with a ’70s punk undertone. The emotions and the mood is always at the forefront but the message is diluted enough to never overpower the viewer’s personal connection.

As for my video work, I tend to approach each project connecting with who I’m working with, it’s important to gain insight from every source involved that way we understand and are speaking the same narrative.

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of so many that have believed in my vision. I’m truly taken back and grateful for every opportunity as I know how lucky I am to be working in a field that inspires me and allows me to be who I want to be.

I also could’ve never progressed or made it this far with my friend and now business partner. Arienne Annati. She not only motivates me but has consistently made herself available for last-minute projects and evolving herself alongside the business.

We are both looking forward to the future of the business and how it evolves.

Pricing:

• Photography: Hourly $300 (2 Hr Min)
• Photography: Half Day $1200
• Photography: Full Day $2000
• Video Production: Day Rate $3000
• Head Shot Package: $500

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.jeremeydyches.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/jeremeydyches
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/jdphotographs

Image Credits
Arienne Annati, Ferns Francois, Taro O’Halloran, and Anna Fateiger