Hello. Hey. So you want to introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about your business? Yeah, sure. My name, Norm Marsh, and I am a freelance photographer. I do everything from landscapes to portraits to family shoots to product photography. I pretty much do anything besides weddings. I just personally, it's not my cup of tea. I've done a couple of them, and I found out I really do not like them. So I just stay away from weddings. Awesome. I'm a photographer myself too.
I do mostly nature landscapes, but thinking about doing some professional headshots. I dabbled in that a little bit. Nice. And maybe some product photography. It's fun. Yeah. Yeah, it is. I absolutely love it. I actually started with landscapes myself, and I absolutely love it. It's. It's a great thing. It's a huge passion of mine. It's not just, you know, like it's a business, obviously, but also it's a passion to do. It’s a passion of mine too its interests.
And I kind of like to keep it on the interest side but if I a photo that I really enjoy that I feel like that they took and I think people will like it and might offer up to sell it. And maybe the professional headshots to maybe I can turn photography into a business. Nice. But yeah. When did you get started on taking photography? When? Yeah, when. okay. This is a loaded question, but I'll try to sum it up as much as possible. But I love to talk.
So I actually started back in 2007, back in high school. me too. Yeah. So I just took a class in in high school in this part of the class, and I just used one of those. You know, at that point shoots pretty much, you know, you put the small little memory card in. It's only got the screen on the back. I guess it's either a point shoot or bridge camera. It's one of the other. They're kind of similar. So I just used one of those and I absolutely loved it.
My dad used to take me out actually where I live, and he would take me around and he'd actually tell me he'd be like, Hey, to get a really good shot, just try to do something different than everybody else, trying to get up high or try to get down low. So me, because of my physical disability, I have spina bifida. Due to that, I walk with crutches, so therefore I'm not very stable on my feet. So therefore I get low for my shots and I absolutely loved it and it was great.
And then at the end of the class, my teacher, I'll never forget her name. Her name is Mrs. Burke. And sweet, sweet lady, she she told me, she goes, you know, you've got something special here. You should keep going with photography. And, you know, little 17 year old me with a, you know, 40 year old teacher or 50 year old teacher. I don't know how old she was at the time, but, you know, looking at her and I'm like, yeah, OK, whatever. So I ended up putting down the camera.
And then fast forward to about 2015, 16 ish, somewhere around there, I just started taking pictures with my cell phone because I was going through a tough time in my life. And so I needed an outlet. So I picked up my cell phone and I just started taking photos and I post them online and people are like, Wow, you're really good at this. And I was like, Well, thank you. I appreciate it. Just a cell phone. I mean, don't get me wrong, cell phones are great for you.
They're amazing. What? You can do it. Yeah. They're great. But I mean, there's, you know, there's just that. There's just that thing with a camera, you know, like an actual camera. So anyways, so I, I told the, like, the people who would say, Hey, you do great work. I'm gonna thank you very much. And I would put quotes with my photos because inspirational quotes, like uplifting quotes because they helped me so they can help someone else. That's fantastic.
So one day someone actually commented and said, Hey, have you ever thought about, you know, taking a class or something? I said, Funny enough, I wanted to over CCRI over in Newport, Newport, Rhode Island. And I told the person, I said, Funny enough, I want to, but I can't because you need an actual camera. And all I have is a cell phone and I kid you not.
The next day when I came home, I'm walking down my street and I see this package in front of my house and I'm like, I didn't order anything from Amazon. What is this in the package that's open? And I'm like, Okay, what's this? There was a note inside and it said, You are great at what you do. You need to keep going with this. You need to keep going. And they actually bought me my very first camera. So it was a yeah, it was a at the bottom of the note, it said Anonymous.
So I don't know who bought it for me. Someone must have seen it on Facebook, knew who I was, knew where I lived, which is kind of weird. But hey, whatever. If they're stalking me or whatever, they're very they're very bored because I don't do a thing. So anyways, so yeah, they just, they bought me that and then I took a class in college and by the third week of class, my teacher actually asked me, see, after class one day she goes, she goes, Hey Norm.
I said, Yeah, what's up? She goes, Can I talk to you for a moment? And I said, Yeah, sure. What's up? Goes, Can I ask you a question? I said, Yeah, what's up? She goes, Why are you in my class? And I was like, It might that bad. Like, this is a beginner photography class and goes, No, that's the thing. You're that good. I was like, What do you mean? She goes, You are not a beginner. Like you need to keep going with this. And I was like, Wait a minute, I have heard this somewhere.
I was like, Where have I heard this from? And then a few weeks go by, we learn about Photoshop because that what we that's what we learned. What's Photoshop? We didn't even know. Did you take the class CCRI for digital photography one. Yes, that's. I took that too. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So the intro photography. Took care of the Lincoln Campus. Though. Yeah, I was over at the Newport campus. Okay, so.
So, yeah, I so once we, you know, learn Photoshop and everything by like, I would say like the fifth or sixth week of class because, you know, there's like 16 weeks in a semester or something like that. I kid, you know, people would be asking questions they'd ask me, they'd be like, Hey, Norm, can you come over and help me with this? Or, Hey, Norm, two things. And 101 student one day was like, to the teacher. She goes, Hey, can you? And she goes, Why don't you just ask Norm?
