The path to becoming a UGC influencer isn’t always as simple as downloading an app, pointing a camera at yourself and hitting record.

For Derrick G, better known as Dvrrickk on Instagram, it started behind the camera.

The North Carolina-based influencer with over 20K followers. He is a UGC influencer who first picked up photography after his brother gifted him a camera in 2013. That eventually led to nightlife photography, touring with artists, creative direction and social media. But after years of helping other people build their brands, Derrick began realizing he had something worth putting in front of the camera too.

Since then, he’s built his own lane where fashion, photography, dance and content creation overlap, working with brands including Jordan Craig, Shop Gld, Supermade and Cernucci.

FitGrades caught up with Derrick to talk about making that transition, landing brand deals, developing personal style, creating content in public and why aspiring creators need to stop waiting for brands to discover them.

From Photographer to UGC Influencer

How did you get started as a creator? What was the genesis for you?

DVRRICKK: I started back around 2013. My brother gifted me a camera, and I was just practicing with it. I got really good at photography and started doing nightlife, going on tour with artists, being a creative director and handling social media.

Through photography, I learned how to market myself and other people.

I was always the person behind the camera instead of in front of it. I was helping somebody else grow. Then something clicked. People kept telling me, “You have this star power. You have this ‘it’ factor. You shouldn’t be hiding behind the camera.”

After photography, I got into music. Then I wanted to do music videos, so I learned dancing. Through dancing, I started discovering my style and fashion. I started figuring out what was comfortable, what fit me and who I was.

Eventually, I got my first paid deal with Shop Gold. Before that, a lot of the deals were basically, “We’ll gift you something, and you post it.” Shop Gld was my first actual paid gig as a fashion influencer.

How did the Shop Gld opportunity happen? Did you reach out, or did they discover you?

DVRRICKK: They discovered me through dance.

When I went to dance classes, I wasn’t just going in there wearing regular sports clothes. I was going in there as myself. I was swagged out. I was giving it my all.

Someone involved with the class worked with Shop Gld and approached me. They said, “We’d like you to create some UGC content for us.” They offered to pay me and give me a couple of pieces.

That’s when I started seeing the potential in what I could bring to brands and how we could help each other grow.

From there, I started creating more. At first it was mostly pictures. Then I started paying attention to how social media was changing and figuring out how to adapt.

How to Get Brand Deals as a Fashion Influencer

Now that you work with brands regularly, do you pitch them yourself or wait for them to find you?

DVRRICKK: I wouldn’t hit a brand up until I knew I had a portfolio.

Your Instagram, or whatever social platform you’re using, should be your portfolio. If you feel like you have some leverage and you have something to show, find a brand you like and pitch yourself.

If you pitch yourself too early and don’t have experience or knowledge yet, you’re probably going to get offered a lot of gifted opportunities. There’s nothing wrong with gifting because it can be an even exchange. You have to start somewhere.

But if you want to grow as an influencer, closed mouths don’t get fed.

You have to open your mouth and ask for what you want. The answer is either going to be no or there’s going to be an opportunity to negotiate something.

Have a good portfolio. Take professional photos. Tell stories.

People don’t just want to see the outcome anymore. They want to see the process. They want to see how the content was made. They want to know what kind of information you can give them.

What was the transition from photography to video like for you?

DVRRICKK: I started noticing a decrease in engagement.

I knew the content was there when it came to photography. I had a strategy where I wouldn’t post that often. I’d disappear for a while because I thought it helped keep the engagement and excitement high.

But I started noticing that posts and carousels weren’t necessarily reaching new people the way video could.

That’s when I started making the transition.

I’m actually still pretty new to doing this much video. It’s something I’ve really leaned into recently because I’m trying to adapt to how people are consuming content now.

How to Style Brand Clothes Without Losing Your Own Style

When a brand sends you one piece, how do you build an entire outfit around it without losing your own style?

DVRRICKK: It depends on the brand.

If I’m working with a brand that’s strict about cross-promotion, I’m not going to wear something from another brand with a huge logo on it. That’s like wearing Jordan with Adidas.

Let’s say I’m creating content for Jordan Craig. If there’s a strong Jordan Craig logo or branding on the piece, everything else might need to be more plain because I don’t want another brand taking attention away from what I’m supposed to be promoting.

I learned that firsthand. I did a Jordan Craig post wearing a pair of boots, and people kept commenting, “Where did you get the boots?”

