Matthew Swaggart
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Portrait by Justin Greiman |
Matthew Swaggart/ Success Interview How to reach Matthew : www.holdfastgear.comTwitter @holdfastgear Tumblr Instagram @holdfastgear |
Matthew Swaggart is a professional photographer and the founder of HoldFast Gear, specializing in unique, practical and good-looking solutions for carrying photo gear. The business was funded entirely by his photography and he's now living the dream, thanks to sticking with his principles and vision.
I went to university to study Graphic Design for Video. At that time, I had no respect for photography as an art form. I only knew that I loved designing on my Mac and working with motion. While studying abroad in Europe, I picked up a digital camera (the 2mp Kodak DC290 which I still have) in order to document memories of my time there. I completely fell in love with the still image and loved the idea of using one image to explain a lifetime. No matter that I was three years into my major; I wanted to photograph for the rest of my life. From that moment on I photographed anyone or anything I could. I remember the first band portrait I ever took (for a band now called “Safety Suit”), I charged only $25.00. Eventually, I started shooting humanitarian work because it gave me a tangible way to use my passion to help others. I documented projects to raise funds to drill water, provide food and offer free healthcare to those less fortunate. Over time, I started photographing weddings to earn extra income to support my little family. That’s when I hit a wall with gear. From shooting humanitarian work to weddings, there wasn't a product the seamlessly crossed those lines with style and ability. After many shoots ending with back pain and never being able to look the way I wanted to look while shooting I decided to make my own gear. HoldFast was born.
My photography business funded the start-up for HoldFast Gear. Many times I’ve been approached by investors offering to invest in HoldFast but ultimately I felt that it would compromise my vision. As well, I decided against loans. Instead, I’ve taken a slower yet more exact route. As with any grand idea, all it takes is a start. A single step in the direction of where you want to go at times feels the most unsteady. Yet, a few more steps and you start to build momentum. That’s the way it was as I started HoldFast Gear. An impossible dream with many setbacks, chipping away piece by piece until that dream is actually happening. That first step will silence a thousand reasons why the idea is impossible.
The very first product I designed and made was the RuckStrap. Because I do not like to carry things in my pockets, I wondered if a strap could carry such pocket items as batteries, cards, film and even glasses. Well, I designed and made the RuckStrap; problem solved. Then I realized I had another problem. When shooting weddings, I wanted to carry three cameras (and look good doing so). I needed to carry my two pro bodies with my two favorite lenses along with this new thing called the mirrorless camera (2011). I was using it at weddings which no one was doing, and I even made my own lenses for it out of plastic and gel strips which gave me crazy effects; something off the wall and handy for fun images. No strap at that time carried three cameras and other items. The multi-camera straps I used made me resemble a SWAT team, which does not mix well with trying to look handsome. So, I designed and built the MoneyMaker. It allowed me to shoot weddings and carry all the gear that I needed. I realized, however, that not only was it more comfortable, it connected me with my clients in a new way. It became a conversation piece and established trust between my subjects and myself. This is what I heard many times, “This guy looks cool. He knows what he’s doing.” In turn, my shoots were made easier because my clients trusted me. I realize that sounds funny but it happened all the time! It made my job easier to connect with people in order to get their true personalities. That’s when I realized I was on to something. It grew from there.