Norm seems to know everything about photography. And I looked at her. I said, Not everything. I just really love photography. So our final, our final that we had for the semester, I don't know if it was the same for you, but for us, our teacher said to pick like eight of our most like our best photos throughout the semester. So instead of doing that, I actually talked to my teacher and I said, Hey, would you mind if I told a story with my photos? And she goes, Told a story?
And I was like, Yes, told the story with my photos and goes, You know, if anyone could do it, you can do it. Yeah, sure. Have fun. I was like, okay, cool. So the story that I did was, well, backstory to the story is there was this one student in the class who, if they listen to this, I'm sorry, but they they thought they were better than everybody. So they were like, I have, you know, a mercedes and I have, you know, the best camera and I have this and this person got a, It's college.
Yeah, exactly. This person got on other people's nerves. But the thing is, this college student at the time was, I believe, like 35, 36 something here. And, you know, I'm at at the time I'm like 21, 22, 23, and I'm just like, wait a minute. I was like, Why are you acting this way? So what I actually majored in in college. I haven't finished due to personal reasons, but I majored in psychology, so I took it upon myself. I was like, You know what? I'm going to do that.
So the story that I did was, you know, all of us in life have like different avenues for going down and everything. But at the end of the day, we're all going to end up in the same place, which is a cemetery. And that was my final slide. And pretty much what I said was treat people how you want to be treated because it doesn't matter what type of camera you have, what type of car you drive, how much money you have, that's all gone.
What's people will remember you by is how you treated others and how you like, like treated yourself. So that's what I wanted to get across with the story that I told. And I had a whole bunch of friends and I and we went to different locations. I was like, Hey, you hold this. You go over here, you hold this, you go over here like we do different things. But it all matched up and it all made sense. And so anyways, so at the end of my slides that I, that I had for my project,
I kid you not, you could hear a pen drop in the class. So everyone got up, laughed. My teacher goes, That was unbelievable. She goes, I don't know what to give you. You get like an A-plus. Plus, I was like, okay, cool. So I pass for the semester. She goes, Norm, you get a really good grade for the semester. I was like, Sweet, Thank you. Have a good one. And I left. So but that's how my journey started. And I've been doing it ever since. Like, it's just it's a huge passion of mine.
Yeah, well, when you're really committed to it and you find what you really want, you you start going that avenue and you do doors start to open up. All doors start opening up, and then you know your wallet starts opening up because I didn’t realize how expensive I’ve; oh yeah; expensive hobby. Yeah, exactly. You have a hobby this is a passion this is But honestly, I wouldn't trade it for the world to be in with you. I absolutely love it.
Even though some days I'm sitting here thinking, Great, I spent X amount of dollars on all this equipment, but why? And then I was like, yeah, this is why. So it's, you know, I absolutely love. What kind of camera you use? So as of right now, I have a Nikon Z five.
Okay. So I started with a Nikon D 3300, which for anyone who watches let's listens to this Nikon D 3300 is a is just a DSLR, just like you're like intro DSLR and then a Z five Mirrorless camera, which the difference between mirrorless and DSLR, is DSLR They have like they have a a mirror that's here in here. So when you look through it, you know looks though both and then goes through the lens.
As for mirrorless, it's literally just a like it's glass and then you put the lens on the front and what you're seeing through the lens is actually what your eye is seeing. So I moved up to a z5 and I absolutely love it. Cool. Do you have different lenses you use? Yeah. So it has a 24 to 70 that came with the with the camera. And then I also have a 70 300 and then I also have a 50 mil and I also have a 50 to 150. I want to say that also came with the So I got a bundle with my camera.
I was thinking about switching to like Sony or Canon. I think I was really looking into Sony, but when I thought about it was like, Wait, if I just get the Z five, I can get the adapter for my lenses. I don't need to spend even more money on new lenses. So that's why I did that, because I already had some lenses from the D 3300, right? Yeah, but, I have a 50 millimeter lens and it's pretty fun to shoot. You get creative with it. It's fantastic.
Funny enough though, the 50 mil is the least used lens in my repertoire, I guess you could say in my in my bag. I it's the one that I use the least, but the one I wanted the most when I was back in college. And I I'm not one to usually do this, but to, to have my parents buy me this lens because I couldn't afford it. I actually brought a bullet points of these are the pros of having this lens.
These are the kinds of having this lens and is the least one I use because I personally love zoom lenses, because I use crutches to help me walk. So therefore, when I'm well say like, you know, the 50 mil, you got to get closer. Say I, you know, I can't get closer, therefore I can just zoom in. Yes, it may not be as sharp, but still, you know, it's it's I work with what I got here. So and then also, I love zoom lenses because I'm also legally blind.
So therefore, if when I'm looking at something, if I'm like, wait till I actually see this instead of using a you know a prime lens, which you can't move, I use the zoom and I zoom in. I'm like, okay, I did see what I thought I was seeing. That's true. Yeah. Yeah. And each lens Have the pros and cons like you said. yeah, yeah, yeah. So awesome. So reflecting on your journey, what challenges did you encountered doing your school years and how did they manifest adult life?