I’m thinking, I should’ve covered the tongue!

At the same time, I don’t want to simply put on exactly what a brand gives me because then I’m going to look like every other influencer they’re working with.

I have to make the outfit me.

That might mean adding accessories or styling the clothes differently. I have to add my own flavor to it.

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You don’t just accessorize an outfit. Sometimes the way you actually wear the clothing becomes part of the styling. How important is that?

DVRRICKK: I always say you have to put your personality into it.

Your mannerisms are part of who you are.

I’m really chill and laid-back, so I’m not necessarily going to wear everything perfectly. I might wear something slightly off the shoulder. I might sag a little bit. Not showing my butt or anything, just wearing it in a way that’s comfortable and feels like me.

Your personality is your brand.

Your personality and your mannerisms are who you are, so you have to bring that into your fashion.

Let’s say you’re a creator with a gothic style and a brand sends you clothes. How are you going to turn that outfit into something that still represents your gothic style?

That’s how I approach it.

Put your personality and mannerisms into your outfit.

Do you have a content creation team? How do you approach collaborating with other creators?

DVRRICKK: I wish I had more creatives around me.

I’m in a smaller city outside of the bigger cities, so if I want to collaborate with somebody or find someone who’s really interested in creating, I usually have to travel.

A lot of what I’m doing now comes from everything I’ve learned from the different creative communities and entrepreneurs I’ve been around.

I would love to have a team because it makes everything easier and more fun. You don’t have to feel awkward being outside recording yourself and taking all your own pictures.

I have a couple of people I work with where I’ll say, “Are you free today? Let’s shoot. I’ll take your pictures, you take mine.”

It’s an exchange.

If you know somebody who creates content, they don’t even have to be in your niche. You can say, “I’ll help you create your content this day, and you help me with mine.”

Everybody can help each other.

What are some of your favorite brands you’ve worked with?

DVRRICKK: Of course, Jordan Craig because they look out for me, and they’ve really supported what I’m doing.

I also work with Cernucci. They’re an up-and-coming brand that’s overseas as well.

I’ve worked with Supermade for around five years. That relationship actually started with gifted products, and that’s okay. You have to start somewhere.

And, of course, Shop Gld. They gave me that first paid opportunity.

Those are some of the brands that have really supported me and seen the potential in what I’m doing.

How to Get Comfortable Filming Content in Public

How do you get over the fear or awkwardness of filming yourself in public?

DVRRICKK: Start by recording yourself at home.

Talk to the camera by yourself first. Practice at home, get comfortable and then take it into public.

Once you’re outside, you need some tunnel vision because you can get discouraged or distracted really fast when you have a bunch of eyes on you.

I’d also recommend having a goal or shot list before you start.

That way, you’re not standing outside feeling awkward because you don’t know what you’re supposed to do next. Have everything prepared. Then when you go out to shoot, you can block everything else out and get your shots.

Music helps too. Music can calm you down and help you get into your zone.

What happens when people approach you while you’re creating? How do you handle it without derailing your shoot?

DVRRICKK: People definitely approach me.

Sometimes an outfit has a different look or persona, so people come over and start with a compliment: “I love your outfit,” or, “What are you shooting for?”

I keep the conversation quick.

I’ll tell them what I’m wearing and what I’m doing, and then I’ll close by saying, “If you want to see more, follow me.”

Or I’ll pitch a service.

If they need a stylist, I’ll mention that. I take my own pictures, so I can talk about that too.

Basically, I turn the interaction into an opportunity, but I keep it moving because I’m still out there to get my work done.

What’s Next for Derrick

So what’s next for you?

DVRRICKK: I have a few ideas.

First, I want to create a creative group where we can work together and work with different brands together. I feel like you can build faster and easier with a group of people than you can by yourself.

I also want to get invited to more brand and networking events. Eventually, I want to start throwing events for brands.

I want to do more with the community around what I’m already doing.

And I want to work with bigger brands. I want to travel for work. I’m doing this full-time, but I want to make it more lucrative.

I want it to be like: Today I’m in New York. Tomorrow I’m in L.A. for a shoot. The next day I’m coming home to work with somebody else or do an event.

I’m trying to build a schedule full of opportunities that revolve around my brand while also figuring out how I can help other people.

Follow Derrick on Instagram at @Dvrrickk.

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