Published on July 24th, 2022 | by Jameelah "Just Jay" Wilkerson

Who is Justin Kase?

His introduction to the entertainment industry came early for Justin Kase. At the age of 16, with the likes of Chucky Brown, Lenny Wilkens, Dikembe Mutombo, and Steve Smith – Justin was the ball boy for the Atlanta Hawks. Knowing he wanted to pursue a career in entertainment, the road to follow wasn’t. With the help of his mentors, Ryan Cameron & Greg Street, Justin found his calling and was on the path to maturing professionally. Justin took the move to Greenville South Carolina for HOT 98.1FM where he was an on air personality, production/imaging assistant as well as the promotions assistant. Even today Justin still continues to have a large fan base in South Carolina. After his run at HOT 98.1 FM, Justin and Humble Gee created Zaytoven Radio, which had a successful 2 year run that hit Sirius radio. Zaytoven is known for the beats that are behind ” Usher- Papers”, “Gucci Mane- So Icey”, and Gucci Mane Feat Oj Da Juiceman- Make The Trap Say Ay”. He parting ways after 2 years to fulfill his own ambitions. He still is active with Zaytoven and Roland from Digital Dope Radio

After retiring from 15 years of being on the radio, Justin’s boss, Brandon from Peakes Mobile Detail Mobile Car Wash, encouraged him to go full time with his Photography business. Justin was part of a Professional Sports Photographers page on Facebook trying to work his way up into sports, and sent a message to John from John Photography. After mentoring from John Glaser based in Texas, he is very happy that he did. Justin Kase currently does Photography for Tray Chaney, “Nappy Roots” rap group, Tana, and many others!

Who is Justin Kase?

A badass motherfucker who no matter how many times you knock him down, he will come back 10 times stronger, always does good honest business with a heart of gold. I can pop in and out of this industry from 1998 until the day I die as many times as I want with a different role and still will win!

When did you realize you wanted to be a photographer?

When I was young, my dad had an old Canon FTB Camera that was metal and super heavy. I enjoyed taking pictures but wanted to be a pilot or on the radio. When my radio career took off, the camera went to the side for 16 years. Once I completed 16 years on and off the radio, I bought a camera and didn’t know what I was doing but I faked my way and got alot of gigs. The crucial part of my photography career was when Covid hit and I had nothing to do but study my camera, Instagram and perfect my craft. The pandemic ended up being a great thing for me and my business because once we were able to go outside again, I went running full speed.

Where do you get your inspiration?

When it comes to inspiration, I have to say from my radio career. Since I already built up tons of relationships and friendships with people in the industry, my passion was with entertainment. Everyday is a new day and some we want to sleep all day and some we want to get up and run nonstop. I have never been the type of person to sit idle because I have a story to tell that is shown through my lense. There are so many beautiful things to tell through my lense like, red carpet events with the excitement of their new project releasing, live performance and their reaction as they tell their story through a mic, hitting the streets with Gerald Griggs the President of the Georgia NAACP and sharing the different expressions of individuals on the streets to make a change, political events, travel and nature and just taking regular pictures. All of it inspires me to get up early in the morning to document, what is going on.

One more thing that inspires me is my brother Tray Chaney. Gotta shout him out for real real though because since becoming his onset photographer early 2021, he has shown nothing but love, compassion and always appreciates the hard work I put in which is hard to find. I could wake up and have a migraine and want to sleep the day away and hop on IG, Tray already memorized 22 pages, been to the gym, went to NYC and back, filmed a TV show, ate two good meals, went to three meetings and it’s only 8am. 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣. So Tray is the definition of inspiration itself if you catch my drift.

Thank you bro!

What are some of your accomplishments as a photographer?

Everyday is an accomplishment to me because some people didn’t have the opportunity to get up and do what they love in life. To be able to wake up and shoot a March from Vine Street to the Capital, then to a photoshoot-videoshoot with Tray Chaney and off to a red carpet the same night is an accomplishment. I’m not much into politics, but to shoot Former Vice President Mike Pence and have secret service running around and staring me down and watch them read everyone around was actually really cool. To be able to take a picture of someone and for them to get back to me and tell me, beautiful shot and I love how you captured my mood, is an accomplishment to me.

What is the best perk, being a photographer?

Sometimes they won’t give you a credential to shoot a concert, you walk up with your camera and watch them just slide the gate for you without asking any questions is a huge perk. When it comes down to it, I wouldn’t call anything we do a perk, it’s just like working anywhere else and comes with the job. We just get to experience a different setting than other careers.

In the future where do you see yourself?

Being flown around the world to shoot all the red carpet events, still working with Tray Chaney, shooting pictures for Getty Images, still shooting pictures for Gerald Griggs and the NAACP plus traveling the world and shooting landscape pictures.

What one piece of advice would you give to someone wanting to become a photographer?

Study your camera inside and out. Shooting trains, automobiles, bugs and people. Make sure you stick to a genre you love and not shoot two million things. You have to find your niche and when you do, stick with it. Don’t be so focused on others success and jealous because at the end of the day, you’re failing yourself and why you are sitting behind losing. Stay in your own lane and have respect for others.

Is there anything you would like our readers to know?

I am available for hire whenever you need me to shoot. I do not do bars, clubs, or strip clubs. You can also purchase my landscape pictures by clicking this link:
https://justinkasephoto.darkroom.tech/

Thank you to Santia Deck the Ceo of Tronus Shoes and Apparel! Order your shoes or slides here:
https://tronusofficial.com/

Shout out to my mom, dad, sister, brother in law, niece and nephew and the rest of my friends and family.

Shout out to Just Jay and The Hype Magazine for this opportunity and the amazing write-up!

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