Well, to be honest with you, I used to get bullied mercifully, like throughout my school career, especially from second grade to middle of high school. I used to get bullied all the time. And so that was really tough. But to be honest with you, I always just I treat people how I want to be treated with respect, even though, you know, and also obviously it's different now because adults and, you know, we know better now and everything.
But, you know, even growing up, just I used to the kids who used to make fun of me and everything, I still treat them with respect and everything because, you know, as my parents would always say, kill them with kindness, you know? So that's what I would always do. And treat people how I want to be treated. I don't want to be treated badly, So I'm going to treat you with respect.
But at the same time, if you're going to treat me bad, my attitude I could the flip that real quick and I can, you know, I'll get on your level. But so it was tough growing up. It was but also I just you know, I just went out, as I've always said, and I will say this until the day I die, life is full of obstacles. It's just our job as humans to find a way over, under or around them. So just kept pushing and just kept going.
And you know, it is what it is like, you know, I just let things like that roll off my back. Actually, just recently I ran into someone from middle school and mind you, I'm in my thirties, I'm 34. They saw me recently and they were like, Hey, how you doing? Those are good. They're like, Hey, I just want to tell you now that I see you, I'm really sorry for the way I treated you. I'm like, treated me when in there, like back in middle school. I'm like, okay. And they're like, Where are you?
And I'm like, No, you know, like, I think about it every now and then. I was like, Cool, but don't worry about it. I I'm not mad. I'm not upset. I really don't care because we're adults. Like, I was saying that to myself, like, but, you know, it's just it is what it is. But it did help them out. And they're like, thank you very much. Like, yeah, no problem. Yeah, a great one. But yeah, now that that kind of stopped back in High School And I do really appreciate them coming back.
I like saying that to my face and it probably they didn't think about it every day. But, you know, just seeing me probably brought up things from the past and everything, and they're thinking about that. As for me, I'm just thinking about it. It's good to see what's going on. I want to get home to eat. One of those things like doesn't cross my mind, but also with being legally blind, just being able to, you know, not see the board.
So I would have to sit up close to the like in the front row, which is great, but also not because we've all had these days where we just don't want to pay attention and being in the front row, you know, the teacher would be like, Hey, you're not paying attention. So stuff like that. But also just having spina bifida and walking with crutches, just trying to get to class on time, even though it was in my IEP that I could get to class late if I wanted to. But I, I don't like to do that.
You know, I want to be treated just like everybody else, you know, like I want to be treated quote unquote, normal. Because you're normal is different than mine. Mine's different than, you know, Joe Schmo down the street. But, I always try to get to class on time, but it never really worked out. And also just because I had an IEP in school, because also I'm a little uh, I have a learning disability as well. So that was a little tough. But you know, it is what it is.
You just keep going out, going on through life so you can't stop. Yeah. So does anyone still treat you differently? Yes, but they don't bully me. But they definitely do treat me differently. And I can tell, especially if someone doesn't know me, they haven't heard my voice before. Anything like that. They will treat me differently until I start talking to them. And then I can see, you know, like the light bulb turns on their in their head and they're like, okay.
Like, how you doing? Also just, you know, going up and down stairs with like if someone's like, Hey, can you run upstairs for me? never mind. I was like, No, I can go upstairs where I don't like, no problem. I got that. And everything is especially for people who don't know me. But then once they get to know the person I am, then all that goes out the door and they treat me again as a normal person and everything. In fact, I've always said this and I absolutely mean it.
If you can't make fun of yourself, then you know, if you can't laugh at yourself, then what can you laugh at? That's what I was trying to say. So friends, even coworkers and stuff like that, they'll bust my chops and everything and be like, Hey, can you run? yeah, you can’t But I don't mind that because that's that bond that you have with people is great because then they, they feel comfortable doing that because they know you're not going to get upset by it.
And yes, you're disabled, but they're not treating you that way. They're just treating you like everybody else, which I love. So if someone is, you know, busting my chops or whatever, that's great because it's different than back in, you know, when you were in high school and middle school getting, you know, bullied and everything.
That to me, if someone can, you know, once they get to know me, obviously not right away, but once they feel comfortable, if they, you know, start busting my chops and being like, hey, could you run? oh, yeah, you can’t. I take that as you know, Awesome, Thank you. Cool. Like, yeah, because I'll give it right back to him and I'll be like, Yeah, I'll run, but I'm not very fast. Or I got this really good friend of mine who I actually just saw.
He's in the military and we were out to breakfast and I ended up tripping and then he was like, he just looked at me and the waitress is over here and I went, Dude, how could you strip me like that? And even at 34 years old, because I am just a big child at heart, I was just like, Dude, how could you treat me like that? the waitress She starts to turn red. He's starting to look at me like, really dude? Like, really? And then I would stop and I'm like, By the way, I'm only joking. By the way.
Hi, I'm a big child, so, like, I know when to be serious, but. Hi. I'm. I'm a child. So. Yeah, once you get to know people, you have friends that you can joke around, and mess around with that's a different vibe. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. Nice to have that too. Because they treat you just like they would everybody else. And that's just what I personally want. They just want to be treated like everybody else. And, you know, respect earns respect. You respect me. I respect you.
