There are some photographers, in
and out of professional wrestling, that whenever you look at their work you can
tell who took the picture. Whether that
is by the lighting, the angles or just the joy on the subject’s face. Dorri is one of those people that while she
is great with the technical parts, you can tell that she really has a
connection with her subjects.
At only the age of 19 Dorri has
taken pictures at SUP, St. Louis Anarchy, GCW and most frequently Paradigm
Pro. While Dorri does take action
photos, I think what she is most known for and what she is best at is her promo
pictures. With only 3 years of
experience, she has already had one of her pictures published in PWI, all while
being on the Dean’s List at the University of Kentucky. Dorri
is going to school to be a special education teacher with students with
moderate to severe disabilities and/or emotional behavioral disorders, so she
is not only an amazing photographer, she is also a phenomenal person.
1 Which did you become interested in first,
wrestling or photography and how long have you been taking pictures at
wrestling shows?
Dorri:
I would have to say wrestling. I started watching WWE when I was about 6? I
remember going to WWE live shows in elementary school, but I took a photography
class in the fifth grade. From that point on I wanted to pursue photography,
but I didn’t know how, so I dropped it. I shot my first wrestling show 3 years
ago! Time has flown by.
2.
You have been doing a lot of promo pictures
lately and you are great at it. Is that
intentional that you have decided to do more promo pics instead of live action
pics?
Dorri:
Honestly? Yes. I didn’t think people would notice haha. I enjoy shooting promos
much more than ringside, but I have a great appreciation for both. Besides at
Paradigm me doing ringside/promos depends on who else is on the photography
team and what the company needs/wants me to do.
3.
The backgrounds that you have used for your last
2 sets look amazing. How do you pick
what you want to use for your background?
Dorri:
I used to think that everyone needed serious promos with a proper backdrop and
what not, but my best photos (in my opinion) don’t have that. My process is
fairly simple….I walk around venue with my airpods in and try to find cool
walls, backgrounds or spaces. I also get help and suggestions from people like
Mouse and Juicebox that create content.
4.
The wrestlers that you photograph seem to be
very relaxed and candid in your pictures.
Do you feel that you have that affect on people where they can let their
guard down a little bit around you?
Dorri: I’d like to think I do. I try to be myself
when I’m shooting so others can be comfortable too. I’m pretty goofy and giggly
but I’m also anxious and shy. The people who seem the most candid in my photos
are those that I tend to laugh and be comfortable with.
I
have learned how difficult it is to pose for photos and allow yourself and your
body to be vulnerable to someone else’s fingertips. So I try to make them feel
secure if I can.
5.
You had one of your pictures appear in PWI. What is it like knowing that a magazine that
is sold in supermarkets and airports has one of your pictures in it?
Dorri: Goodness gracious. A m a z i n g.
Unreal. I remember talking to Mouse (my
mentor) who is already been published in PWI and I didn’t think I would be able
to make it happen but within a year it did. Looking at the magazine still feels
like a dream to me. I hope that I can make it happen a few more times haha.
6.
What made you interested in becoming a special
education teacher and how has your experience at college been so far?
Dorri:
I think this may be the longest response so far lol. So, when I was in
kindergarten and first grade I peer tutored a student with autism. I would go
read with him at 1:05 every day and when I got into upper grades and couldn’t
anymore, I was heartbroken. I had always kind of thought about being a teacher,
but I could never see myself teaching a general education curriculum.
My
senior year of high school I finally had the time in my schedule to peer tutor
students with moderate to severe disabilities. I fell in love with it. I
skipped lunch to hang out with my best friend Phillip in his gym class and was
involved with an organization called Best Buddies where I was partnered with my
buddy Thaddius. In my teacher’s special ed class was where I felt
happiest.
I
honestly didn’t think I would graduate high school because of my mental
struggles, so I didn’t know what I would major in. My SpEd teachers encouraged
me to go that route because of how well I worked with all of their students. So
I did, and getting into my major has made me so much happier. I am so excited
for my career.
College
has been fun. I got to experience most of my freshman year before the pandemic.
I went to football games and made friends, but I also had some extremely low and
hard times. More than anything, I’ve learned myself, what I want in life, how
to make myself happy and feel safe despite circumstances. I’ve had quite a
college experience and I’m only halfway through. I have always gotten good grades,
but I pulled off a 4.0 this semester!
Dorri
has just opened up a virtual store which has some of her favorite pictures for
sale on it. It includes pictures of such
standouts in independent wrestling as Billie Starkz, Lee Moriarty, Max The Impaler,
Myron Reed and more. She also has an
absolutely adorable picture of the coolest guys around, Jody Himself and Everett
Connors and even one of herself with Jaiden.
Keep an eye on her store as she looks to add some stickers and more
goodies. It can be found at
You
can find Dorri on Twitter and on Instragram at @dorrixariana