But like I said earlier in this interview is that if you're not respecting me, you're starting to be a a rude person, to be polite and everything like that. I can get right down to your level. So. Yeah. Which leads me to my next question is, yeah, what aspect of your identity or your disability do you wish society better understood.
That even though I'm legally blind and this is just me personally, because I can't talk for anybody else who's disabled or anything, but for me personally, who's physically disabled and legally blind, I can do pretty much everything everybody else can do. I'm just adaptive with it. Like case in point, if, if I like, go upstairs with a laptop or something.
If I have a bag with me, I'm putting things in my backpack because I use crutches and I need both hands as I'm going up to the stairs or I'm going on my knees and I need my hands anyway to get up the stairs. So I as I say, as I also say, if there's a will, there's a way, you know, that say like I always try it, like there's always an alternate route. And I wish people would know that.
Like who would be like, okay, Well, there may be, you know, this in his way, but he's going to it goes back to the whole entire obstacle thing I was talking about. So also, I guess finding those tools to help you out in your life. Exactly. Yeah. And I just wish that, you know, even though I'm disabled, I'm just like everybody else. Like, you know, I may do things differently, but I'm still going to do them.
And even if you have disability and not, I think everyone also has a different way of doing things too, and everyone has different find ways to do certain stuff and have those different tools in their tool bag to help them out in my life.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly. Yeah. Because even even someone without a disability, they do the same thing because, I mean, I personally believe in one way or another, we all have a disability of some sort like, you know, some of them are more, what's the word I'm looking for? Well, like, some of them are actual like, you know, defined as a disability, but some people may have issues to where they can't do something that's considered a disability as well.
They may, you know, if that's making any sense. So we all have struggles in life of some sort and we all have to adapt in one way or another. So. You have a photography business and you're building it. How does it make you feel to have built something of your own and work for yourself? To be honest with you, I love it. I, I don't even think of it as and I don't mean this in any rude, disrespectful way or anything. I don't consider it like a business type thing because it's a passion of mine.
So I'm doing something I love. It may not be my full time job right now, but also that's perfectly okay because I I'm building that up and hopefully one day this will be my full fledged like, Hey, this is my one and only income. But as of right now, it's one of those Do I want soup or do I want to have chicken for dinner? It's like one of those things.
Also just a passionate like I said, I started doing portraits and family shoots with people which sorry to jump back, but also that's something I had to get over with being like. Because you asked, I think in the previous question was what type of like what type of struggles do you have with, you know, having a business of being physically disabled? So I started with the landscapes because, you know, I get down on my knees because again, I have to get low and I didn't think that I could do
family shoots or portraits or anything because most people stand up. But I found out that people like if I explain to them what the reason I'm doing A, B, and C, they trust me and they're like, okay, you're the one who's the photographer. So they trust me. They're not going to be like, he has to get on his knees to take a portrait of me. I don't really like that or something, or sometimes because I have a three wheel bike to get around because again, being legally blind I can't drive.
So therefore I have an electric assist bike that I use. So sometimes while I'm out on location with you. it's a blast. I absolutely love the thing. I'll talk about that next after or something. But so while I'm out on location, sometimes I'll tell the people I'll be like, Hey, this angle is not good for anyone involved.
So I'm going to sit on my bike and I'm going to take a picture of you and because the Z5 that I have has a screen that pulls out like on the back, like the LCD screen, I can sit there and instead of being at eye level, I can still bring that down. So it's at a different angle, but it's more flattering than being down low because, I mean, I'm sure you know, as like being down low sometimes it's not a flattering angle for some people. So therefore I'm like, okay, how can I do this?
And I just sit on the bike and at first I can see the clients that I have. They're like, okay, like I can see they are a little, you know, little like not sure on how this is going to go, but then I usually don't do this, but sometimes they do. If I can tell with my with the clients that I shoot with and everything, if I can tell, they don't really think this is going to work out, which is understandable. I'll turn the LCD,
I'll turn my camera around and be like, This is the shot I just took. Yeah. And then their eyes will just open up and wow and everything. So they don't mind that I'm shooting on the bike because I'm like, okay, this is where I got to shoot from. Don't worry, I got you. You like, trust me, I can do that. So the way that I look at it is if you have a vision in your head and you have to adapt to it, just adapt.
Like if you in your head, if your head is like, you know, your mind is saying to you, you can do this just A, B and C, go do it. Like, don't hesitate to do it. And that's what I have found out to where I'm like, Okay, if I get down this way, I can get a cool angel from this, and then I just go off and do it. So because you don't know what you can do until you try. Yeah, I think that's the great thing about photography.
You can try different things and be creative because there's no one set rule you have to stand in this place or use this position or whatever? Like you can be so creative. Yeah. oh 100%. Like with photography as it is, you know, there's these, you know, these rules to follow, which I put quotations around rules because, yes, it's nice to know the rule of thirds or the golden ratio and you should learn those. And then the exposure triangle.
Every person who's getting into photography should know the exposure triangle, which, you know, is your aperture, your iso in your shutter speed and all of those after matched together. But and then the third, you know, is placement of where your subject is in the frame and then the golden ratio, you know, what leads up to your subject anyways, so you should know those. But also at the end of the day, photography is art and art is subjective.
So what this person over here doesn't like this person over here may like and again it goes back to the rules. And I put rules like this because they're not rules, they're just guidelines. But you should know those certain guidelines before you go off and do your own thing. Like just don't automatically pick up your camera and be like, okay, I'm going to click now like like learn how to do those things. But also once you learn how to do them, branch off, try some things different.
Like I said and you said too is, like you and I go out in the same spot and take the same photo the same day at the same time. We may, or the same subject. I say we may not the end result may be different because we see we see the subject differently and that's what makes it Art And makes it creative too, and fun too. oh, yeah. yeah, most definitely.
It's so just a couple of weeks ago I was out and there was a gentleman standing here and so where I lived in here in Rhode Island, I live by the coast of Jamestown, so it was a foggy day and I went out and I was like, okay, I want to get some moody photos. And there was a gentleman standing here and I was like, okay, what's he staring at? And then I looked and I was like, I was like, okay. So I didn't stand like here. I stood here, like on my bike. I was here.
But a little further down, but I ended up meeting up with the guy, like meeting the guy, talking to him. He got my Instagram, I got his all that, and then his photo came out totally different from mine, even though we were standing just like, I don't know, like 20, 30 feet apart. It's just like the whole entire difference of like what you were just saying. you may see something different than what I see. Even though we're staring at the same thing. We're not.
And that's one of the beautiful things about photography is, you know, everyone sees something different and you get to especially if you're going out with people, you get different perspectives of how people actually view the world and i’s fantastic. One of the things I like to say photography. It's I'm able to use it to show people what I see in the world, how I see it, my point view exactly.
Yeah, that's a perfect way of putting it, because that's the same way with me, because I may be legally blind, but I'm still seeing things that you're not seeing. And people ask me, they're like, How do you see that? And I'm just like, Well, going back to the whole entire normal, this is my normal. I'm used to it. So it's just the way I see things. And then if I think I'm seeing something, that's when I put the lens up to my eye and I'm like, okay, this is actually better than I thought.
So real quick, quick. I promise. I was getting sunrise shots with someone and they're really into bird photography, and so we're out getting some sunrise and getting like we had a lighthouse in the picture and everything and then I'll send my buddy. His name just happens to be Norm as well. And he, he actually was a a photography teacher over and CCRI at the Warwick campus And so me and him go out and he's taken a picture and he's going see that bird.
I was like, No. And he's like, click, click And so I was like, Okay, sunrise is right there. He's pointed at that bird. I can't see said bird. Anyway, I take the photo, I come home, I put it on my laptop and I went huh, the birds in my photo like I was able to take the photo. It made it even that much better. And I was just like, Wow, I couldn’t see it over there. But I actually got the photo.
And that happened sometimes with me as I'll come back and I'll be like, Wait a minute, that was in my photo. That's fantastic. Or I'll be like, Great, That's in my photo. Well, thank God I got Lightroom because I'm getting rid of that. Can you see some of your proudest achievements so far? I actually got into I had a opening over at AS220 in Providence. I don't know if you've ever heard of AS220 or no about. I have not, no. So AS220 is an art gallery, but they are really well known.
Like they are big in the art world and everything like that. So I actually in they're located in Providence, which is like there may be other AS 220’s like around the country, but I know of the one in Providence. You know, anyone who's listening at this don't come at me, LoL, for you know not knowing. But it was quite the like at first. I was just like, cool. I got into an art gallery and someone was like, You got to AS220. Like, that's huge.
I was like, they're like, they're known like Countrywide. And I was like, ooh because if you're part of them, like, of AS220, like you can also you can go to like different countries and stuff like that. Like if you work like in, like in their community and stuff like that. I have not done that. I would love to, but you know, it is what it is. But so that's one of my proudest achievements. I also had a one of my first shows was like individual shows.
There's a, well, a retail like no realtor like, you know, houses and stuff like that, that they let me have a show in their office. So like, they're building. So they let me put up as many photos as I wanted. That was, that was great. I also, before I started working at the job that I have now, which is at an art gallery, they I entered one of their shows and I actually got best in show for one of my photos. So I was just like, that, that's awesome.
Yeah, that's I was like, Wow, that's that's pretty cool. So just, you know, I've also been in my local paper a couple of times, which is this is great. I was I got on the cover of our telephone book because we still have a telephone book where I live on. And so even though, you know, it's it's small but still is it still you know, it's great like everyone gets a copy of that. So yeah, that's fantastic as well. But I you know, it's just it's just keep going.
I just want to keep going and see where else I can go with this. Yeah, it's it's pretty cool to see your work out there. Someone who wants to hang it up in their in their, in the office or the house or. yeah. LIke you you said the cover, the phone book. That's pretty cool. Yeah. and newspaper, there's a. There's a woman who owns a cleaning business overall. So you're located in Rhode Island as well, right? Yeah. I live in the Providence area. Okay, so you know where North Kingstown.
Yeah. Okay, so there's a woman who owns a cleaning business who bought a whole bunch of my photos, and she just hung them up in their office. And I was just like, wow. Like, like her. She's like, Yeah, I just have a wall dedicated to your photos because I absolutely love them. I was just like, oh That really means something. I was like, That's sweet. I; thank you, like just seeing that. It's just it's great. It's, you know, I love that. And then I also, I, I have put out calendars.
This was my third year doing a calendar. So putting those out, people have just told me, I love your calendars and everything, so that's great. This cup that I'm drinking out of. I made this cup and people have told me they're like, I get to have a cup of coffee with Norm every day. I was like, What do you mean? And they're like, I bought a cup of yours. I was like, That's, that's, you know, it's fantastic.
And, you know, it's very humbling, too, that people actually want to buy my stuff, that I like, my artwork that I like making and everything. It's very humbling. And I really appreciate everyone who, you know, stands behind me. And it's just like, Hey, I want to work with you and I want to I want you to do this for me. I just actually just the other day I got someone who I haven't talked to in years. They were like, Hey, my, you know, I'm getting married. I need a photographer.
I was like, Yeah. And I was like, Sorry, I don't do weddings. And they're like, Really? I was like, I greatly appreciate it. I will help you out. I will find you a wedding photographer, but I just don't do weddings. So But even having someone wanting me to do their wedding that I know is because they love my work. I greatly you know, it's very humbling. It's like, wow, thank you for, you know, choosing me and wanting me and loving the art that I do.
I was just part of this past is is holiday season. I was part of a craft fair. And this woman came up to me and she goes, you know, I absolutely love your photography, but someone who loved it even more was my husband before he died. And I was like, I'm so sorry to hear that. She goes, My husband was diagnosed with cancer, and I was like, I'm so sorry to hear that.
She goes, Yeah, but him seeing your photos on Facebook and Instagram and seeing the quotes that you put with them really helped him out. When he was having a bad day. He would just look at your quotes in your photos and it would help him out a lot. It just hearing that really it's stuck with me, honestly, because having someone who's gone through cancer, I think that my my art can help them. That's my landscapes and everything.
That's exactly what I wanted out of that is if I when I first started this and I still mean this to this day, obviously we all need money to live. But with my landscapes, if I can just make one person smile and stop and forget about the world we live in, I've done my job. So if I can do that for if I was able to do that for her husband before he passed away, that that's that's the world to me.
And then if I'm doing family portraits or I'm doing, you know, family shoots, I mean, or portraits, if someone you know, if they can just get away from the world, that they, you know, that they live in because we all, you know, have something going on. If they can just forget about that, they can just be present and they can, no pun intended here, but they can smile and be happy. Then I've done my job like, you know, some families.
Yeah, they they may be going through something and I don't know what they're going through, but I hope that after they leave a session with me and this goes along with like just portraits as well but different manner. But let's just stick with the family real quick. If they, you know, say they're going through a hard time and the husband and wife or the or whoever the spouses or whatever they are, you know, in a tough space, I hope they are whatever. I hope they can look at my photos
I've taken for them and they can be like, you know what? We were happy here. He legitimately made us happy. We can work this out and we can still do this. And then with portraits, everyone is beautiful in their own way. Like, you know, well, these models, like I know magazines and everything, airbrush like those are all fake. Like we are all we are all beautiful in our own way. And you should feel confident in your own skin.
So if I can help someone, you know, with a portrait session or whatever, feel confident again. I've done my job like that's what I want. And then if they just need to, you know, vent or whatever, they can vent to me. I don't mind just this the time that you're with me, forget about everything going on and be the, you know, the happy, positive, outgoing person that you are, because we're all that way in one way or another and confident. Like it's about confidence.
So if you're leaving the session with me and you look back at your photos and you're like, Wow, I was confident in this photo shoot, then yeah, keep being confident because you can do that in every normal day, like not with a session with me, but you can do that in life. So yeah. Yeah. Awesome It’s differently good. And you had some great stuff happen and a lot of proud achievements too. I appreciate. Thank you Congratulations I just checked out a little bit about AS220
Yeah. And I never heard of it. And I, was like, this is actually a cool venue. Cool place. I may have to do more research. Yeah, it really is. Because when I so me and a friend of mine, we just, you know, decided to go there, see what would happen. And they were like, Yeah, well, we'll have you in a show, but we're going to. So they have like different offices in Providence, like different areas. We were going to be in their corner gallery, which I looked at it and I was like, okay, cool.
Like, whatever, it's AS220. I don't care if I'm in the corner, like, whatever, Like it's a smaller than the main. Yeah, someone ended up dropping out. So they told me and my friend, they were like, Hey, we're going to move you to our main gallery. So we were actually in the main gallery too, where usually everybody goes to. So that was that was quite, you know. So yeah, it's just the whole entire AS220, it was fantastic and I love doing that.
So I did mine during COVID so 2020, so I couldn't be present during the opening, but still it was just being part of AS220 and that sense was fantastic and I loved it. So but everything I've done with photography, I've loved it. There's never been like a, you know, bad thing that's happened. I mean, except for when my camera had to be in the shop. I hate that it happens at some point. So that's why you need to get a backup. Backup? Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know, I've realized.
I mean, I am saving up for a backup right now, even if it's. However, phones nowadays take really good photos. they do. And a could be a good photo, for people. I some questions about about starting photography and what to use and like what kind of phone you have. A lot of them have like the new iPhone. yeah. and the Samsung camera on the new Samsung phones.
Unbelievable lens I mean use that it gets because you can have yeah you and there’s some have advanced features you can adjust the lighting the apertures. Exactly and I mean if someone's looking to get into photography honestly like I said, I started out with the phone, like, start out with that. And then if you really enjoy that, then invest in a relatively cheaper camera, I guess you could say, no, don't go out and get like a $6,000 camera body or whatever, or invest in a cheaper camera body.
But then along with that camera body, try to invest in better glass because when you get the camera so not all the time, but sometimes when you get a camera, it comes with a lens with it and it's usually in 18 to 55 or it's a. 18 to 35. Yeah, or like an odd number. It's just those lenses. They're okay at first. But also I would invest in better glass because. Yeah.
And whatever photography you ask everyone, that's the thing with photography you say one thing someone else is going to have a different like, you know, everyone's salt and pepper look, everyone's different, you know, But that's why they make chocolate and vanilla ice cream some people like. And a lot of times to other photographers when they get new cameras, there will sell them on like Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Craigslist. So you can get them cheap, too. Exactly.
But some people will be some people will say, well, get a really good camera body. Well, no, don't get a really good camera body. Start off with a start up with a cell phone. If you're thinking about going into photography and then if you can afford even a DSLR, those are still fine. Like people are like, no, it's all about mirrorless.
Well, yeah, mirrorless is great, but if you're just starting out with this and you don't know if you actually like doing photography with like a camera camera, start out with like a, you know, D 3300 for me or like I like I did or, you know, D 7500.
I'm only naming Nikon because that's all I know what the, you know like a but just invest in better glass for your camera because in my opinion it goes the photographer like you have to have an eye for photography and then it's the lens and then it's the camera body, like it's the person makes the art and then the lens helps and then the camera body, yes, upgrading will help, but you don't necessarily need that $6,000 freaking camera body.
You can take amazing photos with just the, you know, an intro camera, the D 3300 that that I started with. I actually sold it to someone because they were like, you know, I want to get into photography. I was like, hey, I got a D 3300. It's been beat to hell, and I don't know how much is left on the on the shutter. I even looked it up because you know there's app like programs you can use. I was like I don't know how much still there but I can sell this to you for you know a little bit.
And I kind of regret doing that because my camera recently was in the shop, as I was saying, and I was thinking to myself, I was like, If only I had my backup.
I wish I really backup camera. Yeah. And Like we were saying before, sometimes it's just the easiest way to get into photography You may know someone who's into it or has a camera that they wanted to either give to you or sell to you for good price And just to show we both, anyone looking to start photography is going back is use what you have or just a cheap $100 $200 camera. Exactly.
And then if you are looking to, you know, you can take classes, but also there's this lovely thing called YouTube. You can get everything on YouTube or if you're not. On Peter Mckinnon is great at that what Peter McKinnon is great at teaching on YouTube, and all the others. oh yeah Peter Mckinnon is fantastic. I actually, other than taking the classes that I did, I learned everything from YouTube and Peter macKinnon is phenomenal for that.
I actually so going back to when I was in college, like I was telling you already, CCRI, the teacher. One of the first classes was like, Who's the photographer that influenced you? And like, like you look up to I was like, Well, other than Ansel Adams, because he's, you know, the freaking grandfather of photography there, Ansel Adams with landscapes and everything. It was Peter Mckinnon, and then someone was like Peter Mckinnon
And I was like, Who's Peter macKinnon? Well, let me look this up for you bring you down a road yeah, no, he’s great But for people who are listening to this and they don't like the they don't like YouTube, like for reasons and they like reading, just look up on Google, like how to work your camera and just read about your camera, really know your camera inside and out and that then bring your camera everywhere with you because you know,
you never know what you're going to see because there's been plenty of times where I've gone out and I'm just sitting there going, oh my God, where's my camera? And yes, I have my cell phone, but it's just not the same. Like in a pinch Yes. I've done that, too, It’s not the same. So not that cellphones are bad, don't get me wrong. But like as someone who uses a camera, I'd rather use my camera than my cell phone.
So, yeah, always bring your camera with you because you never know what you're going to find and you never when yeah, I used to carry this in my backpack. All the time. yeah, Yeah. So the last question you have, why is the inclusion of individuals with disabilities important? Because we are, quote unquote, normal, just like everybody else.
I mean, goes back to what I was saying earlier is, yeah, we may do things differently, but, you know, we still adapt and we still, if you know, we can we can live a quote unquote, normal life just like everybody else. And I put quotes because I've said this before, and I will say it again, your normal is different than mine. My normal is different than Joe Schmo, who's normal down the street.
But it's just everyone's everyone's got some sort of like I said as well tonight is we all have our some some sort of disability in a sense like, you know, we all can’t do something. But if you are considered, quote unquote, normal, you don’t, like, you know, treat that person differently for not being able to do something. So why treat this person over here? They may just do it in a different way than you, but they can still do it. So personally, I can't speak for everybody else.
I can speak for myself, though, is just treat me like everybody else. That's all I want. And I think that a majority of people with disabilities would want is just be treated like we just want to be treated like everybody else. We just want, you know, it's that's all. Awesome. Yeah, I think that's a good spot to end too So, Norm where can people find you or learn more about your photography? Actually, Do you do you sell your photography? Yes. So I am currently working on my website right now.
I'm just, you know, I'm getting myself a logo now and I'm currently moving some things around on my website. But where you can find me on my website is Outta the norm photography and you can find me there. And then on Facebook you can either just look up North Marsh because I put my photos there or I also have outta the norm photography on Facebook and then on Instagram. My Instagram is storman_norman and that's where I have my photography as well.
You know, it's I may be branching out and make my another Instagram for my photography itself, but really all I put on there, unless you scroll all the way to the bottom, is I just put all my photography on there. So I just, you know, and also with my with my company, like my business, whatever, not company, but my business name being outta the norm, I, you know, you never know what you're going to get with me.
So I may post, you know, pictures of like, you know, I love baseball, so we may post something about baseball or I may post something about football because it's outta the norm. Like I I'm original with what I do. And so that's why I have not. That’s a good business name to. Thank you. I good play on words. So real, real quick, because I know you got to end this. So the story that I was telling you before about when I was in college and I did the story, it was actually called outta the norm.
That's what I name that whole entire series of photos. It was called outta the norm because a buddy of mine who actually helped me out with this, I was like, Man, I got to think of a really cool, catchy name for this. And he goes, Why don't you just call it outt the norm? Because what you are saying and what you are trying to get people to realize is it was part of the norm, like you're going to the beat of your own drum. I was like, I like that.
So when I was starting my photography, I was like, You know, Stormin Norman, that's great. And I was like, Norm Marsh, Like, I could just have my regular name, but that's so generic. I'm like, I want something that's, you know, interesting. So I searched the Internet and everything. No one has the name that I have or anything, and so I made sure that I wasn't stealing anyone's name. Yeah. And then I asked my buddy, who gave me the name for this, I was like, Look, do you mind if I do this?
Do you want anything? He's like, No, use it. That's fantastic. So that's how outta the norm photography started. And also it started that way because if you haven't noticed, I'm sure I've said it throughout this interview, certain words I say like, like I talked like I'm from Boston or like New York or what I like Rhode Island It's a mixture of all three. So, you know, parked the car in the Harvard Yard. I have a very thick accent.
So outta kind of works out that way as well, because you call it talking in cursive, because I will say one word, I'll be like, you know, I went to the car the other day just to go and you know, that one word people will get, you know, they'll stick to that word and they'll be like, what did you just say? So, you know, the whole entire outer works out because once people hear me talk, they're like, you're definitely from like New York, Boston. I was like, Nope, not Boston, not New York.
I'm from Rhode Island and I was born and raised here. So but yeah, that's that's the name. Interesting. Thank you. Thank you. So but yeah no outta the norm photography dot com and then Storman Norman, Storman underscore Norman for my Instagram and then either outta the the norm photography or just Norm Marsh. If you want to be on my personal Facebook page, I don't care because I mainly just post all my photos stuff on there. Anyway, so.
Cool. Well, thank you for joining me today on this podcast and good luck in your photography and have fun. And I know the spring is coming up, So you probably excited to get out there in this warm weather. yeah, I take photos. I am really excited. I actually have three people who want portraits done already, like they booked you know, and stuff like that. So it's great. How can people book with you? Through your website email? So they go through my website.
Like I said, it's a work in progress right now, but you can still send me a message on there because my email is on there, which is just is just outta the norm photography at gmail.com. You can see it on my website and you can just, you know, talk to me there.
Or if you find me on Facebook, you just shoot me a message, shoot me a message on Instagram and I'll talk to you about it because is how I do my things is a little different because due to me not being able to drive due to my legally blindness and I need to figure out how I'm going to get places, but also where I live here in Jamestown, Rhode Island, the landscapes are just amazing. For backdrop, just work, you know, doing natural light shoots or, you know, for portraits and everything.
Or also I just do portraits right here in my apartment because I got, you know, I got a nice white wall here that I can just, you know, put you up against and I can put up I have a what do you call it. There are backdrops that I can use and all that. So it's it's or I can go on location, I can go to where you are. I just would have to, you know, take an Uber, find a ride. And so the best way to find me is through that.
And then we can talk about pricing and we can talk about all that because again, it may not be a set price because if someone's like, hey, I'm in Massachusetts, okay, that price is going to be a little different than in Rhode Island because I'm going to have to find someone to bring me to Massachusetts. I don't mind going but just know the location dependent. It's the prices are going to be a little different. Yeah. Cool. Awesome. Well, thank you again. Yeah No problem. Thank you for having me.
I greatly appreciate you, you know, having me on your podcast and I hope to do it again sometime. Yeah.